Author: Levi Quinn
If you live, or are on holiday, close to the southern border of the United States then you may well find yourself in a position to take a little sojourn into Mexico. A nation with a very strong character all of its own, Mexico has a lot to show for itself, and it is always worth a short visit. It is important, however, that you take care to ensure you have the necessary documentation and are not contravening any of the rules for crossing the border into Mexico " and there are rules, which it is important to make yourself aware of before any border crossing. Before you make the hop across, it is worth asking in a tourist office on your side of the border for an exact list of what is expected of you " it may differ from crossing point to crossing point.
The first thing you should do if you are planning to spend time in Mexico is to organise Mexican car insurance for yourself. Once you cross the border into Mexico, your US or Canadian car insurance will not cover you for an accident that occurs on Mexican soil. In some circumstances this may even lead to you being arrested until such times as an accidents aftermath has been worked out. Even if you were not at fault for the accident, it is the polices job to figure these things out, and they would be in dereliction of their duty if they waved you away and told you to be careful out there.
There are other procedures to follow, but these only come into effect if you are planning to drive beyond the border zone " about 20 kilometers south of the US border " or the Free Trade Zone. If your travel is within that area, you should still make sure that you have Mexican insurance cover. If it is beyond that, you will need a permit to travel freely. To secure such a permit you need proof of your citizenship, a tourist card, the vehicle registration certificate, any leasing contract (if of course you are renting the vehicle) and a valid drivers license and an international credit card, both issued outside Mexico. Two photocopies of each document, along with the original, will be required before you can get a permit.
The credit card is so that you can pay the return guarantee bond " a checking account card issued by Mastercard or Visa will also suffice " but if you do not have one you will need to pay the bond physically. This bond will, of course, be returned to you on your return to the United States, and the permit will cover all temporary trips back and forth over the border. The bond you will have to pay is in the region of $400 for a car made since 1999, $200 for once made before 1994, and for any car in between it will be $300.
There are also limitations on what you can bring into Mexico with you. The list of limitations is something that you should check with the customs office before you cross the border.
About the Author:
Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and receive free auto insurance quotes for the cheapest insurance rates from respected insurance companies.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - <a href=”http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/driving-in-mexico-970499.html” title=”Driving in Mexico”>Driving in Mexico
Related Posts
- Moon Palace Resort Cancun Mexico Vacation Week - How You Can Save Big On Your Next Cancun Vacation!
- Is It Possible To Find An All Inclusive Last Minute Mexico Vacation?
- Puerto Vallarta Shows Its Colors
- Flights To Breckenridge, Co - Airfare, Car Rentals, Shuttles - Tips You Need To Know
- Summer Driving Tips In North America
