It would be interesting to find out how many people drive their cars across the border without considering whether or not they need to purchase additional car insurance. In the United States we have access to both Canada and Mexico; two countries which are easily doable by car. The interesting thing is that one requires additional car insurance while the other one does not. Do you know which is which?
Additional Car Insurance in Canada :-
We will give you the answer by telling you that you do not need additional car insurance in Canada. Thankfully, the U.S. and Canada have reciprocal agreements in which car insurance policies from both countries are honored in the other. If you plan to take your car into Canada as a tourist you will find that the current coverage you have will operate the same way north of the border. Just remember that the same limits and conditions will apply.
The only thing you have to worry about when driving Canada is how long you'll be there. The Canadian government will allow you to drive in their country for up to six months before forcing you to return home. If you are still in the country after six months you are then considered a temporary resident, which will require that you register as such. At that point your U.S. car insurance becomes insufficient and you'll have to purchase a Canadian policy.
Additional Car Insurance in Mexico :-
If you are planning to drive to Mexico conditions there are not as friendly. In fact, the Mexican government does not recognize any U.S. auto insurance policy whatsoever. If you are planning to cross the border into Mexico you must have additional insurance through a company that is recognized by that country's government. There are only a handful of American-based car insurance providers that have this recognition. Most of the time you'll have to purchase from an international company or one based in Mexico.
Keep in mind that the Mexican government has set up a specific amount of distance from the border where you are allowed to drive and still be considered a tourist. If you go past this buffer zone you are considered to be importing a vehicle and your insurance policy will be that much more expensive. It's up to you to know where you'll be driving and what your official status will be.
Lest you consider going across the border without insurance, even just to go shopping for a couple of hours, don't do it. If you are involved in an accident in Mexico you will automatically be involved in both a civil and criminal case - this is true even with appropriate car insurance - and if you don't have valid car insurance the criminal portion of the case could mean you wind up in jail. It's not worth the risk just to go shopping for couple of hours.
On a positive note, there are insurance agencies located on the U.S.-Mexican border that offer decent Mexican car insurance at a reasonable rate. Just be sure that if you plan to use one of these agencies all the documents you're given are printed in both Spanish and English. You will want to be sure exactly what you're getting before you cross the border.
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