How to Avoid an Accident While Driving in Mexico

4: Narrow Roads – Slow Down or Stop When Passing Large Vehicles

Every year we have a number of insurance claims where the customer complains that a truck or large vehicle passed too closely and scraped them or drove them entirely off the road. The Baja Highway 1 is extremely narrow, and there are sometimes only a few inches of shoulder on the side of the road. The wind generated by a large passing truck can also cause drivers to momentarily lose control of their vehicles. For this reason, we highly recommend that you slow down to a crawl anytime you see a large truck coming towards you in the opposite lane. Don’t be afraid of driving like a turtle. The most important thing is that you have a fun and safe journey, so take your time!

5: Off Road & Beaches – Don’t Get Stuck!

Another unfortunate insurance claim that we sometimes see involves vehicles getting stuck on the beach or other off-road locations. First of all, typical Mexican auto insurance does not cover accidents that occur while driving off-road or on the beach, so off-roading is at your own risk. But if you are still considering driving off-road, here are two unfortunate occurrences that we see come into the insurance claims department. 1: While driving on the beach at low tide, the vehicle gets stuck in the sand. The tide then comes in and completely floods the vehicle. Not only is the vehicle ruined, but the Mexican auto insurance does not cover this type of claim. 2: While off-roading, the vehicle gets stuck. While going to look for a tow truck, looters come and strip the vehicle of all of its parts. Off-roading claims are also not covered. For these reasons, we strongly suggest that you do not drive off-road unless you really know what you are doing and understand what the consequences could be.

6: Theft of Vehicle – Use an Anti-Theft Device as Deterrent – Park in Safe Areas

With the improvements of anti-theft mechanisms in new cars, we have seen some decrease in vehicle thefts over the years. However, we still do see a number of theft insurance claims every year. Theft is probably one of the easiest losses to avoid if you follow a few simple rules. 1: Use and anti-theft device such as a steering wheel club or other mechanism to act as a visual deterrent. 2: Always park in a secure parking lot overnight. All decent hotels and RV parks should have some form of night security. Do not leave your vehicle parked on the street overnight! 3: Always try to park where other vehicles are parked and where people are. You do not want to park in a secluded alley or alone on the side of a road.

Driving to Mexico is usually a very safe and enjoyable experience, but you should also understand how Mexican roads can be different from the US or Canada. If you stay cautious and consider the above situations, odds are that you will never have to deal with a Mexican auto insurance claim. We wish you safe & happy travels..