Mexican Insurance Store

Travel Mexico – Baja California (North)

December 5, 2020

1 of 32 in a Series

Baja California (North) is one of the easiest and most rewarding Mexican states to visit. Consider it a ‘Win!’ for nearly any type of traveler. San Diego is the primary gateway to this wonderful part of the world. With all of Baja’s incredible destinations, you can enjoy an international getaway without ever boarding a plane. If you like it, why not staying to live here with the many cheap homes for sale near me now.

Baja California boasts some of the best features of Mexico without being pretentious or overrun with holidaymakers. Travel Mexico – Visit Baja California – Mexican Insurance Store

On the beach in Mexico - MexicanInsuranceStore.com — hanging out at the beach

Beaches

If you’re looking for a weekend beach destination, look no further than Rosarito, Ensenada, or San Felipe. For example, Ensenada offers you the same weather and ocean as San Diego at a fraction of the price. In addition, San Felipe, located on the Sea of Cortez, delivers a warm and laid-back seaside. San Felipe is much more relaxed and offers a welcome escape to those who wish for tranquility. One should also consider Bahia de Los Angeles. It’s an excellent destination for many reasons, including fishing, tranquility, and exploration. It’s worthwhile, but it’s much further south.

Medical

It’s no secret many people travel to Mexico for medical tourism. Popular procedures are dental work and cosmetic enhancement. Mexican doctors are often US-trained, offer top-quality services, and operate at a fraction of the cost of similar doctors in the USA. For the cost of a procedure in the USA, you can have the same procedure in Baja California. The best part is that you get a vacation and still have money left over.

What about COVID?

Covid-19 – Baja California has a consistent and surprisingly comprehensive Covid-19 plan that is logical and reasonable. All of Baja is open to healthy visitors who are not experiencing Covid-19 symptoms. Would you please practice the straightforward safety protocols of safe distancing, face coverings, and sanitation? Mexican Insurance Store travel policies include Medical Payments that can be used for hospital visits in case of an accident.

Dining

Are you looking for exquisite and exotic food destinations? Look no further than Tijuana, Ensenada, and the Ruta del Vino or wine region around Valle de Guadaloupe. Master chefs from elite culinary schools feature an international cuisine to satisfy the most epicurean palate.

Ensenada is one of the best-educated and wealthiest cities in Mexico. This means that there are ample amenities to serve a growing population that appreciates them. Regardless the city does a great job of serving cruise passengers while saving its heart for those who appreciate it.

Off-Road Adventures

We get it. You’re into adventure and overland travel. Because of this, few places offer the terrain, proximity, and freedom to have fun like Baja California. The legendary Baja 1000 takes place each year across the peninsula. Nearly the whole region between San Felipe and La Paz is for off-road pleasure. Popular destinations include Lazaro Cardenas (East of Ensenada), San Felipe, El Rosario (Home of Mama Espinoza’s), and Cataviña.

Mexico vacations are easy and affordable by car. Mexican Insurance Store travel policies offer the best car insurance for Mexico coverage as well as the best value for cars, motorcycles, and RVs. Travel Mexico – Visit Baja California – Mexican Insurance Store

villas along pond - MexicanInsuranceStore.com — Villas at El Cielo Winery and Resort.

Romantic Getaway

Even with the expansive definitions of ‘Romantic’ getaways, Baja California presents unique and affordable offerings.

For instance, does an ocean-front villa fill your notion of a romantic getaway? The coastline between Tijuana and La Bufadora offers countless locations. Destinations featuring private pools, secluded beaches, and an in-house chef are awaiting your booking.

Perhaps you desire a luxurious weekend at a winery. Because of the rich soil and ideal weather, Baja California wineries continue to gain prominence globally. In addition, many local Wineries, including Encuentro and El Cielo, feature exquisite overnight experiences.

Since desires and tastes vary, the region offers a diverse range of prices and amenities at each available property. Many of these villas are found on popular sites, including Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com.

Safety

The corporate news media relentlessly drives to keep people afraid and angry. In other words, when people are fearful, anxious, and angry, they’re controllable. Those who profit from fear get little resistance to your complicity. It’s one of the oldest schemes in history. Create a problem and then offer your brand of a solution. Don’t believe it? Monitor your blood pressure for 15 minutes while watching any news channel. Peace and contentment are the last things these organizations want you to experience.

Now with that out of the way, Mexico, like most countries, has its problem areas. Is it fair to damn all of Canada because Vancouver has high crime rates?

One blatant example of media manipulation is the reporting of violence in Tijuana. The truth is that the Municipality of Tijuana has a high murder rate. The reality is that Municipalities in Mexico are like counties in the USA. The Tijuana Municipality is nearly 340 square miles. The city itself only occupies a fraction of that space. The municipality covers the US border to the north. It’s surrounded by Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, and Tecate to the south and east. The violence is nearly exclusively outside the city area and almost entirely among those carrying out criminal activities. But, of course, the fear mongers and hate peddlers don’t bother to point this out.

So what’s the conclusion?

In other words, Tijuana (the city) is safer for travelers than Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. The simple rule is to enjoy the beaches, fine dining, and perfect year-round weather without being an idiot. Avoid the temptation to do dumb things you would never do at home. Just remember, you need a Mexican Insurance Store travel policy to protect yourself financially in case of an accident.

That’s right, resist the urge to go out on night-time drives into the outskirts of the city. Don’t visit ATMs well into the night, be too curious, or try to play ‘James Bond.’ Do you do any of these daft things in your ‘safe’ community back home?

Wrongful deaths among tourists not engaged in criminal activities are practically nonexistent in this state.

In conclusion, Baja California is an exciting destination for travelers. It has a well-earned reputation for delivering value and satisfaction to visitors. Whether you seek romance, adventure, solace, or culture, it’s is a great place to visit.

Travel Mexico – Visit Baja California – Mexican Insurance Store

Do I Really Need Mexican Auto Insurance?

August 24, 2020

It’s hard to believe in 2020 that some people think you don’t need Mexican auto insurance when driving your car, motorcycle, or RV in Mexico.

Seriously, it’s an eye-roller when a proud ignoramus proclaims that you don’t need insurance and that, in all of their travels, they never had it. First off, they probably haven’t been to Mexico since 1989. Second, they tend to have loud contrarian opinions on a whole litany of topics, from UFOs to conspiracy theories. Third, 9 times out of 10, they’ve been drinking rather heavily.

Occasionally, someone on a Mex Facebook Group will post something that reads like this. “My friend’s uncle, who lives in Mexico, says Mexico car insurance is for stupid Gringos, and you really don’t need it.” Peruse through the posts long enough, and you’ll eventually see a post that looks like this. If you’re gullible enough to believe any story that begins with “My friend’s Uncle…” or something along this line, you really shouldn’t leave your home. The only stupid Gringos are the ones who think Mexico has no laws and that they are somehow immune from obeying them. These fine MENSA candidates invariably end up in jail, broke, and sometimes dead. It’s a sad but real truth. It’s not the ‘cartels’ who seemingly risk their multi-billion dollar operation to hassle a dumb tourist. Rather it’s the visitors’ own acute stupidity that led to their misfortune.

When it comes to driving in Mexico (or anywhere, for that matter), ignorance is not bliss.

Hopefully, these people aren’t the ones you listen to about anything. Especially anything about our neighbors to the South.

Here is the reality spelled out.

If you are in a car accident South of the Border, it’s not like in the USA. First, the police show up and immediately assign fault. Then, they estimate an amount for damages and detain the ‘responsible’ party until they pay the full amount.

Now, if you have (good) insurance, you call them with their local (non-toll free) number from your US Mobile phone and report a claim. First, make sure you have Whatsapp installed on your phone. Many times you won’t know your location, but the agent on the phone will have Whatsapp. You can send your exact location using the app. Next, you wait until they or the authorities arrive. If the police arrive first, tell them, “Tengo Seguro.” It means you have insurance.

From here, you will know why you were smart and bought the good coverage instead of listening to your dumb friend’s uncle. If you bought a Mexico car insurance policy from Mexican Insurance Store .com. There are no bad policies or insurers offered for sale at Mexican Insurance Store.

Your Insurance representative that shows up will verify your policy with you. Try to have a copy on paper. They can also use your phone, or you can send it to their phone with Whatsapp. From here, 95% of all of your problems are taken care of. They will negotiate on your behalf and guarantee any damages assigned to you. Most importantly, you will not be detained or go to jail.

Concept of insurance man protective and car insurance policy examining

What happens if…

If you bought a cheap policy or were an imbecile and didn’t get insurance, start calling family and friends to get ready to wire money to you. La Policía will assign an amount in damages, and you need to pay up, right then and there. If you don’t have the money, cops will take you, under detainment, to a bank or Western Union to get the money. Can’t get the money they assign as your damages? You’ll get to sit in a Mexican jail until you do.

If you don’t agree with the amount, you will be seen by a traffic judge within 24 hours. They will most likely side with the cop and probably make you pay even more. This is because the damages will, no doubt, increase in the hours after the collision.

If there’s one thing you learn from all of this, it’s that:

Yes! It would be best if you had Mexican auto insurance to bring your vehicle into Mexico.
A well-backed policy from a reputable carrier will cover you completely and make sure you stay out of jail in the event of an accident.
Cheap policies are just that. They can be nearly worthless at protecting you from the unpleasant aftermath of a collision. You might be able to use them for toilet paper in the jail cell.
Nearly all policies purchased at the border kiosks appear cheap, but leave you quite vulnerable in a collision. Ultimately kiosks often cost you more, because significant fees are added to the total cost.
Your dumb friend, the loud drunk guy, or the blustering fool on the Facebook group (who probably never actually went to Mexico) is an idiot. You probably shouldn’t be listening to idiots.

Here is an info-graphic we created to help you understand the process if you are involved in a collision South of the Border.

Mexican auto insurance - Mexican Insurance Store — Infographic of a Mexico Accident Timeline – Carry Mexican Auto Insurance

Mexican Car Insurance – The Secret To Buying the Best Policy

August 15, 2020

Is there really a secret to buying Mexican car insurance? With so many options and vendors offering Mexican car Insurance, knowing what to get and how much coverage is necessary isn’t easy. Learn the secret from one of the nation’s largest Mexico Insurance brokers.

Secret 1 Quality Mexico insurance policies are vital. There are NO standardized car insurance policies. They’re all different.

Unlike in the USA, Canada, and the EU, insurance policy limits and the ability of insurers to pay are not heavily regulated in Mexico. High-quality insurers like CHUBB, Mapfre, and HDI are outstanding and on par with any top-rated insurer in the USA. Second and third-rate insurers that are not rated or carry an AM Best rating of B or worse can leave the policyholder with Swiss cheese coverage. (i.e., TOO many holes or exclusions) In the event of an accident, many of these low-grade insurers leave you on the hook for normal repair costs. They cover meager labor rates ($15/hr or less). They train their claims staff to offer you wholesale rather than retail or private party values for your wrecked or stolen vehicle.

High-quality policies from CHUBB and Mapfre allow you to get your vehicle repaired in the USA. They also offer USD 1000 in towing, which can get you to the border from most of Mexico. The best part is that they don’t necessarily cost you more.

Finally, high-quality Mexico car insurance policies pay claims quickly and efficiently. Often, claims are settled in weeks rather than months or years.

Secret 2 Get Full Coverage Car Insurance (unless your car is old)

By now, most drivers in the USA know that ‘Liability Only’ insurance is a bad way to go. Sure, it covers the other person. Unfortunately, you have all the responsibility of towing, repairing, medical, and a rental replacement vehicle. You may be thinking, “Well, if it’s the other person’s fault, they’ll have to pay.” That’s incredibly naive. First, if the other person doesn’t have insurance, you get nothing. Second, if the other person takes off, you get nothing. Third, if you’re found at fault, you get nothing.

The same is true in Mexico. Right or wrong, expect to be found at fault in an accident. There are exceptions. If you speak excellent Spanish and can rally witnesses, or have compelling (video) evidence in your favor, there may be a chance.

Bottom line: Unless you’re willing to walk away from any vehicle you bring into Mexico and take care of any additional liability out of your own pocket, get full coverage.

Please understand, full-coverage insurance for tourists traveling in Mexico is only available to vehicles under 20 years old.

Secret 3 When buying Mexico Insurance policies, try to match your car insurance coverage at home.

Many travelers try to pinch pennies when buying insurance. If nothing happens, you’re fine. When something does happen, be glad you have the good stuff. Alternatively, expect to be very upset if you went cheap.

If your policy is $100,000 at home, get at least that in Mexico. Own a nicer car or a pricey RV? Buy at least $300,000 coverage.

Matching your home policy removes the guesswork on how much insurance to buy in Mexico. If it’s good enough for you at home, it’s probably good enough South of the Border.

Secret 4 When quoting car insurance for Mexican vehicles be sure of your choices.

Buying a Mexican car insurance policy online is really straightforward, but you must get correct checkboxes, or it could render your policy null and void.

The second entry to make sure you get right is “Actual Cash Value.” Mexico Insurance companies use “Actual Cash Value” as a basis for valuing vehicles in the event of a total loss due to collision or theft. Overvaluing your vehicle only serves to increase your premium. Use industry benchmarks like Kelley Blue Book to determine the value of your vehicle.

Everybody thinks they have a good Mexican car insurance policy until they need to use it. Don’t guess if you have proper coverage.

Secret 5 Good Mexican insurance policies eliminate 95% of all potential problems

This is absolutely true. If you are in an accident, the first thing you must do is call your insurance company to report a claim and get an adjuster onsite. Know the non-800 number to call the insurance carrier from your mobile phone. We recommend putting it along with your policy number as a contact entry on your phone. Also, save the policy PDF files on your phone too.

A Mexican adjuster serves as your advocate and verifies to authorities that you have Mexican car insurance. From here on out, expect ‘royal’ treatment.

If you don’t have enough coverage, no problem. La Policia will hold you in jail until you make full restitution. The police officer on-site or a traffic judge within 48 hours determines the amount of damages. If you don’t have insurance or can’t make restitution, in full, you’ll be held in jail. HINT: You never want to be in a Mexican Jail.

Secret 6 Never buy Mexico car insurance policies at one of the border kiosks

Those kiosks at the border are not a good value. Count on overpriced, inferior quality policies. Moreover, many of them are liability only. Remember about liability-only policies.

In some cases, the policies at the border aren’t even worth the paper they’re printed on. Most of the time, the limits of coverage specified are meager, like USD 10,000 and often less.

Any liability limit less than $100,000 in most states is inadequate. $300,000 is needed in most states now due to recently increased fatality requirements.

Secret 7 Car insurance for Mexican vehicles is affordable. Don’t be cheap!

As with all things in life, you get what you pay for.

Yes, South of the Border is a wonderful bargain destination for food, accommodations, and leisure activity. It’s one of the reasons Mexico remains a top worldwide tourist destination.

With all of that, it’s super important not to fall into the cheap trap. Many times, inferior products and services are offered to those who are only interested in being cheap, cheap, cheap. These policies are no exception. Mexicans aren’t stupid and know the meaning of value and quality. They want to accommodate all the different personalities who visit their country.

The smart traveler understands this in ways a news-hyped tourist never will. So don’t fall into that trap of being too cheap. In the end, the joke is always on you!

Insurance Conclusions

The best secret to buying Mexican car insurance is to have it before you enter Mexico.

Enjoy Mexico When You Can’t Be There

July 31, 2020

Enjoy Mexico (When you can’t be there because of COVID-19) by Mexican Insurance Store

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many of us in the USA and Canada are desperate to enjoy traveling South of the Border. But, unfortunately, we’re suffering from significant withdrawals.

We long to travel and share in its many riches. From culture, community, and the food we all desire to return.

What can we do now?

With travel restrictions in place, both locally and abroad, it isn’t easy to plan a trip anywhere. Fortunately, there are many things we can do to enjoy “the Mexican experience” and be at our best when we can return.

Some of those stories end up here on our blog page. However, the big feature-length articles end up on our external page called “Tips, Secrets, and Practical Advice for Traveling Mexico.”

On that site, we commissioned an award-winning story called “Eight Ways to Experience Mexico When You Can’t Be in Mexico.”

mexican food — A photo of Mexican food, including tacos, guacamole, pico de gallo, nachos, and others, was shot from the top with ingredients on a dark rustic wooden background.

There, you can discover the many ways you can enjoy the best South of the border Culture. Discover ways to have the best experience of your life when you return.

Whether it’s an illness, injury, finances, or COVID-19, there are many ways to enjoy your time still.

Mexican Insurance Store is committed to providing real, honest, and authentic information about Mexico. We offer the highest quality policies available in the marketplace. That’s why we hired the best travel writers to craft stories that are both entertaining and informative.

Use your newfound skills and cultural appreciation to make the next trip one of your best. Remember to get high-quality protection from MexicanInsuranceStore.com.

Enjoying a Second Visit to Mexico With Quality Mexican Car Insurance!

Mexico’s Most Beautiful Roads

June 17, 2020

Travel Smart and Safe with Mexico Insurance For Cars by Mexican Insurance Store.

Story by Seguros Mapfre (Translated and expanded by Jim Foreman)

While vising these spectacular roads in Mexico, it’s easy to agree with the saying, “The important thing is the trip, not the destination.”

Enjoying these amazing roads is easy. The trick is to fuel up, pack light, and include some water bottles and snacks. Above all, don’t forget your camera, because the views will captivate you.

Scenic Road Mex-1 Tijuana-Ensenada

Baja California makes both Americans and Mexicans fall in love with this beautiful coastline. For those who can’t make it up to California’s Big Sur, the Scenic Road will leave you equally wowed! The Rosarito viewpoint and the Todos Los Santos Bay are worthy stops. They feature views that will amaze and inspire you. Mex-1 deserves this proud distinction and you’ll see why, as you drive safely through the North of the country.

El Espinazo del Diablo – Photo by Jim Foreman

El Espinazo del Diablo – Mex 40 (Libre) Durango-Mazatlán

Stretching between Mazatlan and Durango, Mex-40 (Libre) is a must-travel road. Be sure not to confuse this road with the new parallel cuota road (Mex-40D). Mex 40 (Libre) offers you the spectacle of the Sierra Madre Occidental range. Enjoy breathtaking canyons, mountains, slopes, and the viewpoint of at the ‘Espinazo del Diablo’ (Pictured). Before you go, fill up with gas in Durango, El Salto, Villa Union, or Mazatlan. There aren’t any gas stations for a very long stretch. This road is not recommended for RVs. The narrow twists and turns will be maddening. It’s best on a motorcycle or sports car. Some even travel it by bicycle. Those exciting hours of travel that connect Durango with Mazatlán will give you incredible views and wonderful memories.

CDMX-Toluca Mex-15 (Libre) Via La Marquesa

Anyone who has gone for a green or purple corn quesadilla knows exactly what we are talking about. This short-run features lush landscapes of leafy pine trees and light mist, even in summer. Both the Libre and the adjacent Cuota are very popular with motorcycles and sports cars. The roads are twisty, but the view is certainly worth it.

Of course, the most important thing is that you travel protected. In Mexico, you must have at least auto liability insurance. Unless you only travel with liability only at home, you probably want Full-Coverage Mexico insurance for cars. We offer multiple options to best suit your needs. Especially if you go out on road trips, a top pick is Mapfre Elite. This coverage includes road assistance, medical expenses for the occupants, legal assistance, and other advantages.

Whenever you go, wherever you go, travel smart and safe with Mexican Insurance Store.

Paseo de La Reforma avenue and Angel of Independence Monument – Mexico City, Mexico

Exposing Fake Travel Stories About Mexico

April 1, 2020

When you need the best Mexican insurance for cars, you’ll find it here.

Instagram influencer’s fake travel pics revealed when followers notice the exact same cloud pattern in all of her snaps

By Jim Foreman

Let’s say someone types “Travel Mexico” into their favorite search engine. Go ahead, try it. A slew of stories and articles will come up. Now, try to determine which ones are accurate and genuine information from people who travel there. That’s the thing. Most people who are writing these stories don’t actually go to Mexico. Most of these stories are imagined, made up, or fake.

Bored Panda recently featured another story about fake influencers.

Allow me to let you in on a little secret. Most ‘journalism’ you read is complete caca-del-toro. One person will write a story about a topic that wasn’t covered in a while. Then, seemingly overnight, over a dozen stories will pop up. Curiously, they all echo the same original story in that particular writer’s own words. Is it any more accurate? Nope!

What’s crazy is now there are twelve stories about Mexico travel, all based on one account. That original story writer hadn’t even been to Mexico. They just happened to glom onto a local Mexican story on their social media feed.

The worst are the ones who fake their travel adventures. That Instagram influencer or Facebook wanderlust warrior isn’t what you think. They are probably clever people simply looking to make money. This is nothing new. Since the dawn of journalism, this practice has been ongoing.

Discover more about this young travel influencer in this story in the Sun.

The Argentinian travel blogger says she couldn’t understand why jokes and insults had been taken so far on social media Credit: tupisaravia/Instagram

You, however, see through this inadvertent deception and want to know what’s genuinely happening in Mexico from people who are there, boots on the ground.

We do too!

How can we combat all the false, inaccurate, ridiculous, and worthless information? Mexican Insurance Store commissioned a series of stories meant to de-bunk the mostly lousy and unreliable information out there. Unlike most other sources, these stories and articles are real.

Explore for yourself accurate and straightforward information about traveling through Mexico.

Go to our award-winning in-depth articles about travel in Mexico. Each story is written by a verified traveler and vetted by locals living in Mexico.

Discover the real deal about traveling by car, truck, RV, or motorcycle. When you need the best Mexican insurance for cars, you’ll find it here at Mexican Insurance Store.