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Bubba

Jun 7, 2005, 5:46 PM

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Insurance for "Tourist" Automobiles

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I write this for the benefit of people new to Mexico or planning to move here. If you move here with your U.S. plated automobile, you will need automobile insurance under what is known as a "tourist" insurance policy. Even if you stay here for 100 years under residency visas , if you keep that foreign plated vehicle you will be insured as having a "tourist" policy. Elsewhere in this forum you will find an individual claiming that your "tourist" policy may not be honored if your U.S. state registration has expired. This is not the case. Do not be alarmed by this false information. I responded to this incorrect information under the thread entitle "Red Alert". My response was deleted by some monitor who I doubt to be the regular monitor. I am posting this remark because I believe a great disservice is being done those reading these forums by the person presenting this incorrect information. I do not doubt his honorable intent, just his information.

I also think the monitors hereabouts should lighten up on their trigger fingers and stop interfering with innocuous but informative posts before they turn this web site into Mr. Roger's neighborhood.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Jun 7, 2005, 5:48 PM)

talosian

Jun 7, 2005, 5:52 PM

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Bubba, you are degrading the messenger.

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If you read my post, you will see I have quoted (and "quoted" is the operative word) some insurance agents. I have then given my OPINION (never stating it as fact) and finally suggested people check their policies.

If you think the above is incorrect, go to the sources which I quoted and show them wrong.

And I absolutely agree with you about your post being deleted, everyone is entitled to express their opinions on topic of the thread, which you did. Your post should not have been deleted (in my opinion).

Spock.
"When all logical explanations have failed, we must look to the illogical for the answer.

Rolly

Jun 7, 2005, 6:05 PM

Post #3 of 6 (874 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Insurance for "Tourist" Automobiles

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Bubba, both Tolosian and Johnv quoted Lewis and Lewis as the source of information that policies written by L&L require valid foreign registration. Will you please give us a citation for your assertion that this is not true?

Rolly Pirate

Bubba

Jun 7, 2005, 7:46 PM

Post #4 of 6 (848 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Insurance for "Tourist" Automobiles

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Rolly:

I cannot speak about Lewis & Lewis and will not ever use an out of town agency for my insurance coverage for any of my policies. That's no reflection on Lewis & Lewis about which I know absolutely nothing. I am the son of a very successful independent insurance agent and, because of my experience in that regard, will always deal with a local agent or broker who beds down near me, not in a foreign country. Just my take on emergencies. I have, since moving to Ajijic four years ago, always insured my foreign plated cars though the Lloyd insurance brokerage in Ajijic which is an agency affiliated with the Lloyd Investment House where we have traditionally held our peso investments since moving here. Lloyd issues me a policy that is a combination of insurance coverage by a company known as Seguros Tepeyac and Lloyd itself. For our Mexican purchased and plated vehicle we use ING Comercial Americas which is not competitive for "tourist" designated (foreign plated) vehicles but is great for vehicles purchased in Mexico. I have an outstanding agent with ING and would have all of my insurance with them if they insured foreign cars.

I have never had an automoble insurance claim since moving to Mexico but I will tell you this:

I have queried Lloyd on several occasions on the subject of whether or not current registration in the U.S. state in which the vehicle's title resides is important and on every inquiry I have been unequivocally assured that current U.S. registration is not an issue in terms of insurance coverage-period.

This is important. In California, one cannot renew one's registration unless one:
(1) Lives there or is temporarily absent and is planning to return.
(2) Has qualifying California insurance.
and:
(3) Can, on occasion get a smog clearance from a certified smog clearance from a certified smog crook (oops!) certification station in California.

Talk about Catch 22!

Folks moving here should not worry about this in the least. If this small problem bothers you, stay in Peoria.

Papirex

Jun 7, 2005, 8:31 PM

Post #5 of 6 (834 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Insurance for "Tourist" Automobiles

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Bubba, your info about the difficulty of registering a car in California is too damn tempting. I just HAVE to post this. The California DMV was bad when I lived there, it sounds like it has gone downhill from there.

.This has to do with registering a car in The US while living in MEXICO, so it meets the forums guidelines :-)

One of the many, many pleasures of moving to Alaska was the unexpected efficiency of all state agencies up there. If you go in to the DMV up there to get a new drivers license, you will walk out with your new, permanent license. The same if you are registering a used car, you will walk out with your new title, registration, license stickers, and new license plates, if you are willing to pay five Bucks for them.

When we were making the move to MEXICO, we changed our Alaska address from Anchorage to our daughters house in Fairbanks. We went to the DMV office in Anchorage to change our address on our drivers licenses and car titles. We walked out 20 minutes later with two new drivers licenses, two new titles, and two new registrations for our cars, one of which was in MEXICO already. These were permanent licenses, titles, and registrations, not temporary certificates.

We had gotten “Outside Use Waivers” for both of those cars, which exempts them from needing to have smog inspections every two years, if they are out of the state. Only two towns in Alaska require smog checks, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. Senior citizens in Alaska can register one car each for one Dollar per year too. We have two year registrations up there, so you will be hit with a whopping two Bucks to register your car every two years!! We used to send a limited power of attorney to our daughter up there, and she would do the registrations for us.

I quit doing that a couple of years ago, after all, two Bucks is Two Bucks!!

Auto insurance is mandatory in Alaska, but you are not required to show proof of insurance when registering a car. If you are involved in an accident, and you don’t have insurance, your vehicle registration is canceled until you can show proof of insurance. You must show proof of insurance for several years after that when registering your car. I think it’s for the next three years, but I’m not sure about it.

It’s no problem keeping a cars US registration current while you are living in MEXICO if you are an Alaska resident for DMV, voting, or tax purposes, and have family, or a friend up there that doesn’t mind going to The DMV for you every two years.

I posted most of this info a few years ago, but under this new format, all of those old posts are now long gone.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

alex .

Jun 8, 2005, 6:48 AM

Post #6 of 6 (776 views)

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Re: [Bubba] cheesy tourist policies

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Some of those quickie insurance providers that you find at the border have some interesting escape clauses. My favorite is : "In the event of a collision this policy becomes void".
Alex