If you are travelling by auto or on foot, you will not need a passport until June of 2009 according to the U.S. Department of State and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE). The passport requirements are already in effect if travelling by air. Get your passports, but don't stress out about it, you have plenty of time. They will also be creating a passport card. Stay tuned on that...

No. Some American and Canadian insurance companies will offer limited coverage within a certain range of the border, however, this limited coverage does not meet Mexico's requirement of having financial responsibility from a Mexican insurance company. If your company provides, for instance Medical Payments, Collission and Comprehensive coverage within 50 miles of the border, and you are travelling to Rosarito, B.C. then all you NEED to meet minimum legal requirements in Mexico is Liability Only policy.

Yes, but remember the only way we can afford to save you 30-40% on your insurance cost is because we do not maintain an office full of insurance agents. We run an Internet-only operation, and pass the brick-and-mortar savings onto our customers. HOWEVER, if you must speak to someone you can call our office in Imperial Beach, California at (858) 663-6453 Monday through Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. PST to 5:00 p.m. pst. After hours just leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. For claims related matters you can reach Qualitas, in Mexico 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 01-800-004-9600. Remember that all claims must be reported in Mexico prior to your return to the United States. Also remember that we are contractually prohibited from getting involved in your claim -- so it's necessary that you contact the claims office in Mexico prior to returning.

Increased liability (Combined Single Limit or CSL) is the Risk 3, third party liability portion of your policy. This is the maximum amount the insurance company will pay to cover damage to a third party caused by you and/or any listed driver on the policy with permission to drive the vehicle. Most people carry $20-50,000 in Mexico. Our policies start at $100,000, but $300,000 is popular in the United States , and is also available to our customers for additional charge. See our "Coverage Terms and Conditions for details.

If you are using this vehicle for business purposes while in Mexico , or if this vehicle is owned by a business you must select this option and incur an additional 20% premium.

As part of real-time credit card payment processing, Mexico Insurance Services subscribes to the Verisign Electronic Payment System, using 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Encryption.

Any unit that is towed by the listed primary vehicle must be listed on this policy. Failure to report a towed unit can be cause for nullification of your policy.

The Liability Only policy covers Risks 3, 4 and 5 (Third party liability, Medical Payments and Legal Aid). This is the legal requirement in Mexico .

The Complete Coverage policy also includes coverage for Risks 1 and 2 (Collision and Comprehensive). This is required by most auto finance companies for travel into Mexico. We are recognized and accepted by all auto finance companies including GMAC, Toyota Financial, Honda Motor Credit, Ford Motor Credit, Capital One Auto Finance, and many many more (all of them).
*Motorcycle type vehicles do not include Risk 4, medical payments.

Telnor now has an easy service number to call and find out the traffic situation at the border. Dial asterisk-GARITA. (*427472).

This has been proven to be the ultimate solution to avoid long crowded lanes to go to the US . You'll need an application and later call for an appointment, but this is sure worthwhile. Extensive investigation from the Bureaus will apply. Telephone number for appointments is (619) 661-3170.

• Red Cross Tij 065 - Ros 066
• Police 060
• Fire 068
• CFE (street light failure) 071
• CESP (water) 073
• Exact hour 030
• Information 040
• Call Collects 090
• Federal High – Way (664) 682 – 5285
• Tourist assistance (661) 612 - 0200 in Baja (078)

FEDERAL POLICE: When you drive on any Federal road, these are the people who take care of any accidents and traffic assistance. Their distinctive black and white cars are easily identified. They normally have authority on the roads between cities and towns, or on open highways.

STATE POLICE: Identified by the words: (Vialidad y Transportes) on the sides of their cars) These State trooper police supervise of all commercial vehicles, and are clearly marked in white, yellow and blue vehicles. They don't handle normal traffic tickets or accidents.

MUNICIPAL POLICE: These officers enforce all driving traffic conditions.