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cpag

Dec 28, 2011, 9:19 AM

Post #1 of 14 (2165 views)

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Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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Hello everyone!

My boyfriend and I were involved in a car accident outside of Ciudad Mante in Tamulipas yesterday afternoon. We have Mexican insurance, and that is no issue. However, the car is un-driveable, and we are currently scoping out our best options for returning both ourselves and the vehicle to the U.S.

We can have the vehicle towed to Laredo for about $1,000 USD, which we so far think is the best option. We also are looking into taking a bus to Ciudad Victoria, then one to Monterrey, then another to Nuevo Laredo—as our way back.

Does anyone have any other suggestions that might be of use to us? Which bus routes and/or lines would get us back to the U.S. as quickly as possible? How do these over all plans sound? Is there anything in your experience that would either be easier or less expensive?

I have relied on your forum in the past and hope that you may have some information that might be of use to me.

Thank you.

chinagringo

Dec 28, 2011, 9:37 AM

Post #2 of 14 (2155 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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I am assuming that you are talking a US plated vehicle? If so, check the provisions of your policy. Many insurance companies have a "Platinum" coverage which typically covers your transportation back NOB and the cost of getting your vehicle NOB.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Altahabana

Dec 28, 2011, 11:01 AM

Post #3 of 14 (2135 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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In Reply To

Does anyone have any other suggestions that might be of use to us? Which bus routes and/or lines would get us back to the U.S. as quickly as possible? How do these over all plans sound? Is there anything in your experience that would either be easier or less expensive?

Thank you.

RickS

Dec 28, 2011, 2:12 PM

Post #4 of 14 (2102 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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Assuming that you do not want to fix the car in Mexico, I don't know of any other options you have regards the car. BUT, I am surprised that it is going to cost $1,000 US Dollars to tow it to the border! That trip is 'only' about 400 miles and 8+ hours. I'm surprised that one could not find a Mexican driver/owner of a flat-bed tow truck that would make that trip for 1/2 that price plus overnight expenses. (But what do I know... it is just an opinion that I have held without any hard data to back it up). If one could find a driver, one might also could make a deal that you two would ride in the cab with him to the border thus saving the bus fare (which won't be much, granted) AND facilitate your presence with the vehicle getting it over the border (assuming that the driver might not be able to just drive into Laredo Tx. with the car on the flat-bed.

Remember that you must 'turn in your Temporary Import Permit/Stick' or you will 1)loose your deposit and 2) never get another vehicle back into Mexico without a big hastle.

P.S. It would be about 100 miles and maybe 1.5 hours closer to go to Brownsville Tx rather than Laredo. Just a thought.

(I know that this is NOT your primary concern at this moment, but if you find time after all the dust settles, please let us know how the whole ordeal turned out. Gracias)

(This post was edited by RickS on Dec 28, 2011, 2:18 PM)

Axixic

Dec 30, 2011, 4:19 AM

Post #5 of 14 (1993 views)

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Re: [RickS] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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How many miles per gallon does a flat bed truck get? It costs me almost $1000 to drive that far round trip which includes food, overnight stay, insurance, tolls, etc.

Unless the flat bed truck gets 50 miles to the gallon I don't see how $1000 is an unfair price and I can't figure out how it can be done with a profit for half of that.

cpag

Dec 30, 2011, 7:40 AM

Post #6 of 14 (1968 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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Hello, everyone!

Thank you for your helpful replies! We ended up negotiating the towing fee down to 750, of which the insurance covers $300.

We are now back in the U.S., though we are having the car fixed in Nuevo Laredo as the insurance will only cover repairs done in Mexican Body Shops.

Our insurance is Lewis & Lewis (in the U.S.) which links with Qualitas Insurance Company in Mexico. The car is a Toyota Avalon 2007 and is insured for $50,000, but it will cover only the actual value which is about $20-22,000 according to the Kelly Blue Book. This will all be translated to pesos.

Does anyone have any experience with Qualitas or Lewis and Lewis? Does anyone have any experience with Mexican body shops and the general cost of repairs? We are getting estimates today.

As far as we can tell at the moment, the back left door is destroyed along with the back left tire (blown out & rim), and the rear left quarter on the driver's side. The side air bags on the driver's side were deployed, but we are considering not having those replaced at the moment in case those push over the insurance limit. We would later have them replaced at the dealership.

All doors (other than back left) open and close, electronics are fine, car starts, engine is fine, passenger side is completely fine.

Thank you so much!

RickS

Dec 30, 2011, 7:46 AM

Post #7 of 14 (1965 views)

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Re: [Axixic] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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You may be right. But it is only 250 miles up to Brownsville from Ciudad Mante so if the truck got 10mpg the round trip would cost $150 in gas. Throw in another $350 in expenses and profit for the Mexican driver and maybe it could be done for $500 total. Maybe.

RickS

Dec 30, 2011, 8:08 AM

Post #8 of 14 (1962 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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"Does anyone have any experience with Qualitas or Lewis and Lewis?"

Lewis & Lewis was only the US broker who acted as your agent. To my knowledge they will have no bearing on this matter. Insuring the '07 Avalon for $50,000 was probably a mistake unless one didn't know that insurance always uses the blue book value, not what one might put on the insurance application. Depending on what model Avalon you have, $20-22,000 is probably generous. If this is an insurance 'estimate', do your own analysis with NADA and KBB, including all options (like maybe Navigation) and the zip code of your home town, not Nueva Laredo. Haggle with them.

I have very little experience with Mexican body shops... only enough to know that they can do excellent work for a fraction of what a dealership in the US would charge.

Good luck!

Axixic

Dec 30, 2011, 4:46 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1926 views)

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Re: [RickS] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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In Reply To

I misread what you wrote when you stated the trip is 400 miles. I thought you meant 400 miles one way.

donemry

Dec 31, 2011, 7:37 AM

Post #10 of 14 (1882 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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We had to have work done on a Toyota a couple of years ago. Same broker and insurance. The car was repaired at the local Toyota dealer. The whole experience was similar to having the adjuster and repairs done in the US. Except the adjuster came to us rather than we having to take the car to them.

surebought

Dec 31, 2011, 9:39 AM

Post #11 of 14 (1863 views)

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Re: [donemry] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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Towing is expensive in Mexico. I would try to get the the car drivable in Mexico. This happens all the time and they should be able to get you going unless you need special parts for a car that they don't make in Mexico. If you do get it to Brownsville, its going to be all Mexican Mechanics anyway. From my experience in Mexico, you are far more likely to have an auto accident than be a victim of a crime.

Moisheh

Jan 1, 2012, 6:24 AM

Post #12 of 14 (1800 views)

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Re: [surebought] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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I have dealt with Lewis And Lewis and Qualitas for many years. IMHO the best coverage available. Towing is expensive in Mexico $2.50 per mile is not excessive. Has the adjuster stated they will accept that value of about $20,000. Often they use low book and no options. There are lots of good body shops in Mexico and the labour costs are less than half of NOB. They can repair items that would be replaced in the USA. Most delaerships will recommend a good repair shop.

Moisheh

sioux4noff

Jan 1, 2012, 7:54 AM

Post #13 of 14 (1782 views)

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Re: [cpag] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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Sorry to hear about your accident. It sounds like you are not seriously injured, though, and that's a good thing.
We purchase insurance through Lewis & Lewis, and have always had good service from Qualitas.
We have always taken our car to the shop they recommend as they pay that shop directly so we may avoid some hassles there. In an area I am not familiar with, I would surely go to the shop recommended by the adjuster in that city.
On one occasion, we did need to call Lewis & Lewis to ask them to check on the status of a claim for us, which they did.
Also, does your insurance cover a rental car? Ours does, and we have used it several times as well. we did have to pay for that up front and get reimbursed.
Good luck with everything.

RickS

Jan 1, 2012, 11:13 AM

Post #14 of 14 (1757 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] Transportation back to U.S. after Accident

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The OP states that they made it to Laredo last Friday.....