Crossing border to Mexico in US rental car - insurance

Question

Hiring a car through Hertz at LAX for three days in July. We’re considering a day trip to Mexico (Tijuana). I’ve tried to find out how much the additional insurance will cost, but I’m being told that they only can tell me at the counter. Has anyone else tried this and have a rough idea of cost?

Answer

When renting a car in the U.S. and planning to drive into Mexico (Tijuana in your case), most major rental companies, including Hertz, require you to purchase additional Mexican liability insurance. U.S. insurance and your standard rental agreement usually do not cover Mexico, even for short day trips across the border.

It is common for rental companies to only provide the cost of the Mexican insurance at the counter, which can be frustrating when planning. However, from other travelers’ experiences, there is a rough range you can expect:

Mexican liability insurance (mandatory for driving into Mexico): approximately $15–$25 USD per day.
Optional additional coverage such as full damage waiver or theft protection for Mexico: may cost $10–$20 USD per day extra, depending on the car class.
Documentation fee or border pass processing fee: sometimes $5–$10 USD.

Tips if you plan to do this:

Call Hertz at LAX directly and ask for the “Mexico insurance rate” or “border cross fee” for your car type and dates—they may give you a better estimate than general online information.
Have your passport and rental agreement handy when purchasing at the counter.
Consider that crossing into Mexico can add time at customs, so factor that into your day trip schedule.
Check whether your U.S. credit card provides any additional coverage for rental cars in Mexico, but most cards still require the rental company’s mandatory liability coverage to be purchased separately.

Overall, budgeting roughly $20–$30 per day extra for the insurance and fees should cover most U.S. rental car trips into Tijuana, but exact rates are only confirmed at pickup.

Crossing border to Mexico in US rental car - insurance

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