Rental car insurance cost in Mexico??

[AmyJ]

We are headed out to the riviera maya and are planning on renting a car... the online quote is $144 for the week, but I'm sure this does not include all the required insurances and we can't fiind info on those costs... anyone have any idea what to expect? We just want to be sure we can afford it and not be shocked when we get the car. Thoughts, opinions or advice??? Thanks so much!!!!

 

[ItsBruce]

Whatever you do, don't go without insurance. If you are in an accident and can't prove financial responsibility, you could find yourself in jail for "safe-keeping" (to keep you from fleeing to avoid your debts.)

 

[snhrph]

What rental company are you renting from?

Go with one of the US-based major carriers, they should be able to get you a specific quote.

Enjoy the trip.

 

[shakeybrainsurgeon]

One piece of advice --- do not use the option of using your own auto insurance as a source of coverage on a rental vehicle. Many people do not realize that, to do this, you must:

1) notify your auto carrier to get permission FIRST
2) provide an assurance that your home vehicle will NOT be used while you are away using the rental (otherwise, they would be insuring too active vehicle on one policy)
3) make sure that your home vehicle is of equal or greater value than the rental (in other words, you can;t use the policy on a ten year old Escort to cover a 2006 rental Taurus)

Whatever the topline rental insurance costs, take it and grin. It's worth it, wherever you are!

 

[akbpilot]

We've rented a number of times, always with the full boat comp and liability insurance. We never bother with the personal insurance, as we have insurance that covers us both for medical and theft when we travel. Costs have run from $14us to $28us per day depending on what we have rented. I usually figure whatever the daily rental fee, double it and you will have the total. Make sure you get the details of the insurance cost worked out before you leave with the car. If it seems way too high, gather your stuff up and start to walk out. Usually the rate comes down before you can get out the door. If you are renting from an international company (Hertz, Avis, Thrifty etc) call their Mexican help-line before you leave the states, and get a toll-free number from them to use in Mexico. Asking the people at the counter to call the number to hash out a peoblem will almost always eliminate any problem you may have.

Your credit card insurance will work in Mexico, at least mine will. Problem is you have to have enough room on your card to pay for a totaled car, then hash it out with your credit card company when you get home. Not worth the hassle. Also, when you turn the car back in, they can claim chicken-**** minor damage if you get the insurance with a deductible. If you have the full coverage they usually only check to see if the spare tire is there and the majority of the car is in one piece. Any damage that occurs, they blame on the next un-insured person that rents it. Make sure you get a signed receipt when you pay with your credit card, and check your statement as soon as you get home. About half the time you get hosed on a bit on the exchange rate, but there's not much you can do about that. Car rental place figures your quote at one rate, and the credit card company figures it at another. 99% of the time the difference is not in your favor.

A few words of advice. Watch out for the gas station scams, and bone up on your Mexican driving rules. I think the locogringo.com forum has compiled a list of do's and dont's on their site. Keep your driving at night to a minimum and watch out for topes (speed bumps). You can actually catch air under all four wheels with a 20 year old VW bug.

 

[bikefox]

When we've rented in Mexico the insurance rates were between $20-$25 per day. Like akbpilot, we never get the "personal" injury insurance.

 

[clown trigger]

I don't buy insurance when I am there...
1) you get thrown in jail whether or not it was your fault, plus you can usually bribe the policia to get out of most any situation.
2) if a native/local hits you, they usually leave the scene before the policia arrives, they don't want to go to jail and you will go to jail becasue you are there.
3) if you hit someone (non-american) they usually leave before the police show up, so they don't go to jail.

How bad of driver are you if you can't last a couple of weeks to a month without getting in a wreck - jk

 

[KazInAz]

akbpilot is dead on. theres tons of info on locogringo.com
Ins. will double your online quote....dont leave home without it!

 

[Diver Lori]

Yes, figure on doubling your quote at least. Last year we had the cheapest car with a/c at around $17 per day....with the insurance the cost was well over $300. You can't prepay the insurance here, you have to pay it at pickup.