auto insurance in the us for foreigners

topic posted Thu, January 11, 2007 - 1:28 AM by  habore
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does anyone know what is the cheapest way for a foreigner to get a short term cheap insurance?
me and my friend have baught a car and wanna take it to mexico. we were told by ourfriends that if a cop stops us for a check, he will take our car if we dont have insurance. so... we looked up, and so far the cheapest we have found was 117$ a month!!! although we dont need it for a longer term, we still think its too much for the few days we are going to spend in the US.

so please, if anyone has done it before or know someone who did and knows what to do....
cheers,
Mickey
posted by:
habore
Israel
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  • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

    Thu, January 11, 2007 - 8:40 AM
    have you tried progressive, and geico?

    try googling those, and see what you can find.

    maybe it has something to do with you being foreign, but that is quite expensive.

    also, what state are you in currently?

    i know that some states do not require auto insurance, such as wisconsin.

    if you were issued a wisconsin drivers license, i believe you would be exempt.
    • Unsu...
       

      Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

      Thu, January 11, 2007 - 9:43 AM
      don't forget you will need insurance for Mexico as well. I would contact AAA.
      • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

        Thu, January 11, 2007 - 10:20 AM
        For a short term trip to Mexico you might be better off to rent a car there...
        • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

          Thu, January 11, 2007 - 4:00 PM
          i baught a car. im in california, and im goin to take it to mexico with no intention of coming back to the us.
          • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

            Thu, January 11, 2007 - 5:39 PM
            You can't get a car into Mexico without showing insurance, and leaving a credit card if you go past a certin point . I think it's 18 miles. They don't want you selling the car in Mexico. You get a specail sticker that alowes you past the 18 mi.don't try to get around it, you will loose your car and be fined all of your money.
            At least that's the way it was a few years ago.
            • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

              Thu, January 11, 2007 - 5:41 PM
              but i want to sell the car in mexico
              • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                Thu, January 11, 2007 - 6:01 PM
                There are import laws..
                • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                  Thu, January 11, 2007 - 9:42 PM
                  thanks.
                  i have another question.
                  do i have to have the pink slip in order to pass the border, or is it enough to show that i have registered the car. they told me in the dmv that it will take two weeks for the pink slip to arrive.
                  cheers
                  • This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.

                    Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                    Fri, January 12, 2007 - 7:50 AM
                    Pink slip ? why don't you have the title ? If you owe on this car , It is'nt tech. yours. To sell it in Mexico , You HAVE to pay import duties, and you have to have a "clear" title !
                    • Unsu...
                       

                      Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                      Fri, January 12, 2007 - 7:59 AM
                      You know with the bus system in mexico I can't imagine any reason to take a car. You can get anywhere pretty cheap and the bonus of meeting people.
                      • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                        Fri, January 12, 2007 - 10:25 PM
                        first of all... the busses in mexico are expensive. i dont think that 40$ for the shittiest bus from san cristobal to mexico city is cheap. the busses in israel are cheaper than that.
                        second... traveling with a car is something i have never done before and would like to try it.
                    • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                      Fri, January 12, 2007 - 6:02 PM
                      pink slip is the title as far as i know (im not from here) and i have the recipt, so i think im fine.
                      • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                        Sat, January 13, 2007 - 6:01 AM
                        The pink slip, recept, or anything else is NOT the title in the U.S. Only the title is the title. And it is never pink. A pink slip or pink title means someone else holds the title, you cannot sell a car with the pink slip. It will get you into Mexico, but the car won't be worth any more than junk price for parts there. And you would loose your bond money " The credit card" you left at the border. Where did you get this car ? Sounds like someone may have run a scam on you. They should have given you a clear title at the time of purchas, it's the law. Did you pay cash or did you get a loan . ? Don't mean to pry, just offering to help save you a lot of hassle in the future.
                        • Re: auto insurance in the us for foreigners

                          Sat, January 13, 2007 - 10:29 PM
                          whats is the title? how does it look like? if you mean a plate with the number then i have it.
                          i baught the car under the supervision of a friend of mine, that have done it before. he told me i need to get the pink slip and thats it.
                          the girl that sold me the car didnt know much about selling either, so my friend told us what to do. we went to register it and they didnt ask for anything, but the pink slip for the registration.
                          if you may please explain how does it look like or what is this title, i will be very happy. i think i have everything i need, but maybe you are right.
                          cheers
  • Unsu...
     

    read this first

    Fri, January 12, 2007 - 1:44 PM
    tribes.tribe.net/roblito/t...410eec3d33

    as far as i know. i did this 2x. you do not need insurance. but at at large border crossing, where you get your vehicle permit, you can buy cheap insurance, mapfry tepayic is the one i used. like 200 dollars a year, for full collision of a 4000 dollar car.

    this is from a good web site: www.sanbornsinsurance.com/entry...s.html

    Tourists wishing to travel beyond the border zone with their car must obtain a temporary import permit.

    How do I obtain a Vehicle Importation Permit?

    1. To acquire a permit, the owner's original Vehicle Title or Registration Receipt is needed.

    2. If the vehicle is financed, is a rental car, is leased, and/or a company car, a notarized letter of permission is required from the lienholder or lending institution.

    3. Valid Driver's License (with photo and same name of title).

    4. Payment of guarantee for the return of the vehicle (approx. $28.00 USD) by international credit or debit card (AMEX, DC, MC, VISA) forwarded abroad under the importer's name, or by making a guarantee deposit. The amount for this will be determined by the vehicle's model and will be refunded upon reentry to the USA. (1999-2002 models, USD$400.00; 1994-1998 models, USD$300.00; models previous to 1994, USD$200.00). * In order to recover this bond or avoid credit card charges, travelers must return to the same Mexican Customs office immediately prior to departing Mexico.

    5. The permit is valid for up to six months. The vehicle may be driven across the border multiple times during the authorized period of the permit. You MUST return the vehicle back to the United States before the 6 months expiration, or high fines may be imposed on you. A receipt will be issued when the permit is cancelled. Failure to turn in your vehicle's permit before the expiration date may result in denial of entry into Mexico on your next trip or fines.

    6. No borrowed cars or borrowed credit cards are accepted. Other persons may drive the car as long as the owner is in the vehicle. Other foreigners with the same “tourist” status as the vehicle owner may drive the vehicle without the owner present in the car.

    You can now fill out your vehicle permit online at the following web page: www.banjercito.com.mx/iitv/iitv_en.php

    Once you fill out the form, print it and present it to the Banjercito official when you get to the Banjercito office at the border.

    *This is subject to change without notice by the Mexican Government.

    What can I take into Mexico?

    When crossing into Mexico, if you have no merchandise to declare, you must go through the Stop and Go light check point. A green light means proceed ahead without inspection. A red light means stop for inspection.

    When you travel to Mexico by airplane or by ship, you are allowed to import (duty free) a total of items worth up to $300 per person (including children). For example, a family of five members consisting of the parents and three minor children can import up to $1,500 worth of merchandise, duty free.

    When you bring items whose value exceeds the above mentioned limits, but not more than $1,000.00, you can pay the taxes yourself. If your merchandise is worth more than $1,000.00, you must use the services of a customs broker.

    If the flight by which you arrive come from the border zone you are allowed only $50.00 of new items per person.

    If you are a resident in Mexico you are allowed to bring in free of duty the following items for your personal use: One camera or video camera if it can be carried by the passenger; up to 12 rolls of new film, video cassettes, or photographic materials; one article of sports equipment or a used set of equipment that can be hand carried; books and magazines; 20 packages of cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grains of tobacco; 3 liters of wine, beer or liquor (adults only); medicines for personal use or with a Doctor's prescription, if it is a controlled substance; and the suitcases to carry baggage.

    Tourist are allowed to bring in their personal effects duty free, in addition to the above, your personal effects may include: New or used good for personal use, such as clothing, footwear, and hygiene products, so long as they are in accordance with the duration of the trip, and their quantity does not suggest that they can be the object of commercialization. A tourist can also bring a set of binoculars, a photographic camera and a vidio recorder (their power sources too), a television, a radio or radio-cassette, tape, CD, or DVD player, a personal computer (i.e. laptop, notebook, omni book, etc.), up to 20 recording tapes or CD’s, 5 DVD’s, 12 rolls of unused film, a cell phone, a typewriter, a musical instrument that can be hand carried, books & magazines (whose quantity does not suggest that they can be the object of commercialization). For out door activities tourist can bring a camping tent and camping equipment, a set of fishing equipment, a pair of skis, 5 used toys for minors (as long as they can be transported by one person), two sets of used personal sports equipment (as long as they can be transported by one person), a motor-less boat less than 5 1/2 meters long or surf board with or without a sail. Regarding disabled persons, goods for personal use that, by their characteristics, compensate for or diminish their disability. Tourist can bring medicine for personal use (The perscripton must be shown if they are psycotropic substances). Adult passengers may also bring a maximum of 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tabacco, and up to 3 liters of whine, beer, or liquor, with the understanding that a larger quantity of these products cannot be imported without complying with the applicable regulations and restrictions.

    If you are inspected and are discovered with items of greater value than is permitted and you have not paid duty on them, you risk having to pay a high fine (of up to four times the value of each item) or seizure of the goods as a contraband plus the seizure of the car in which the goods are traveling. If weapons or ammunition are found, the penalty could include imprisonment.

    The following are products you can take into Mexico without previous authorization:

    • dehydrated or canned foods
    • roasted coffee (packaged),
    • fresh or dry meats (beef, sheep or goat from US or Canada) candy (not lactic)
    • bamboo (dry)
    • dried spices
    • dry herbal medicines
    • dry or preserved insects canned jellies or fruit preserves nuts
    • straw articles or artisans dried fish
    • cheese (processed in US or Canada) canned or processed sauces soups without meat canned or processed vegetables
    • dogs or cats (with health certificate).

    Penalties for drug offenses are strict and convicted offenders can expect large fines and jail sentences up to 25 years.

    When to Cross

    Clearing Customs may vary from 30 minutes to several hours. The best time is on weekdays, early in the morning. Weekends are the worst time, especially holidays. If you got a late start, expect a long wait. If you arrive at the border in the afternoon, it may be more convenient to get your papers in the evening of the day before departure so as to get an early morning start the next day.
    • Re: read this first

      Sun, January 14, 2007 - 11:34 AM
      thanx to everyone
      we are off to mexico
      • Re: read this first

        Sun, January 14, 2007 - 4:17 PM
        The Seller AND buyer have to sign the " sellers" title ( it has the sellers name ion the front). You then use that title to get " your " clear title with YOUR name on the front. When you sell, you will sign it and the new owner will get a " clear" title in his name.
        Go to the registra, they will show you one and give you the paperwork to get it.
        Good luck In Old Mex

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