Car insurance for rental cars in Mexico

Planning on taking your Express Rent-A-Car into Mexico? We will allow you to do this, but there is some information you may want to take into account regarding car insurance for rental cars in Mexico.

You can use your United States driver’s license as a driver’s license in Mexico, since it is recognized by Mexican authorities. Your normal US car insurance policy will not be recognized by Mexican authorities, however, so you will need to have car insurance for rental cars in order to drive your rental car in Mexico.

Mexican car insurance can be easily bought on the US side of the border, or this insurance can be purchased in many of the border towns and cities on the Mexican side of the border. Mexican law requires the minimum insurance coverage to be “civil liability coverage”, but it is strongly suggested that you purchase liability, collision and comprehensive coverage that equates to the coverage under your regular US car insurance policy. Mexican law allows a driver found at fault to be imprisoned until any injured parties and rental car companies have received sufficient compensation for any injuries and/or damages, so we suggest you do this to be on the safe side.

Some details about the Mexican insurance you might want to purchase include:

• LDW (Loss Damage Waiver): This coverage plan has the widest and most transparent risk coverage in the domestic market, with a great advantage of a 0 percent deductible. This plan covers you against total and partial theft and any type of material damage to the rental car. It is the easiest and most comprehensive protection you will find, restrictions may apply.
• ALI (Additional Liability Insurance): This is an additional protection plan that extends a cover to the driver of Civil Responsibility up to a limit that you purchase. This coverage protects the driver of the reclamations that third parties make exclusively against the driver of damages in their properties and their integrity caused by the use or handling of the rental car.
• PDW (Partial Damage Waiver): With this plan you will only be responsible for paying off a deductible amount that you determine in advance. It covers damage to the rental car and total loss resulting from an accident or robbery, including missing pieces or accessories. Some restrictions may apply.

If you have purchased Mexican car insurance for your rental car, we would also recommend some supplies you may want to take with you, just to be on the safe side: A funnel, which can be used at certain gas stations that may have pump nozzles which are too large to fit into an unleaded gas tank. Bottled water and a first aid kit are also highly recommended.

If you plan on driving outside of the Border Zone/Free Trade Zone, you may need to acquire a “temporary importation permit” for your rental car. The Mexican consulate can provide further details regarding the requirements for this permit if you need more information. The Mexican Government Tourist Organization is also a helpful resource for information about traveling in Mexico and insurance as well.