5.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Mexico City

On March 20^th, a moderate 5.3 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico City, swaying building located in the capital and sending hundreds of people into the streets. There weren't any reports of casualties or damage. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake started at 4:30 p.m. in Puebla, located near Tulcingo del Valle. This is a town that has a low population and is about 100 miles southeast of Mexico City. The town also has a depth of about 31 miles.

Miguel Angel Mancera, the Mayor of Mexico City, stated that there were many evacuations reported in the capital, but there have been no reports of injuries or damage. This city is in a location that makes it vulnerable to distant earthquakes, mostly due to the fact that it sits on top of a muddy sediment of drained lake beds. Whenever a quake hits, the town wiggles like jelly.

In 1985, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake hit, killing around 6,000 people and destroying a lot of the building in Mexico City. This quake was centered about 250 miles away from the Pacific Coast.

Be Prepared When an Earthquake Hits

The moment an earthquake strikes can never be predetermined, which is why Mexico City residents and expatriates need to be prepared. This also goes to those residing in other areas of Mexico. Having a plan for you and your family is important and should be practiced. Where will everyone go when the earthquake starts? Hiding underneath sturdy tables can be an excellent way to protect your head.

Also, having a first aid kit equipped with medical supplies, food and additional clothing can be useful as well. You never know when the big one will hit and when it does, you may not have access to everyday utilities and items. Be prepared by storing gallons of water and dry food that doesn't have to be cooked.

After the earthquake, know what you and your family will do. It's a good idea to have a radio, so that you can listen to the authorities and the situation in areas not immediately around you. You can also check on your neighbors and plan to have them check on you in case of such emergencies. You never know when you or a neighbor may become trapped under debris and need assistance right away. If you have loved ones who are disabled, make sure to have a plan for them as well.

Be Prepared with Mexican Homeowners Insurance

Without Mexico homeowners insurance, your life's possessions could quickly disappear with nothing to show for it. Money can't bring back belongings that have been destroyed, but it can help replace the items that can be replaced. A lot of people end up homeless after dangerous weather occurs, but this doesn't have to be the case for you and your loved ones. Just make sure that when you purchase Mexican homeowners insurance that is provides coverage for damage caused by earthquakes. To learn more about obtaining Mexican insurance for your home, contact your Mexico Insurance Experts today at www.WestCoastRi.com.

Get the Best Mexican Medical Insurance Today

There is a very common saying that health is wealth, which people only seem to remember when they get sick or injured and aren’t able to do the things that they once were. Just as importantly, the amount of money that you will have to spend when you get sick or hurt has the potential do just as much damage to your wallet if you aren’t careful. No where is this more true than when you are on a vacation or trip in a foreign country. If you are visiting Mexico, for example, you may find that your health insurance doesn’t cover things that happen to you while you are there. This can leave you in a sticky situation if something were to happen. Fortunately, there are plenty of options that you can take advantage of if you want to remain protected while on your foreign soil, and the cost is not very expensive at all.

Finding the right health insurance for this type of situation is key. You want to work with someone who knows the ins and outs of Mexico and the type of things that you will be doing so that they can tailor your insurance to your needs, rather than just providing a one-size-fits-all policy that doesn’t take into account your itinerary. Why is this important? As an example, you may need different insurance for if you are planning to participate in adventure sports versus if you are going to go to business meetings all day.

West Coast Insurance is one example of a company that can work with you to get the right insurance for your needs. They are focused on providing a high standard of service to their customers, and they have a number of options for Mexico health insurance. Their professional team will be able to help you find the right insurance for the duration of your trip and the planned activities, so that if something does happen you will be protected.

Their insurance options also extend to expat health insurance, which covers you if you are going to live in a different country for a long time, which is something that more and more people are considering, especially for retirement.

Their Mexican medical insurance can also be paired with other options that cover everything from individuals to families and businesses with things like car, condo, boat, aviation, and commercial insurance, among other options.

If you’d like to know more about the insurance options they offer, visit their website at http://www.westcoastri.com.

Am I Allowed to Drive a Rental Car Into Mexico?

 

You can't argue that driving into Mexico is the best way to enjoy your trip. Likely, there are points of interest you want to stop at and what better way to do so than with your own vehicle? However, if you don't want to drive your own car or don't have one, you have another option -- a rental car. Just make sure to speak with the rental company and your Mexico Insurance Experts before you take your trip. You'll also need to ensure you understand the border crossing regulations, along with the vehicle importation laws of Mexico.

Entering Mexico with Your Rental Car

As long as you stay in the Border Zone, which is 12 to 20 miles from the U.S. border, for no longer than 72 hours, then you won't have to do anything. However, if you would like to drive further into Mexico or stay longer than 72 hours, then you are going to have to apply for a temporary import permit, as well as a tourist card. Before you are given a permit, you will have to pay a bond, which is refundable when you return your permit before it expires. Bonds typically cost a few hundred dollars, and depends on the year, make and model of your vehicle. All cars that enter Mexico are required to have Mexico auto insurance as well.

Know the Policies of Your Car Rental Agency

Not all car rental companies allow customers to drive their vehicles into Mexico. For instance, in 2014, Avis no longer allows its cars to pass the U.S. Border. However, there are other agencies that simply charge you an extra fee or place an additional hold on your credit card. Make sure to ask about the latest policies from the car rental agency you plan to rent from and make sure you secure the proper Mexico Auto Insurance. 

Purchase Sufficient Auto Coverage

Since American auto insurance policies aren't valid across the border, you're going to have to purchase temporary Mexico insurance. Having Mexican auto insurance is important because without it, you won't be able to pass the border. There are some American insurers that provide low-cost Mexican policies. Either way, you are going to need to buy your own insurance.

Things to Know When Crossing the Border

It is required that all U.S. Citizens, even minors, provide a passport or passport card at the Mexican border. If both parents aren't present with the minor, the parent who is will need a notarized letter from the absent parent, giving permission to take the child across the border. You will also have to inform customs of all computers, video players, cameras and cell phones you have. There is a limit to one of each per person. If you have CDs and cassette tapes, then the limit is 20 per person. It is prohibited to bring firearms, ammunition and certain kinds of knives.

When looking for Mexico auto insurance for your rental car, make sure that the coverage provided is sufficient for your trip.

What I Need to Know about Mexico Watercraft Liability Insurance Protection

When you’re planning on enjoying the beautiful coastal waters in Mexico by boat or watercraft, you need to make sure you have quality Watercraft Liability Insurance for all of your water excursions. Making sure that you, as well as any friend or business associate you take on the water with you are protected is highly recommended and allows for peace of mind in knowing that if an accident occurs while on the water, your friends or co-workers, as well as your watercraft, will be protected. When choosing a Watercraft Liability Insurance policy, you need to make sure the coverage you select will cover you in the area that you’re going to be on the water.

A good liability insurance policy will cover the cost of repair to other boaters if you are found at fault when a boating accident happens. Accidents happen every minute of every day, and having insurance coverage is necessary in order to prevent having to pay excessive amounts of money out of your own pocket, or even being taken to jail as the police investigate the boating accident to determine who is at fault. In Mexico, if you don’t have Watercraft Liability Insurance, the courts can, and usually do, find the one who does not have insurance responsible for the accident even if the accident may not have technically been their fault at all.

Watercraft Liability Insurance is very similar to Automobile Liability Insurance in that it will pay to repair or replace damaged property as well as cover medical expenses for the other party involved in the accident, or those who may be on your own boat or watercraft at the time of the accident if the coverage is selected.

You may also want to make sure that you have coverage that will cover the loss or expense to repair your own personal watercraft if you’re in an accident. A boat is a wonderful investment and should always have the proper insurance to cover all that could possibly happen while on the water. If your boat were to sink due to an accident or a severe storm, you would want to make sure that the cost of recovery or replacement is covered by the insurance; a full coverage policy is strongly recommended; Another thing you may want to consider is what you will do if you run out of fuel while on the water. Adding a good Emergency Assistance plan to your policy will ensure that if you’re stranded on the sea with no fuel, or if your engine fails, you can contact a company to refuel for you, or to tow your boat back to the slip.

Minor accidents on the water can be very costly without the proper insurance in place. It is definitely a smart suggestion to ensure all watercraft and boats have insurance before they ever head out on the water. Not only to protect the watercraft, but to make sure that the people aboard or other boats on the water will be covered if you are at fault in the case of an accident. Watercraft Liability Insurance will not only save you money out of pocket, but it will provide a true sense of security with knowing that all of your water adventures are covered when accidents may occur.

What You Need to Know About Military Checkpoints in Mexico

When you travel across the U.S. border into Mexico, border patrol and checkpoints should be expected. The purpose of military checkpoints in places like Baja, Mexico are there for one purpose only – to catch those involved in illegal activities, like drug trafficking and gun smuggling. Typically, checkpoints are located at the borders of countries, but in Mexico, they are also within the country. This means that while driving around in Baja, you could come across military checkpoint signs along the way.

How Many Military Checkpoints Are in Mexico?

The amount of military checkpoints in Mexico varies depending on the time of year. Usually, there are around six checkpoints located between Cabo San Lucas and Tijuana. As you approach a military checkpoint, you will see personnel wearing military uniforms. It’s common for them to also be armed with automatic rifles.

Are Vehicles Always Inspected at Military Checkpoints in Mexico?

It’s uncommon for each and every vehicle to be inspected at military checkpoints. On most occasions, you will just be waved through. In the event that you are stopped by personnel, there’s no need to panic. If you are asked to stop, roll down your window, so that the officer can see inside of your vehicle and speak with you. Just stay relaxed, courteous and be friendly. Anything suspicious could flag you for an inspection.

The soldiers you’ll find at these checkpoints are trained to be firm, but courteous. Typically, there isn’t much conversation – after all, they have thousands of cars to screen, so not much time for that. The first thing you may be asked is whether you speak Spanish, “Habla Espanol?” If you say no, you can expect a lot of the officers to speak in broken English. Other questions they may ask in Spanish include, “Adonde va?” which means where are you going, and “De donde viene?” which means where are you coming from.

What to Expect When Your Vehicle is Flagged for Inspection

If for any reason you are flagged for a vehicle inspection, you and your passengers will be asked to get out of your car. If you are travelling with a pet, it too has to come out of the car. The inspection will be performed quickly to help keep traffic moving along. So make the process as seamless as possible by following directions and eliminating problems that could slow down the inspection process. You’ll be asked to open your trunk or the door to the backseat. The glove compartment, travel bags and beneath the seats will all be checked for illegal contents, such as paraphernalia, shells and guns.

Going through a military checkpoint can seem a bit scary, but as long as you are following the country’s laws and the directions they give you, there’s nothing to worry about. Remember that they are here to stop criminals, not innocent civilians. Their job is a difficult one and they are risking their lives daily to keep law and order. Now that you know what to expect at military checkpoints in Mexico, hopefully, your road travels in Mexico will be stress-free.

About the Author: West Coast Insurance Services provides the most competitive rates for Mexico Auto Insurance with the broadest coverage’s. For peace of mind visit your Mexico Insurance Experts at www.WestCoastRi.com