Mexican Auto Insurance Online

Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Hello Everyone,

I am hereby inviting suggestions from your side about Mexican Auto Insurance available online. Would it be good to buy the insurance online? Your suggestions are welcome.

Regards,
Kimmley

Oct 21, 2011, 4:52 AM

Post #2 of 25 (1713 views)

Re: [Kimmley] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Hello Kimmley,

I think you are going to find that if you buy on line, you will have many unanswered questions. I know that did. I buy mine from this "Mexican Insurance Store" by simply calling the 1 800 number. http://mexicaninsurancestore.com/ Ask for Lyndon. Ask him as many questions as you wish. He really is a patient man. I have been using this agent now for several years and he first got me started on this Ace Insurance Group. I know the name isn't one I would have used for my first choice, but what you need to know is the "rating" whatever insurance company you will use has. This Ace Group has a AA+ rating. I have had to make about three different claims over the years, and I have found their service excellent. I was very please with all three claims. Here is the company site. The call is free and you tell him that Robert from Kentucky sent you. No I don't anything for referring you, just peace of mind that I have hopefully helped someone to find a good insurance company. I found it easier to write down any questions I have before getting the insurance. None of my claims were my fault or my wife's fault. One a rock came tumbling down the mountainside and it could not have been avoided. Drove over the rock with a lot of noise i the middle of nowhere. I called and they sent a tow truck, got me to the dealer several hours away and the repair was made in good order. Another was a hit a run when my wife was driving. Again fast and excellent service and another one was an off the wall handcart incident in the streets, again treated with excellent service. Just always remember one thing. In México if you do have an accident first is do not move the car, no matter where it is or how heavy the traffic is. If you do move the car at all from point of impact you could possibly loose your claim. Believe it or not the insurance companies here in Mexico have a very fast response time for an adjuster to get to the scene. Get the license number of the other person along with the make and model of their card. Ask for and get their drivers license number. Then do not answer any questions of the other driver about the accident. Admit nothing even to the cops. Wait until your adjuster arrives at the scene. Whip out your cell phone or a camera and start taking photos from all sides. It is also a good idea to wash and clean your car before you cross the border and get a photo of all sides of your car showing the good condition before you drive into México. This really helped me on one occasion. Good luck and welcome to MexConnect.

Robt65

(This post was edited by robt65 on Oct 21, 2011, 5:24 AM)

Aaron+

Oct 21, 2011, 11:07 AM

Post #3 of 25 (1678 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Mexico Mike and Mexconnect moderator Rolly Brook also have time tested advice, the former on his website, and the latter in his jointly authored book and website. Google them. Mexico Mike also is a source of tested info on road conditions. When I first came down, I arranged for coverage with a Mexican company through an agency in Laredo, Texas, which mailed the policy to my US address before our trip.

I have also bought car insurance directly from Mexican insurers over the Internet, though most expats probably recommend dealing directly in Mexico with an English-speaking agent if your Spanish is not workable. PROFECO, in Spanish, reviews national companies nationally and by region on its website. Perhaps the oldest and biggest national firm in Mexico is the well respected GNP. I went with ABA, owned by U.S. bank Ally (formerly GMAC).

Also, you might want to look at the city or regional expat websites for localized suggestions regarding agents. (I am not referring to the regional Mexconnect sites, which seem woefully underutilized though they contain some good info.)

(This post was edited by Aaron+ on Oct 21, 2011, 11:22 AM)

Moisheh

Oct 21, 2011, 7:18 PM

Post #4 of 25 (1642 views)

Re: [Aaron+] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Be cautious with Mexico Mike's suggestions. Unlike Rolly who gives us information because he likes to help Mexico Mike wants your money. He gets a cut from all that insurance. He even has something like this on his web iste. If you want more info just contatct me and I will tell you how much I charge. He recommends the company that gives him the best discount. His info on travel is not up to date. I consider him a "used to be expert" He did write all those Sanborn's sheets and in their day they were great. But that was before the net . Here is a tidbit on Mexican Auto Insurance (tourist). There is a company in Scottsdale. Something like International Insurance. They are the engine behind at least 25 of the on line so called agents. The ones where they offer you a comparison of 5 companies. Any of us can become agents overnight complete with a ready to go website. Like many on this forum I prefer to deal with a real Broker. Lewis and Lewis is one of the best. They have a bricks and mortar location as well as on line. Their policies were designed by Jim Lewis and the coverage is usually much better. In the last 20 plus years I have had 3 claims and all were handled well. There are other good agents.

Oct 22, 2011, 6:32 AM

Post #5 of 25 (1616 views)

Re: [Kimmley] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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I have to agree with Moisheh's verdict of Mexico Mike's suggestions. He is definitely in it for the money and he makes no bones about it. That much I give him credit for. Almost all Mexican insurance companies charge the same amount for the insurance of American plated or Canadian plated cars and drivers south of the border. It is very wise, no matter whom you choose to insure you, to check not with the Mexican standards of ratings of insurance companies but of the American standards of ratings to find the insurance company with the best ratings. Some are only local insurance companies and do not have Mexico wide access to insurance adjusters. The adjusters are the ones who make many of the decisions. I have found two different instances where they were way off the mark when suggesting a cost for repairs. I fought it and won. Use a good well rated AA or better rated insurance company. You wil not be sorry you did. One reality was when a small dent in the right front fender near the door hinge was stated by the adjuster to cost only about $1000 to 1500 MX Pesos to repair. I opted to get the stateside estimate which my insurance company (ACE) allows and the cost estimate was $500 USD, or $6,825.00 MX Pesos in today’s currency exchange, quite a difference. The reason given by the NOB dealer cost was the necessity of blending the paint near the door. It really is quite a process if you follow the work closely. I can really see the difference.

robt65

Oct 23, 2011, 12:55 PM

Post #6 of 25 (1542 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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"Almost all Mexican insurance companies charge the same amount for the insurance of American plated or Canadian plated cars and drivers south of the border."

Well, robt65, I have not found this to be true in the past nor today. Maybe the Mexican insurance companies themselves charge about the same for like coverage but what gets passed on to the buyer is often drastically different in my experience.

Case in point: I am currently 'shopping' for a policy for my trip down this winter. In the past I have used Lewis & Lewis and San Xavier multiple times after considering coverage, underlying Mexican Insurance company and 'broker'. What I found in the past was a fairly significant difference for comparable coverage at any given time. At one point I chose to use San Xavier because they also offered 'travel assistance back home' in case I needed it. Almost no one else did (but that is not the case these days it appears).

Last week I got quotes online from 3 different sources; Lewis & Lewis, San Xavier and Mexican Insurance Store. I asked for 6-month coverage on a 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid valued at $19,000, to include partial theft and vandalism, have fixed deductibles at $500 for physical damage and $1,000 for total theft, a minimum of $4,000/$25,000 Medical Payments, a minimum of $100,000 Liability, and Legal Assistance/Bail Bond. I also looked to see what kind of 'travel assistance' was given by each, if any.

The quotes I received were as follows:

Lewis & Lewis $349.59 using Mexican Insurance Company ANA
Mexican Insurance Store $524.16 using " " " ACE
San Xavier $233.50 using " " " Mapfre

So, quite a difference in price with very little difference in coverage. The 'Medical Assistance/Evacuation' may be a little more robust with both Lewis & Lewis and Mexican Insurance Store but the Mapfre coverage is good and is fine for me (since it is not the primary reason for having auto insurance).

Anyway, I'll continue to check policy wording but it looks like they are comparable in coverage but significantly different in cost!

(This post was edited by RickS on Oct 23, 2011, 3:39 PM)

Oct 23, 2011, 6:58 PM

Post #7 of 25 (1511 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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and what might the company ratings of these less expensive insurance companies be?

robt65

Oct 23, 2011, 9:16 PM

Post #8 of 25 (1500 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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robt65, I'm going to leave that question up to you. I understand that your are high on ACE and that according to you they are "AA+". But I also see that your 'broker', Mexican Insurance Store's President Linden Gray says he "couldn't be happier about adding MAPFRE to their lineup. Their website says they only sell insurance by companies rated "A+" by A.M. Best. See http://www.prweb.com/.../10/prweb8886594.htm

My main point here is that equal coverage, sometimes from the same underlying insurance company, can have differing costs. If someone has valuable information about one of the underlying insurance companies in my examples I would surely like to know.

(This post was edited by RickS on Oct 24, 2011, 8:39 AM)

Oct 24, 2011, 4:22 AM

Post #9 of 25 (1489 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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The question is not whether to “leave it up to me” but rather time for you to do your homework Bud before you start placing misguided information for a response. Mapfre has an A- rating according to insurance ratings organizations. Last time I checked, I did not ever proclaim to be an insurance rating company . . . . . . . but I do my homework and do not believe everything I read from brokers who only wish to sell and make money from insurance companies. The only thing I do know for sure is that you have not done your homework.
From the Insurance Journal” http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2011/05/18/199109.htm an A - rating, from AM Best http://www.bnamericas.com/news/insurance/AM_Best_affirms_Mapfre_unit_ratings an A - rating confirmation, http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2011-05/20204818-a-m-best-affirms-ratings-of-mapfre-tepeyac-s-a-004.htm Confirms an A - rating
A quote from the Insurance Journal As partial offsetting factors A.M. Best cited the company’s “underwriting losses in recent years, the increasingly competitive Mexican insurance market and the company’s reliance on reinsurance to protect its earnings and surplus.”
Linden may well, as you quoted, have said . . . . “Mexican Insurance Store's President Linden Gray says he "couldn't be happier about adding MAPFRE to their lineup” as I would suspect that he might like to have a cheaper insurance line to offer those who do not particularly care about ratings . . . . . . . until it is maybe too late.
I would suggest you speak to Mr. Gray about his advertising of only carrying A + rated insurance advertising and discuss that problem with him, as it seems pretty clear to me that as stated above . . . . Mapfre is an A – rated company.
So all I can say Bud is for you to do your homework and not to believe everything you read. If for a paltry $100 or $150 dollars between an AA+ rated company and an A- rated company you are happy with what you may or may not get as far as services go then have at it. As for me I prefer to protect both my family and myself by a consistently excellent rated company. I have personal proof of their accident coverage by other drivers fault and then taking off, to a rolling stone from a mountainside and from a larger two car accident (not my fault) that I did indeed invest in a very good service where insurance was paid and my insurance was not raised as a result of any of the aforementioned accidents.
A nine year old insurance company that only got into the insurance business by buying an existing so – so company (Tepeyac) in 2002, is not my idea of a company with a long stability or history.
So please quit blowing smoke and trying to start a fight because it is clear on this subject you have not done your homework, which I humbly suggest you do in the future.
Mapfre well may be a good insurance company, but for the few dollars involved in insuring an automobile in a country that is well known for potentially stiff accident problems by the laws of the country, I prefer to have the best auto insurance I can get for both my well being and that of my family.
And by the way please do not take “Best A-Rating” as an endorsement of quality . . . . . . “A.M. Best” is a rating and financial company. You said “I understand that your are high on ACE” . . . . . . . . Also you might try spell checking before submitting a response . . . . . . “your” in this case of your letter is spelled you’re.
Shop on Bud!.

robt65

(This post was edited by robt65 on Oct 24, 2011, 4:38 AM)

Oct 24, 2011, 7:27 AM

Post #10 of 25 (1471 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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robt65,

Hey, I'm sorry that my post was construed to be an attack on you. It wasn't.

At the end of the day each of us must decide for ourselves how we run our lives. I have no desire to get into a pis_ing contest over something this trivial.... at least to me.

chinagringo

Oct 24, 2011, 7:35 AM

Post #11 of 25 (1467 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Not sure if either of you have looked at:

http://www.mexadventure.com/

Or if you are Costco members, they also offer Mexico Auto Insurance on/or through their website.

I have used both but only had a small claim 6 years ago, so I cannot attest to their claims handling.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

cbviajero

Oct 24, 2011, 7:51 AM

Post #12 of 25 (1460 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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I have used san javier for years,a couple of years ago they switched from mapfre to ana,that lasted less than a year due to customer complaints about ana now they are back with mapfre.
Chris

fordmexico

Oct 24, 2011, 8:31 AM

Post #13 of 25 (1452 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Lots of discussion about AM Best's Insurance ratings. From Best's website; here are some explanations.

http://www.ambest.com/ratings/guide.asp

Understanding Best's Financial Strength Ratings

A Best's FSR can be assigned to an insurance company on an interactive or non-interactive basis. In both cases, the rating scale and descriptors are:

Secure Vulnerable
A++, A+ (Superior) B, B- (Fair)
A- (Excellent) C, C- (Weak) ,
B++, B+ (Good) D (Poor)
E (Under Regulatory Supervision)
F (In Liquidation)
S (Suspended)

Outlook Definition

Positive Indicates possible rating upgrade due to favorable
financial/market trends relative to the current rating level.

Negative Indicates possible rating downgrade due to unfavorable
financial/market trends relative to the current rating level.

Stable Indicates low likelihood of a rating change due to stable
financial/market trends.

Companies rated AA+, A+, A and A- are all excellent or superior and secure. Most will have a stable outlook. Caution should be exercised with those that have been labeled with a negative outlook. For those of us with temporarily imported vehicles, there are but a few choices fr auto insurance which makes the selection a bit easier.

I have used GNP for 3 years. I purchase coverage through AAA (Texas). I have had 1 claim (last year - USA repair) which was settled to my satisfaction. GNP was last rated as A, which for me was satisfactory.

Oct 24, 2011, 1:57 PM

Post #14 of 25 (1419 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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RickS,

I very seldom take a post as an attack if they agree or disagree with my information or not. I did not take your post as an attack, but it is imperative that people investigate their information first before giving such information to others who may stand to loose an option because of incorrect information. It is pretty easy in today's world of the computer to check out from the appropriate sources for correct and up to date information. A source should never be a salesman, especially an insurance salesman.(smiling) Heck Linden and all other insurance salesman would sell you insurance on the gold in your dead grandmothers teeth, if he thought he could make a buck out of it!

When push comes to shove . . . . . . . you are absolutely correct, each must decide for themselves what is best for their needs and pocketbook; they should however have some correct information to make such informed choices from.

Robt65

Oct 24, 2011, 2:23 PM

Post #15 of 25 (1413 views)

Re: [fordmexico] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Fordmexico,

Thanks for the breakdown of the ratings, much appreciated. I also used GNP for my first Mexican car insurance several years ago. I thought they were also good at the time. I never had to make a claim from them but they seemed to also be a good company. they do have a lot of offices in almost every city of any size here.

I switched to Mexico Insurance Store solely due to the Ace Rating of AA + rating and the convenience of not having to go to an office at the time. I could get everything, copies of policies and insurance cards etc over the computer. I could also add my wife's name (Mexican National) without here even being there and they included her name on the Insurance.

By the way, I don't see the double AA + rating that A.M.Best has bestowed upon ACE Insurance as a rating. Where does the AA rating come from?

At the time GNP wanted to charge extra for my wife's name to appear on the policy. It worked for me, and since every year I have checked, Ace has always maintained their AA + rating I just never changed it.

robt65

(This post was edited by robt65 on Oct 24, 2011, 2:29 PM)

chinagringo

Oct 24, 2011, 2:47 PM

Post #16 of 25 (1402 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Speculation here but I think it would be more important to me to have a really good agent if I were living in Mexico. Through the years of reading/following these forums, one name, Jesus Tejeda out of Guadalajara keeps jumping to the top of the list.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Oct 24, 2011, 2:54 PM

Post #17 of 25 (1400 views)

Re: [chinagringo] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Thanks Neil for this information. I have been procrastinating about calling him. Anyone have this agents number?

robt65

bournemouth

Oct 24, 2011, 3:23 PM

Post #18 of 25 (1395 views)

Re: [robt65] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Jesus is indeed a wonderful agent but only provides insurance for residents of Jalisco. Based on our experience, he hesitates to recommend agents in other areas if he does not know them personally.

For those in Jalisco, his cell phone number is 333 467 0499 - we cannot recommend him too highly.

Oct 24, 2011, 3:53 PM

Post #19 of 25 (1389 views)

Re: [bournemouth] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Thanks Bournemouth,

Guess that lets me out and I can sure understand why he doesn't recommend agents in other areas if he doesn't know them personally. I will give him a call anyway to see if he knows of a good one here in Queretaro. Thanks for the number.

robt65

Oct 24, 2011, 5:36 PM

Post #20 of 25 (1374 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Some thoughts on my previous post about Mexican Auto Insurance and related rebuttals to that post.....
I have never knowingly authored a post here that I did not believe to be factual. But I have made some posts only to have someone correct what I said or give me some insight that I was not aware of. That is as it should be.

When I posted about my experience on getting some quotes for my upcoming winter trip, it was after I had done a good bit of due diligence about those quotes. I was, quite frankly, surprised that I got such a dollar range of quotes after making sure that I was getting an apples to apples comparison on the 'levels' I wanted to have..... or at least as close as one can get to it considering all companies don't offer exactly the same coverage..... close but not exactly. In previous years I have also seen a difference but this time it was much greater.

After seeing the lower much Mapfre quote, I emailed the agent (yes, San Xavier has brick and mortar stores) with several questions. I also got a copy of the Mapfre 'contract' and read every word of it.... more than once. Then I asked some more questions of San Xavier. And because there had been some discussions here about insurance company ratings, I checked online about Mapfre and was comfortable with my findings..... especially as I am purchasing insurance for a trip that will last 2-3 months at most, not years.

The upshot is that I believe that I have done 'more than most' might do (but obviously less than some) in order to be an intelligent buyer. I am very comfortable with my findings. Then, because a statement had been made about all insurance companies charging the same, I decided to post the results of my research on this Board. I believe that post to be factual, based on significant due diligence and far from misguided. I do not believe I have done a disservice to this Board by posting my research but, of course, everyone should do whatever they are comfortable with before purchasing Mexican car insurance.

Thanks to those who have responded with valuable information and recommendations. I have not yet purchased and will continue to look at my choices before my upcoming trip.
RickS

(This post was edited by RickS on Oct 24, 2011, 6:54 PM)

chinagringo

Oct 24, 2011, 6:50 PM

Post #21 of 25 (1360 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Just thought of something that may be a bit off the wall but with all of the advancements made, I am wondering if quotes provided might be relative to where the search is being made from? Face fact, many or most websites can tell where you are logged on from and tailor that results based upon that info. Just a thought!
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Oct 25, 2011, 5:05 AM

Post #22 of 25 (1341 views)

Re: [RickS] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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RickS,

Good morning, Now quit being so thin skinned! No one’s treating you like Gaddafi's last hour so get off the pity potty. You did put forth some good facts and provocative information that for one made me double check some facts. The world and its companies change from time to time . . . . . . . or as in Mexico from minute to minute! (smiling) You've been here long enough to know that happens. So quit beating yourself up and keep posting, if for no other reason than to make the rest of us double check!!!!! . . . . . . . believe me you are the only one who will feel the pain.

Regards

robt65

Aaron+

Oct 25, 2011, 11:40 AM

Post #23 of 25 (1313 views)

Re: [Aaron+] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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No to ABA!

Just read a posting by someone I regard as a reliable source who writes of his terrible experience, aggravated by mistreatment at the hands of ABA insurance. Yeah, the company now insuring our 2008 CRV. Well, that is one policy I will not renew! Anyhow, read MexicoSteve´s comments following the writeup by Hans of jail time, at http://www.yolisto.com/...with-circles-and-r86 .

(This post was edited by Rolly on Oct 25, 2011, 11:47 AM)

Rolly

Oct 25, 2011, 12:05 PM

Post #24 of 25 (1309 views)

Re: [Aaron+] Mexican Auto Insurance Online

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Wow! pretty awful ordeal the guy went through.
And pretty awful insurance company.

BTW, that website is a little confusing.
You will see a lot of blank space.
Scroll way down past the blank to find the article.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Oct 26, 2011, 7:23 AM

Post #25 of 25 (1264 views)