Car Travel Outside the U.S.
I like to travel, but I like to do as much travel as I can while driving my own car. I like being able to take as much luggage as I can pack into the van. I like being on my own time-table. I like the flexibility of being my own boss when it comes to my vacation plans.
I know our trip up to WV was hard, due to the 18-hour drive. Nonetheless, I find sitting in airports and on cramped airplanes a much less desirable option. The speed of flying is appealing, but everything else about flying is just so painfully irritating.
While this might be a simple decision when traveling from U.S. state to state, it becomes a little trickier when you decide to take your car with you when you cross the borders into Canada or Mexico. You can’t expect that things like auto or health insurance will just operate with exactly the same protection when you are not in your home country.
I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about travelers insurance. Well, setting up a little coverage for your vehicle is one form of that.
There are a couple precautions you can take when traveling out of the country in your own vehicle, one of which is to obtain a special car insurance policy specifically applicable in the country to where you are going. You can, for example, get Mexican insurance at the MexicanInsuranceStore.com. The laws in Mexico that apply to driving violations ands accidents are so much different than here in the U.S. That’s why it’s important to know that all of the plans offered through this site are GMAC approved; include legal assistance and bond service; and can be purchased in daily, six month, or annual policies.
Here’s the clincher, and I quote this from the insurance site:
In Mexico, it is considered a felony to have a traffic accident. While the police are concluding their investigation, your vehicle could be impounded and you could be detained by Mexican authorities. With Legal Aid, you have accessibility to an attorney hired specifically for this purpose by your insurer who will assist you and negotiate for you and your car’s release.
So, it’s in the traveler’s best interest to spend the money to be fully prepared for anything that may happen when you are driving your care outside of the country. Since you can buy policies instantly online, there is no hassle. And, the company I use as my example is actually a United States company, so communication is simple.
Drive happy, but stay wise.
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