by deniselopez » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:47 pm
I bought a car and its currently under my name, but I want to let my father in law borrow the car so he could go to Mexico. I dont know what paper work is required to make this legal. Do I need to sign papers authorizing him to take the car. Is this possible?
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:35 am Post Subject:
I don't think that you have to have any paperwork to do this, You may want to call your insurance company and asked them. But I don't think that you have to do anything. I could be wrong, but people lend cars out all the time and who knows where they end up.
How do you have it on your insurance? Does he have his own insurance?
I would wait and get a second opinion here, there are experts here that will advise you more, I am sure they will be along soon.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 03:05 am Post Subject:
Many people also will get something like mexican insurance on there car for when driving their vehicle into Mexico. You may want to look into that also just in case. At least I think that is what it was called its been awhile.
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 06:16 am Post Subject: depends!
Well, I have the firm belief that in order to let your father-in-law drive your car you'd not need to call up anyone! But, in case you wanna mention his name amongst the "named insured" under your policy, then obviously you'd need to! All the best! Carahoffman
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 06:36 am Post Subject:
Well, I have the firm belief that in order to let your father-in-law drive your car you'd not need to call up anyone! But, in case you wanna mention his name amongst the "named insured" under your policy, then obviously you'd need to! All the best! Carahoffman
Hi Carahoffman, I appreciate your comment....but my friend, if she doesn't inform her insurance company about the act then they are quite likely to deny any claim that may arise in the future. What if her father-in-law meet with an accident during this tour?
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:19 am Post Subject:
Quote:
Well, I have the firm belief that in order to let your father-in-law drive your car you'd not need to call up anyone! But, in case you wanna mention his name amongst the "named insured" under your policy, then obviously you'd need to! All the best! Carahoffman
Hi Carahoffman, I appreciate your comment....but my friend, if she doesn't inform her insurance company about the act then they are quite likely to deny any claim that may arise in the future. What if her father-in-law meet with an accident during this tour?
Couple of things here, most policys will cover ANYONE that the insured gives permission to drive their vehicle, for occasional use...
HOWEVER, OP you might have a BIG problem here...most policys in the US state something along these lines:"Parts 1,2,4,5 of this insurance apply only to accidents that occur in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IT TERRITORIES, ITS POSSESSIONS OR CANADA, OR WHILE THE INSURED OR THE COVRED VEHICLE IS BEING TRANSPORTED BETWEEN THEIR PORTS....
so you see Mexico is NOT listed....(fyi, all those parts are basically EVERY COVERAGE except auto death benefit, which in my state anyway is not manditory)....
So you need to check your policy and find some kind of insurance that will follow your vehicle to Mexico, because it is in effect totally uninsured (most likely....would be in my state clearly).
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 02:19 am Post Subject: Driving Car to Mexico.
US insurance is NOT valid in Mexico. Technically an auto accident in Mexico is a felony.
Mexico practices Napoleonic Law while here in the US, we practice English Common Law.
Payment for damages deemed by the authorities to be caused by you is due immediately in the form of cash or (what most people choose) a valid and recognized Mexican Insurance policy.
Otherwise they will hold you (jail) until payment to the injured party is made.
To help answer your question:
The registered owner of the vehicle should be named on the Mexico Insurance Policy as well as the principal driver. It would not hurt to have a short letter of permission signed by the owner allowing the other party to drive, as this will probably erase any doubts about the intent of the owner of the vehicle if need be.
You need a "Full Coverage" Mexican Auto Insurance policy in order to protect both parties interests.
Lindo2
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 03:24 am Post Subject:
OK everyone, slow down. You're all right, except some of you. lol
Let's look at the "wrong" parts:
Hi Carahoffman, I appreciate your comment....but my friend, if she doesn't inform her insurance company about the act then they are quite likely to deny any claim that may arise in the future. What if her father-in-law meet with an accident during this tour?
Unless the father-in-law is a regular user of the vehicle, or unless the insured owner has the rare non-standard "listed-driver only" kind of insurance policy- well, check out part of Lori's post:
Couple of things here, most policys will cover ANYONE that the insured gives permission to drive their vehicle, for occasional use...
This refers to the Permissive Use doctrine, which is actually law in many states. It also goes well beyond just auto insurance. There are other policies out there that are kind of strange in that they follow the driver instead of the vehicle, certain broad-form and commercial insurance policies tend to do that upon occasion, but these kind of contracts a pretty rare. I doubt that the kind of insurance we're talking about here. This sound like your standard run-of-the-mill auto policy and SHOULD cover any non-regular user of the car that has permission of the insured owner and valid driver's license. Check with your agent if you're unsure.
Another "what right" comment:
most policys in the US state something along these lines:"Parts 1,2,4,5 of this insurance apply only to accidents that occur in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IT TERRITORIES, ITS POSSESSIONS OR CANADA, OR WHILE THE INSURED OR THE COVRED VEHICLE IS BEING TRANSPORTED BETWEEN THEIR PORTS....
Just about all insurance policies have what are called "coverage territories," and just about every American auto insurance policy limits their coverage to the vehicle being used within the U.S., Canada, sometimes our territories (Puerto Rico, etc.) and while "being transported" like Lori said.
Now, within the last few years, a few insurers are beginning to cover insured vehicles up to 200 miles into Mexico or something similar. Check with your company to see if this applies and if it meets the needs of your father in law.
Finally- Lindo2 nailed it (I'm impressed with this post):
Mexico practices Napoleonic Law while here in the US, we practice English Common Law.
Payment for damages deemed by the authorities to be caused by you is due immediately in the form of cash or (what most people choose) a valid and recognized Mexican Insurance policy. Otherwise they will hold you (jail) until payment to the injured party is made.
To help answer your question: The registered owner of the vehicle should be named on the Mexico Insurance Policy as well as the principal driver. It would not hurt to have a short letter of permission signed by the owner allowing the other party to drive, as this will probably erase any doubts about the intent of the owner of the vehicle if need be.
You need a "Full Coverage" Mexican Auto Insurance policy in order to protect both parties interests.
Talk to your agent. He should be able to point you in the right direction. I agree fully with Lindo 2- you must secure coverage in order to drive in Mexico, even if your company covers you for 200 miles or whatever. I have seen horror stories occur without proper coverage in force. Jail can easily happen for a simple minor traffic accident. If you don't have proper proof of insurance that's valid- you better have a serious pocketful of cash. American dollars work best....
InsTeacher 8)
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 04:09 am Post Subject: Territory
A few US insurers allow phys dam for your vehicle within Mexico.
It's usually the border areas 25-70 miles.
200 miles is the longest distance I've heard of.
It could be, but I'm unaware of any US insurer covering liability in Mexico.
InsTeacher is correct and intuitive on the latest post.
Regardless, the Mexico Authorities will only recognize Mexican Insurance from a Mexican Carrier.
You may end up having some protection, but they hold you until you prove it to them. That may take a few days etc. and depending on when you have the accident, you'll have to wait. (jail) There goes the vacation.
Also, their is natural resistance among the Mexico insurers (and the authorities) to acceptance of any insurance except that which is written by an admitted & authorized Mexico Insurance provider. (Just like the resistance that US Insurers put up by calling all foreign insurers "alien" insurers or out of state companies "non-admitted".) The authorities job is to make sure the injured party is compensated for whatever damage they deem you have caused.
Mexico wants the income and tax dollars. Same as we do.
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2008 07:55 pm Post Subject:
i have a friend that wants to transport 2 vehicles into mexico is there any paper work that needs to be done first
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 10:47 am Post Subject:
When I first read being jailed for an auto accident I thought that was crazy, I won't be driving in Mexico anytime soon or ever, LOL. That is crazy, you could lose your job for not showing up. Do they actually do this? Everything is handled by cash? That just seems strange in this day and age.
Add your comment