Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Vehicle insurance and road tax in Canada, US, Central & South America- help!

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Vehicle insurance and road tax in Canada, US, Central & South America- help!

Hello everyone,

I've spent the last hour and a half hunting for information about insurance in the Americas. We are heading off RTW, 2 up on May 7th. We start in Canada for a couple of weeks, head to the US for 2 months and then down through Central and South America.

We want to know about vehicle insurance and road tax, where we need it and whether we can buy at the borders or not but info is a bit scarce. Here is what I have found so far but the threads or websites were quite old. Can anyone help me to update the list below?! THANKS!!!!

Canada- Don't know though is often covered on USA insurance

USA- No idea if we can get this at the border or not. Is it state by state or the whole country??

Mexico- no insurance at border- must buy from border town in Mexico

Guatemala-- no info

Honduras- insurance not mandatory

Nicaragua- insurance available at the border

Costa Rica- insurance available at the border (but poss not at Los Chiles crossing??)

Panama- insurance available at the border

Colombia- no info

Ecuador- insurance required- must be purchased at automovil club del Ecuador but not sure if this is at the border??

Peru- insurance required- but at MAPFRE- is this at the border??!

Bolivia- insurance not required for trip of less than 30days- for more purchase at Credinform (where?)

Chile- no company sells insurance to tourists- so what do you do??

Argentina - no info yet.....

It's a bit patchy as you can see- will keep looking but anyone who can fill in gaps will be my hero for the day! :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blinkeyblonck (Post 500446)

Hello everyone,

I am from the USA and have recent experience with Mexico and Guatemala. My other comments are from 2006-7
Canada- Don't know though is often covered on USA insurance

USA- No idea if we can get this at the border or not. Is it state by state or the whole country??

Any USA based insurance will cover you throughout the whole country. Every policy I have ever had covers Canada as well, but be sure to ask and read your policy. GEICO and Progressive have decent websites to get you a quote.

Mexico- no insurance at border- must buy from border town in Mexico

I have used www.mexadventure.com many times. I have never had a claim, so I can't say how well they handle them. There are only a few insurers in Mexico, but many resellers. www.bajabound.com is another one.

Guatemala-- no info

I have never found anyone who sells insurance to foreigners in Guatemala, so I go without. Have never been asked for it at the border or at checkpoints.

Honduras- insurance not mandatory

Same as Guatemala.

Nicaragua- insurance available at the border

Not only is it available, but you will be required to purchase it as part of the border crossing procedure. It cost me $12 US for 30 days.

Costa Rica- insurance available at the border (but poss not at Los Chiles crossing??)

Panama- insurance available at the border

CR and Panama ,I couldn't find insurance at the border, but my info is old, may have changed by now. I went without.

Colombia- no info

I was required to have insurance to get my bike out of customs after I air freighted my bike from Panama. Easily available, and reasonable price.

Ecuador- insurance required- must be purchased at automovil club del Ecuador but not sure if this is at the border??

Peru- insurance required- but at MAPFRE- is this at the border??!

Bolivia- insurance not required for trip of less than 30days- for more purchase at Credinform (where?)

I was uninsured in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Chile- no company sells insurance to tourists- so what do you do??

Argentina - no info yet.....

I bought a policy in Argentina that covered the Mercosur countries, which at the time were Arg, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. There may be more countries in the Mercosur now.

Basically, if insurance was easily available and/or required I bought it. If not, I went without.

Have a great trip.

Are you asking about comprehensive vehicle insurance that covers loss of your vehicle, or liability insurance that covers any damage you do to other's property and injury and death to others.

The first will be difficult to get south of Mexico, and the latter should be like travel insurance - don't leave home without it.

Sanborn insurance

It has been awhile since I went south however I got insurance for Mexico and Guatemala from Sanborn.

Mexico Insurance Online - Sanborn's Mexico Insurance - Quote and Buy Online.

I purchased the actual policy at an American Motor Association office in Texas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riq (Post 500491)

Interesting, I didn't know Sanborn's covered Guatemala. I don't see anything about it on their website, but I will call them before my next trip.

Great info. Thanks guys for the heads up. Been thinking of visiting these places