Car rental for Mexico in San Diego, California

If you need a car rental for Mexico in San Diego, California, look no further. Express Rent A Car offers a wide variety of reasonably priced rentals, which may be driven to Mexico upon request. However, before you take your San Diego car rental to Mexico, there are some things you should be aware of.

Your United States driver’s license is valid in Mexico, however, your insurance is not recognized by the Mexican authorities. You will need to have valid Mexican car insurance in order to drive your San Diego rental car to Mexico.

Mexican car insurance can be easily bought on the United States side of the border, or you can purchase it in many of the Mexican border towns. The minimum required insurance coverage in Mexico is “civil liability insurance”, but it is highly recommended that you purchase sufficient liability, collision and comprehensive coverage as well. Mexican law allows a driver found at fault in an accident to be jailed until authorities are satisfied that any injured parties and rental car companies have been sufficiently compensated for any injuries or damages.

Some information about the insurance coverage you may need is:

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.

Once you have secured Mexican car insurance for your car rental, you may also want to bring some other supplies to have in the event of a problem. This includes a flexible funnel, which can be used if you encounter a gas pump that is too large to fit into an unleaded gas tank. You may also want to bring some bottled water and a first-aid kit.

Please note that if you are planning on taking your rental car beyond the Border Zone and/or the Free Trade Zone, you may need to get a “temporary importation” permit for your car. Information about this permit can be obtained from the Mexican consulate. You may also want to contact the Mexican Government Tourist Organization for information about travel and insurance.

Have fun with your car rental in Mexico!