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If you decide to take a road trip in Mexico, then you of course want it to go off without a hitch. Still, you can’t prevent every accident. One of the scariest might be a vehicle fire, and those are often hard to prevent. Still, if the worst does happen, you do have resources if you have the right Mexican car insurance. Your policy can be a great benefit to you in many ways.
Mexican Car Insurance and its Coverage
American drivers who travel into Mexico must have Mexican car insurance. The law requires coverage of all drivers, including foreigners. Mexican law also does not recognize American auto policies, which is why drivers must buy a policy specifically for Mexico. Policies can provide both physical damage coverage and liability protection. You can often make yours last only for the duration of your trip.
About Vehicle Fires
A vehicle fire might be a scary, extremely costly, damaging and deadly event even in minor cases. Often, fires begin in the vehicle’s engine, gas or ventilation systems. They can spread quickly and cause a huge amount of damage in a short time. Sometimes, they prove hard to extinguish and run the risk of explosions.
It’s often hard to tell when a vehicle fire might erupt. Since drivers can’t see into their car’s machinery all the time, then fire hazards might go unnoticed. A single spark, friction or excessive heat in the wrong area could immediately erupt into a blaze in the middle of any drive.
Of course, the responsible driver should service and maintain their vehicle regularly. That way, your mechanic can check for any developing problems and fix them. Usually, it’s a good idea to inspect the vehicle before any road trip to Mexico. However, even those steps cannot prevent every fire risk. So, you still can benefit from the perks of Mexican vehicle insurance.
Coverage for Vehicle Fires
Mexican auto insurance policies usually include physical damage insurance. This is the portion of your coverage that can pay for damage your car sustains in an accident or other hazardous events. Usually, policies can include coverage for fire damage.
The policy might also pay for other expenses, such as vehicle towing and medical costs of any injured parties. Policies can also help you arrange travel back home, and even have your vehicle returned to the U.S. for repairs.
Physical damage coverage is not unlimited protection. If you total your car, the policy will settle with you for the value of the vehicle. However, this might not be the full value of a new car, but rather the car's cash value at the time of the loss. Policies will include deductibles. You will agree to pay the cost of your deductible, and your insurance will pay the remaining cost. So, make sure you can afford the cost of the deductible you choose on the policy.
One other thing to remember about physical damage insurance is that it is not mandatory for Mexican drivers. Therefore, you’ll usually have to ask your agent to include it on your policy. If you don’t, then you will only receive liability coverage. While this will pay for third-party damage, it won’t pay for damage to your own car.
Should a fire erupt during your road trip to Mexico, immediately pull over and turn off the vehicle. Get everyone out of the car and move far away from the vehicle. Take your insurance card with you if you can reach it safely. Don’t try to fight the fire yourself, but dial 068, the Mexican fire emergency number. Then, immediately call your insurance provider. They can help you decide how best to handle the claims process.