MileCheckDo I need Mexican car insurance?
Yes. Arrange Mexican liability insurance before you drive across the border. If you rent in Mexico, confirm that the rental includes that coverage before you leave the counter.
Facts checked September 2026. Every number links to its source; prices and rules change, so confirm the day you travel.
Your usual policy is not enough to assume you are covered
A policy that covers you at home is not proof of Mexican liability coverage. Ask your insurer for written confirmation of what applies in Mexico and which insurer provides it.
Canada's travel guidance says Canadian automobile insurance is not valid there. Get the Mexico policy before crossing.
Liability and damage to your car are different cover
Liability pays for injury or damage you cause to other people, subject to the policy's limits. It does not mean your own car is covered.
Broader cover can include theft and collision damage. Compare the deductible and exclusions as well as the premium. Check whether legal assistance and roadside assistance are included in the policy you select. Profeco explains the coverage types.
Buy it before you cross
You can buy a policy online before the trip. Sanborn's offers policies from one day to a year. Enter your crossing time carefully so coverage has started when you enter Mexico.
Check the vehicle details and the territory covered. Save the policy and claims number on your phone, and carry a printed copy.
Compare a week with a year
Get a quote for your actual dates, then an annual quote with the same cover. Compare the total prices. Multiplying a daily price by 365 will not tell you what an annual policy costs.
Sanborn's says price depends on the vehicle's value, coverage and trip length, with discounts for longer policies. If you expect another trip, include that trip when comparing the two quotes. Check current policy options.
At a rental counter, confirm what is included
Ask the rental company to identify the Mexican liability cover in your contract, including its limit. Ask separately what you would owe if the rental car were damaged or stolen.
Review optional cover against what you already have. Profeco advises checking included insurance and the cost, coverage and exclusions of additional insurance. “Decline everything” and “buy everything” both skip that check.
After a crash, call the insurer
Mexican liability insurance is mandatory, and a crash without it is handled under Mexican law, not your home insurer's. Keep the policy where you can reach it.
Use the claims number on your Mexican policy. Follow the insurer's reporting instructions and get its adjuster's guidance before agreeing to a private settlement. Sanborn's warns that settling a claim yourself can void coverage.
For a breakdown, give the road and kilometre
Call 078 for Ángeles Verdes roadside assistance. Dispatch depends on whether you are within its coverage. See the service's guidance.
Mexican road signs use kilometre and route references. Read the nearest marker and give your direction of travel. For example, “kilómetro 142 de la carretera 15, hacia el norte” means kilometre 142 on Highway 15, heading north. Use the numbers you can actually see. SCT's road-sign manual includes kilometre and route signs.
Know exactly where you are — live
Your mile marker shows even offline. Live DOT alerts and the nearest camera on your route are part of MileCheck Premium and need a connection to update. Runs on CarPlay and Android Auto.
Questions, answered
Do I need insurance for a one-day drive into Mexico?
Yes. Arrange cover for the whole time the vehicle will be in Mexico, even for a day trip.
Does my US insurance card prove I am covered in Mexico?
No. Ask your insurer for the Mexico policy and its coverage details before you cross.
Does liability insurance pay to repair my own car?
Liability covers harm to other people and their property. Check your policy separately for damage to your car.
Can I buy Mexican car insurance online?
Yes. Set the start time to cover your border crossing and save the policy before leaving.
Is an annual policy cheaper than a week?
Compare quotes with identical coverage. An annual policy can make more sense for repeat trips, but it is not automatically cheaper for one week.
Should I buy every insurance option at the rental counter?
Confirm the required liability coverage first. Then compare optional products with your existing cover and the amount you could owe.
What number do I call for Ángeles Verdes?
Call 078. Give the road number, kilometre marker and direction of travel.