Just changed companies on the Van motorhome (Casa Rodante) for US insurance coverage to Progressive. Not sure if it is the same for other vehicles but I was told, by two different contacts at the company, that Progressive policies cover everything but liability all over Mexico. Furthermore, repairs are required to be perfomed in the US and the policy covers hauling the vehicle to the nearest place in the US where repairs can be performed. Wow, is all I could say. And the cost was less than two other companies for comparable coverage limits without the Mexico coverage.
Just changed companies on the Van motorhome (Casa Rodante) for US insurance coverage to Progressive. Not sure if it is the same for other vehicles but I was told, by two different contacts at the company, that Progressive policies cover everything but liability all over Mexico. Furthermore, repairs are required to be perfomed in the US and the policy covers hauling the vehicle to the nearest place in the US where repairs can be performed. Wow, is all I could say. And the cost was less than two other companies for comparable coverage limits without the Mexico coverage.
Argee with dirtsurfer about seeing it written into the contract. However the coverage as they described it to you isn't logical. Let's say you were in a collision in Acapulco in a $4000 vehicle and it wasn't drivable. They say they are going to tow it 1800 miles to Ajo for a Progressive estimator to determine the amount of damage and then decide if it is economic total loss or if it is repairable. The tow alone would cost more than the vehicle was worth. Doesn't make sense and wouldn't happen.
Ok, then lets call it an RV. Also, they said that "Progressive policies cover everything but liability all over Mexico" and "the policy covers hauling the vehicle to the nearest place in the US where repairs can be performed," They didn't say anything about a 100 mile limit.
Argee with dirtsurfer about seeing it written into the contract. However the coverage as they described it to you isn't logical. Let's say you were in a collision in Acapulco in a $4000 RV and it wasn't drivable. They say they are going to tow it 1800 miles to Ajo for a Progressive estimator to determine the amount of damage and then decide if it is economic total loss or if it is repairable. The tow alone would cost more than the RV was worth. Doesn't make sense and wouldn't happen.
Just curious as to why you need US insurance? Plan on some road trips stateside?
I know for me to get Mexican insurance through Vagabundos (which insures oodles of RVs, boats, trailers, etc.) I HAVE TO have a valid US policy. Then, they offer two types - 1) a Tourist policy (mostly for the free zone areas and Baja) stay not to exceed 180 days and 2) full-year anywhere in Mexico insurance (more for the ex-pats).
I do, however, agree that if it the coverage about Mexico is not specifically written in the policy, then make NO assumption that you have it. That's one of the reasons I insure my boat through a small agency in Redlands, CA. Because the owners are fishermen, they specifically add a "South Coast" endorsement to the policy, which covers operation of the boat throughout the Pacific and Sea of Cortez to a distance not more than 50 miles south of Cabo San Lucas. It's a nice add-on at no extra cost.
I guess what I'm getting at is that if you do some shopping with different agencies, rather than corporate insurance, you may find a policy that has more features and coverage than you expected. Go over to the Vags forum and see what the Mexico RVers there commonly use and why.
Progressive and Geico are two of the most profitable carriers around. The General is a substandard carrier. But I guess emotion is a lot more fun to discuss than statistics or facts. Do you even know what team most of these carrier support (including the two you just mentioned)? stay strong brother and keep that confederate flag flying... the south will rise again
I have Progressive Insurance on all of my family's vehicles. Compared to the Farmer's policies I used to have, Progressive has been a big savings for us. I have not had the need to use my insurance, but being a body shop guy we have repaired many vehicles with Progressive Insurance over the years. For the most part, Progressive provides a quality repair. Geico is not too bad to work with, but they do seem to work a little harder at cutting repair costs. Oh yeah, and I bought my own phone!!
I agree that if it is not written in the policy it does not exist. I had that section emailed to me and the policy completely is in the mail. I think you have to remember how insurance works. They use actuarial figures to compute the risk which determines the cost of the policy. Obvious to me that Progressive has calculated that the Mexico coverage is an attractant for new policyholders that far outweighs the very rare occasion when an RV has to be towed to the border. Perhaps hundreds or even thousands of new policies contrasted to the the once a year occasion requiring a tow. Only a very small percentage of RVs in the US are ever driven to Mexico. It just looks good, in case they want to go. The other interesting observation was that, when I bought the MH, I was in a rush to get coverage as I needed to title it in NM the next day and I phoned Progressive and got minimum required liability to get registered for a Dodge Van not realizing that RV insurance was different. I paid several hundred dollars more for that minimum coverage on a van than I got full coverage for the RV. Again, they run the numbers and in reality RV's are typically driven very very infrequently by most owners and obviously the risk on an RV is less than a van. I also checked several competitiors and Progressive was less or the same but without the coverage in Mexico. The most cheapest quote I got was from one of the little guys, Blue Sky Insurance !!! Wow, I did not fall for that.
I have been following several RV forums and yes there are a couple of reports of Progressive policyholders who had to file a claim in Mexico. No problems reported.
I need US insurance to keep the NM tag valid and yes I plan a trip up to visit my sons.
Got hit by a women with Progressive on I-10 during morning rush hour in rear right side about 7 years ago. They took my Pathfinder into their shop ( I OK'd that) and they repaired every single thing on the vehicle whether it was from the accident or not, including a much better hitch than the original Nissan one. Not a complaint on my part at all. They did a great job.
Ok..not sure if this is true but I have heard you can have trouble if your accident happens in Mexico on a private road.Say a large ranch,a private toll road( Sasabe-Altar or even Santa Ana-Caborca)or even a road into a gated development....maybe Our resident insurance expert can shoot this down.
Ok..not sure if this is true but I have heard you can have trouble if your accident happens in Mexico on a private road.Say a large ranch,a private toll road( Sasabe-Altar or even Santa Ana-Caborca)or even a road into a gated development....maybe Our resident insurance expert can shoot this down.
You rang?? I'm trying to figure out whether you're referring to Mexico or US insurance on a private road. I just called one of our adjusters and he said insurance is valid on any road, private or public, in Mexico.
Progressive says they require that you carry Liability in Mexico from a Mexican company. I am wondering if a drivers license policy is adequate. Gotta check on that one.
You rang?? I'm trying to figure out whether you're referring to Mexico or US insurance on a private road. I just called one of our adjusters and he said insurance is valid on any road, private or public, in Mexico.
Thanks Rosy...I was referring to American insurance.The rental agencies in Hawaii10 years or so ago did not cover you on dirt roads.
Progressive says they require that you carry Liability in Mexico from a Mexican company. I am wondering if a drivers license policy is adequate. Gotta check on that one.
Yes it is, That's how I do it with Progressive and have for the last 10 years. This is the most cost effective way with the assurance of an American backed company that is held to a standard. I have not filed a claim with them but they are a rated insurance company unlike The General. Many of the forum members from RV.net that go SOB also use Progressive
Progressive says they require that you carry Liability in Mexico from a Mexican company. I am wondering if a drivers license policy is adequate. Gotta check on that one.
According to US law only an American company can sell US insurance to American-registered vehicles. Likewise, Mexican law requires that liability be provided to foreign vehicles by a Mexican company. When someone buys their Mx insurance in the States, it is actually underwritten by a Mexican company. The driver's license policies do meet the legal requirement and are valid proof of insurance in Mexico. Hope this helps.
P.S. Everyone should know by now that $50k in coverage is no longer enough. If a death occurs and the other driver is found to be negligent, $300k is what they should be carrying in coverage. All policies purchased from ProAlliance prior to the change on Feb 4, 2013 were automatically raised to that amount without additional cost.
I guess this is a good time to show my face around here again. I'd gotten a little burnt out on RPT and have been away and only casually viewing the forum from time to time. Back in June for Circus Mexicus I had my first accident in Mexico and it was my fault. I was in a hurry and late for fishing on my way to Cholla Bay Friday of that weekend and the traffic was horrible. Tried passing an RV just west of Esmerelda right after the road turns to dirt heading west towards CB. I went up into the sand to the right to pass, the sand grabbed my truck like it has never done and it jerked me back to the left into the RV that I was trying to pass. I had insurance through a friends company AMMEX Insurance, whom Rosy might know. We didnt get an accident report at the scene as both myself and the family that I hit were in a hurry. It was only a minor hassle to contact the insurance company for an adjustment and I did have to speak a fair amount of Spanish on the phone but aside from that it went rather smoothly. The adjuster came to RP from San Luis RC on Sunday morning, arriving at the Reef RV park around 11am. Filled out some simple paperwork, the adjuster took pictures of the damage on both vehicles and that was about it. The accident was my fault and I had a $500 deductible on my policy. Instructed to receive two estimates from anywhere of my choosing in Phoenix and email the quotes back to the adjuster. The $500 deductible came straight out of the estimate and I received in a wire transfer to my bank account $3,200 only a mear two weeks after the accident. All in all, I was very pleased with the outcome and timely fashion this was resolved. I can only hope it went as smooth for the person that I hit because I would feel bad otherwise as this was my fault. I did mention the forum and the incredible amount of information that can be found at RPT.com. If said person reads the forum hopefully everything went well for you and once again I apologize. In the end, the only out of pocket expense was the $50 policy purchased online. The best $50 I've ever spent in my life without a doubt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!