Sanborn’s Identifies 7 Mistakes U.S. Drivers Should Avoid When Driving to Mexico

Government data shows more than 551,000 travelers received roadside assistance in Mexico in 2025, as Sanborn’s urges U.S. drivers to prepare before crossing the border.

McAllen, TX — October 21, 2026 — With Americans continuing to travel to Mexico by car for vacations, family visits, and extended stays, Sanborn’s Mexico Insurance is reminding U.S. drivers that preparing for a road trip south of the border requires more than filling the tank and mapping a route.

Mexico’s Secretaría de Turismo reported that its Ángeles Verdes program assisted 665,100 travelers representing 75 nationalities during 2025, including visitors from the United States. More than 551,000 travelers received roadside assistance, and the agency provided more than 221,000 roadside-assistance services during the year.

Mechanical assistance accounted for 75.9% of services, with tire problems, engine failures, overheating and cooling-system problems, and electrical failures among the leading reasons travelers needed help.

“Most road trips to Mexico are about the destination, but travelers shouldn’t overlook the drive itself,” said Rocio Morales, Vice President Marketing at Sanborn’s Mexico Insurance. “A different country means different insurance requirements, laws, road conditions, and procedures. Knowing what to expect before you cross the border can help you be better prepared if something unexpected happens.”

Drawing on decades of experience helping U.S. travelers insure their vehicles for trips to Mexico, Sanborn’s identified seven mistakes drivers should avoid.

1. Assuming U.S. Auto Insurance Is All You Need

Travelers should not assume their U.S. auto insurance provides the coverage required or needed while driving in Mexico. Even if a U.S. policy extends some coverage into Mexico, Mexico requires liability insurance issued by a Mexican insurance company. Before departure, drivers should purchase appropriate auto insurance. Sanborn’s represents HDI Seguros Mexico.

Sanborn’s Mexico auto insurance provides liability and legal assistance, along with options for physical damage, theft, medical expenses, and roadside assistance, depending on the policy selected.

2. Choosing Mexico Auto Insurance Based Only on Price

Price is important, but so is understanding what you’re buying. Travelers should compare liability limits, deductibles, and available coverage for their own vehicle rather than selecting a policy based solely on the lowest premium.

“Insurance becomes very real when you actually need to use it,” said [LAST NAME]. “Before the trip is the time to understand what you’ve purchased, not after an accident.”

3. Failing to Check the Vehicle Before Leaving

Mexico’s government roadside-assistance statistics provide a useful reminder that not every travel problem involves an accident. In 2025, 75.9% of Ángeles Verdes services involved mechanical assistance, according to Mexico’s Secretaría de Turismo.

Before a long drive, Sanborn’s recommends checking tires, brakes, fluids, cooling systems, batteries, and other basic vehicle systems and addressing known mechanical problems before departure.

4. Letting a Navigation App Choose the Entire Route

The shortest or fastest route isn’t necessarily the route travelers should take. Navigation apps can direct drivers off primary corridors and onto unfamiliar local roads. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico advises travelers to research their routes carefully and warns that navigation apps generally select the most direct route without considering U.S. Department of State travel advice about roads or areas travelers may want to avoid. When possible, travelers should adjust navigation settings and plan routes that stay on major toll highways.

Major toll roads generally offer better-maintained infrastructure and traveler amenities than rural secondary roads. Before leaving, travelers should review the current U.S. Department of State travel advisory for each Mexican state along their route, plan to use major toll highways when appropriate, and schedule driving during daylight hours whenever possible.

5. Not Knowing What to Do After an Accident

Accident procedures in Mexico can be different from those to which U.S. drivers are accustomed at home. Travelers should keep their Mexico insurance information accessible and contact their insurer promptly following an accident. In Mexico, an insurance adjuster typically goes to the scene and takes the lead on behalf of the insured; each party involved may have an adjuster respond. Drivers should follow their insurer’s instructions and applicable local requirements rather than assuming the process will be identical to handling an accident in the United States.

6. Forgetting Vehicle Documents and Permit Requirements

Travelers should confirm that they have the required documents for themselves and their vehicle before crossing the border. Drivers should carry the original, current vehicle registration as proof of ownership. If driving a borrowed vehicle, they should also carry a letter of permission from the vehicle owner.

Depending on the destination and the vehicle’s route within Mexico, additional vehicle documentation or a Temporary Vehicle Import Permit (TIP) may be required. Requirements and exemptions vary by destination, so travelers should verify current government requirements before departure. If a TIP is required, Banjercito is the official Mexican government agency authorized to issue the permit. Travelers should obtain it directly through Banjercito’s official online portal or at an authorized border office.

7. Waiting Until an Emergency to Figure Out Who to Call

Travelers should save important contact information before beginning the trip, including their insurance company’s phone number and their policy details. Mexico’s Secretaría de Turismo operates the Ángeles Verdes roadside-assistance program. Travelers can dial 078 for roadside mechanical assistance and tourism information.

The government also offers an Ángeles Verdes mobile app that allows travelers to request mechanical assistance, share their real-time location, and access the 078-assistance line.

In 2025, Ángeles Verdes units traveled more than 13.7 million kilometers across 233 highway segments, according to Mexico’s Secretaría de Turismo.

A Safer Road Trip Starts Before You Leave

Sanborn’s encourages travelers to think of Mexico road-trip preparation in three parts: the drive, the vehicle, and the insurance. Review current government travel guidance and plan your route. Make sure your vehicle is ready for the trip. And understand the insurance you’re purchasing and what to do if you need to use it.

“Mexico is an incredible destination to explore by car,” said [LAST NAME]. “Preparation isn’t about making travelers nervous about the trip. It’s about giving them the information they need, so they can spend more time enjoying where they’re going.”

Resources for U.S. Drivers Traveling to Mexico

For current safety and driving guidance, travelers should consult the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico. For roadside-assistance information in Mexico, travelers can consult the Secretaría de Turismo’s Ángeles Verdes program.

About Sanborn’s Mexico Insurance

Sanborn’s Mexico Insurance has decades of experience helping U.S. and Canadian travelers obtain insurance for vehicles driven into Mexico. Sanborn’s offers Mexico auto insurance options from established Mexican insurers and helps travelers understand the available coverage before crossing the border. Learn more at www.sanborns.com.