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From: terryl@tekcrl.UUCP ()
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Short-term auto insurance in Mexico
Message-ID: <392@tekcrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Dec-85 19:58:36 EST
Article-I.D.: tekcrl.392
Posted: Tue Dec  3 19:58:36 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 5-Dec-85 07:28:36 EST
References: <1@crystal.UUCP> <4617@alice.UUCP>
Lines: 33

> > I am planning to visit Mexico for 2-3 days. My auto insurance does not extend
> > to Mexico and I have been told that I can get short-term insurance at the
> > border. I will be grateful if someone can tell me about the different
> > possibilities.
> >   - How expensive is it compared to US rates?
> >   - Is there a choice of insurance companies?
> >   - How much insurance is required by law in Mexico?
> >   - Is there a cheaper way than buying at the border?
> 
> My understanding is that Mexican auto insurance is basically
> a bribe -- if you don't have it and get into an accident,
> they will confiscate your car, throw you in jail, and lose the key.


     I don't know about it being a bribe, but this happened to my parents and
myself once when we went down to Ensanada(sp?), Mexico, with some friends for
an afternoon. My parents did get the short term insurance, and got a little
sticker to put in the lower right-hand portion of the windshield. When we got
down to Tiajuana(sp?), which is just across the border from San Diego, CA,
driving downtown, I swear there was a taxi that was making a bee-line right
for my parents' car, but as soon as he saw the sticker, he slammed on the
brakes and stopped about 5 feet into the intersection.

     As for the original poster and his questions, if you do ANY driving at
all in Mexico, DEFINITELY GET THE INSURANCE!!! I don't remember the prices,
and it was ten years ago, but I vaguely remember it being reasonable. One thing
I do know for a fact is that a lot of sailors who make port in San Diego go
down to Tiajuana for cheap booze and women(no sexist flames, I just report `em
as I see `em!!!), sometimes getting into some trouble and then disappearing
in the jails. I do remember reading a newspaper article quoting some high-
ranking naval official warning the Tiajuana police to go easy on the sailors,
or else Tiajuana would be off limits to the sailors. It seems that if Tiajuana
were off limits, the local bars would lose quite a bit of GI trade and money!!!