INA Offers Coverage for U.S., Canada Residents Traveling to Mexico

INA, Insurance Group of North America, the consumer marketing and underwriting division of ACE INA and a member of the ACE Group of Companies, announced it has created a policy specifically designed to protect U.S. and Canadian motorists while traveling in Mexico.
The INA Cross Border Auto Insurance policy will be underwritten by ACE Seguros, S.A., a Mexican subsidiary of ACE Limited authorized to provide auto insurance in Mexico.

U.S. Customs reports that more than 225,000,000 vehicles cross between the border of Mexico and the U.S. each year. Mexican law allows for incarceration of drivers and impoundment of their vehicles for those responsible parties who are unable to demonstrate financial accountability at the time of an accident.

Also under Mexican law, insurers must be authorized by the Mexican government to provide required coverages. Therefore, insurance policies provided by unauthorized U.S. or Canadian insurers do not provide acceptable financial accountability.

The INA Cross Border Auto Insurance policy covers a broad range of vehicles, including private passenger automobiles, pick-up trucks, SUVs, motor homes, motorcycles, travel trailers, utility trailers, and watercraft while trailered.

Motorists may insure motor homes valued up to $400,000 via INA’s online web service; policies for higher valued motor homes may be obtained by contacting INA directly or an insurance agent representing INA. Coverage is also available for rental motor homes traveling to Mexico.

The INA Cross Border Auto Insurance policy offers one of the most comprehensive automobile policies available in Mexico. Coverage is available for a specific length of stay or for longer stays, policies of six to 12 month are available. Coverage is provided in six parts, with the policy printed in both Spanish and English.

Coverage parts include:

1) Damage to a vehicle caused in an accident; 2) Vehicle theft and damage resulting from natural causes; 3) Third Party Civil Liability; 4) Legal Assistance and Bail Bond; 5) Travelers Assistance and Towing; and 6) Medical Payments for occupants of insured U.S. and Canadian vehicles.

This special “Platinum Package” of protection provides substantially broader coverage than anything available from any other Mexican insurer, such as vehicle repair in the U.S. or Canada at labor rates limited to a maximum of US$50 per hour, Third Party Liability up to $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident, and $100,000 in damage to property of others, vandalism, partial theft, as well as additional coverages.

Claimants calling from Mexico can use a toll-free number to reach bilingual operators (English and Spanish), 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Claim representatives will have online access to policy and client information in order to better assist callers and to maintain INA’s quality service standards.