LA to Mexico--info needed
Jul 11th, 2001, 08:45 AM
#1
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LA to Mexico--info needed
Our LA-visiting son wants to spend the weekend in Mexico. Does anyone know what red tape this involves? Will they need a passport? Can he take a rental car over the border? We live on the East Coast, so are unfamiliar with the rules. Thanks for any help.
Jul 11th, 2001, 09:03 AM
#2
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Diane, please do a search for Tijuana here. Personally, I would discourage my son from doing this. Certainly wouldn't take a rental car and yes, he needs proof of citizenship, voters card or passport. There's a lot of potential difficulties for young guys going to a border town like Tijuana for "all you can drink" beers and other fun. Also, he's not going to experience Mexico, just a seedy border town, from San Diego--not L.A.
Jul 11th, 2001, 09:09 AM
#4
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HI:
To cross the border he needs a passport or a birth certificate. I don't know if a car rental company will let you take a car across. But if he takes his own and do not go more than some miles away from the border is ok, otherwise you need to have a special temporary import permit.
Be sure to get a mexican car insurance no matter what.
yoly
To cross the border he needs a passport or a birth certificate. I don't know if a car rental company will let you take a car across. But if he takes his own and do not go more than some miles away from the border is ok, otherwise you need to have a special temporary import permit.
Be sure to get a mexican car insurance no matter what.
yoly
Jul 11th, 2001, 09:16 AM
#5
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Diane,
I went to Mexico a few times while a college and graduate student living in Southern California. It's fairly easy to get across, he just needs his driver's license. Rental agencies in SoCal generally have a provision in their policies that state it is a violation of their contract to take the car across the border into Mexico. There may be exceptions if they pay extra, i'm not sure because i've always gone with friends who have taken their own car across. I believe (but may be wrong) that you are also required by law to purchase extra auto insurance for Mexico as in some areas there are high theft rates. Your own auto insurance will not cover you there.
As for his trip, i'm going to assume he's not going to Tijuana, otherwise, he really wouldn't need a car to visit. I've driven down to Ensenada, Rosarito and other places in Baja which don't have the same environment as Tijuana, often only with a group of female friends, and had no trouble. Friends of mine also road trip down to go surfing and camping and haven't had problems other than bouts of Montezuma's Revenge. All that's needed is common sense.
Overall, it's not too difficult, if he can resolve the car issue. I think your best bet would be to call an Alamo or other agency down in San Diego and ask them specifically about the regulations.
Hope this helps.
I went to Mexico a few times while a college and graduate student living in Southern California. It's fairly easy to get across, he just needs his driver's license. Rental agencies in SoCal generally have a provision in their policies that state it is a violation of their contract to take the car across the border into Mexico. There may be exceptions if they pay extra, i'm not sure because i've always gone with friends who have taken their own car across. I believe (but may be wrong) that you are also required by law to purchase extra auto insurance for Mexico as in some areas there are high theft rates. Your own auto insurance will not cover you there.
As for his trip, i'm going to assume he's not going to Tijuana, otherwise, he really wouldn't need a car to visit. I've driven down to Ensenada, Rosarito and other places in Baja which don't have the same environment as Tijuana, often only with a group of female friends, and had no trouble. Friends of mine also road trip down to go surfing and camping and haven't had problems other than bouts of Montezuma's Revenge. All that's needed is common sense.
Overall, it's not too difficult, if he can resolve the car issue. I think your best bet would be to call an Alamo or other agency down in San Diego and ask them specifically about the regulations.
Hope this helps.
