UT System Guidelines For Driving Owned and Rented Vehicles in Mexico
It is recommended that you weigh all options before deciding to drive owned or rented vehicles while in Mexico. If determined to drive, it is strongly recommended to not drive from Texas across the border into Mexico for official travel purposes unless absolutely necessary. Before traveling, it is also strongly recommended that you call On Call International for the latest travel advice.
University-sponsored travel to and/or through a High Risk region in Mexico must be reviewed and approved by an institution’s International Oversight Committee (IOC) prior to departure in accordance with UTS 190.
Mexican law requires that drivers must have in their possession a vehicle-specific Mexico auto identification card and a copy of a Mexico auto insurance policy. Drivers may be subject to criminal prosecution in Mexico for failing to follow the law.
If you are in an accident, you will most likely be arrested until you can establish that you can pay for all at-fault damages.
Owned Autos Taken to Mexico
Scheduled Autos – When driving a scheduled auto into Mexico, make sure you have an Auto ID Card and a copy of the System-wide Mexico Tourist Auto Policy in the vehicle before
leaving campus.
These vehicles are scheduled on the Mexico Tourist Auto Policy and you should have received an Auto ID card at renewal. Renewal occurs on December 31st annually. You can obtain one throughout the year by calling ORM at 512-499-4612 or 512-499-4447.
Someone at your institution needs to make sure only authorized drivers are approved to take UT System owned vehicles into Mexico.
Non-Scheduled Autos – When you want to take a non-scheduled vehicle into Mexico call UT System with the Year, Make, Model, Vehicle Identification Number, and Authorized Drivers who will be driving the vehicles into Mexico and the duration (dates) of the trip.
ORM will provide you with an Auto ID card and Mexico Tourist Auto Policy. You can contact your Travel Coordinator in order to obtain more policies.
When reporting a claim or making a request for assistance Employees must provide the following: Location and a phone number where the insurer can contact them, policy number (on Auto ID Card), policy effective dates (on Auto ID Card), detailed description of the problem, and type of aid needed. The Employee must not make any arrangements or payments without first consulting with the insurance company. All claims must be made within 90 days of the incident and must be reported while in Mexico.
US Rental Autos Taken into Mexico
If renting a vehicle to drive into Mexico for official UT System business use, Employees need to rent under the UT System car rental contract from Avis, Enterprise, or Hertz. If it is necessary
to rent a vehicle from any other non-UT System contract rental company for official UT System business in Mexico, Employees will need to purchase that company’s Mexico auto insurance. Employees will also need to purchase liability and physical damage insurance coverage from the rental agency. The System-wide Mexico Tourist Auto Policy offers coverage on passenger vehicles including 15 passenger vans.
To coordinate our Mexico Rentals from the US, Employees arranging the rental car for travel into Mexico need to contact the UT System Office of Risk Management (ORM) at 512-499-
4612 or 512-499-4447 at least 10 days before the departure date. ORM will keep an annual log of trips going into Mexico for hired vehicles.
The employee will need to have the following information:
- Name of the Driver(s) driving into Mexico
- Dates that the vehicle will be driven into Mexico
When the trip to Mexico is being booked with Avis, Enterprise, or Hertz, the employee renting the vehicle needs to make sure that they take the following items to the rental counter:
- Mexico Tourist Auto ID card – rental company will assist with putting the vehicle identification number on the auto ID car.
- Copy of the Mexico Tourist Auto Policy
- Copy of the Mexico Insurance Agreement between UT System and either
Avis, Enterprise, or Hertz
Employees need to ensure that the vehicle identification number is transferred onto the Auto ID before leaving the rental car company premises. ORM suggests keeping the rental contract,
Auto ID card, and Mexico Tourist Auto Policy in the rental car at all times.
The policy covers the driver’s liability in an auto accident for bodily injury or property damage to a third party. The policy also provides service assistance, legal defense, and bail bond services. The policy has a 24-hour number to call for assistance (it is on the Mexico Tourist Auto Policy).
When reporting a claim or making a request for assistance Employees must provide the following: Location and a phone number where the insurer can contact them, policy number (on Auto ID Card), policy effective dates (on Auto ID Card), detailed description of the problem, and type of aid needed. The Employee must not make any arrangements or payments without first consulting with the insurance company. All claims must be made within 90 days of the incident and must be reported while in Mexico.
Renting an Auto after Traveling to Mexico via Some Other Form of Transportation
Follow the rental procedures required by the rental agency in Mexico and purchase that company’s Mexico auto insurance.
Personal Auto Use for Official University Business While in Mexico
Employees are strongly discouraged from using personal vehicles for travel on official University business especially when traveling to Mexico. UT System’s International Package Policy provides liability only coverage in excess of the employee’s liability coverage and does not offer any physical damage coverage for the employee’s vehicle. It is recommended that, if you are traveling into Mexico with your personal vehicle, you purchase a Mexico auto insurance policy.
The University of Texas System - Office of Risk Management
Guidelines for Driving Owned and Rented Vehicles While in Mexico
Created April 1,2008
Updated March 7,2013
Updated May 3,2018
Updated March 8,2019
Updated March 10,2023