Welcome to Mexico

From San Diego, California, take Interstate Highway 5 or Interstate 805 south. This will take you to the San Ysidro, California border crossing (at Tijuana). There will be various freeway exit signs along the way including one reading "Last U.S. Exit." and the Interstate the freeway takes you right into Mexico.

Automobile Insurance

Four U.S. carriers provide full coverage in Mexico – Allstate, Farmers, State Farm and AAA to a distance of 75 miles south of the border – typically this means to and including Ensenada. However, Mexico does not recognize this coverage and the visitor must obtain the minimum liability and property damage coverage in order to avoid complications in the event of an accident. You can be detained if you do not have a policy recognized in Mexico at the time of an accident, even if your American policy will cover you.

Insurance can also be obtained for an occasional visit at one of many “Mexican Insurance” agencies located just north of the border at The San Ysidro Blvd freeway off ramp or can be purchased by more frequent visitors on a 30 days a year plan for much less than buying insurance for each visit at the border.

Just past the revision area on the right is a location from which to purchase Mexican Insurance for your vehicle if you have not done so. Remember that most American policies will not cover you in Mexico.

Visitor's Cards and Passports

U.S. and Canadian citizens who visit the immediate border zone or the city of Ensenada can do it without the need to obtain a tourist card, provided the length of the stay does not exceed 72 hours. Simply drive across the border (as almost 180,000 people do each day) For travel beyond Maneadero on the Pacific coast or south of Mexicali on Highway 5, a tourist card is officially required for each individual visitor, regardless of age.

If your are not a Mexican citizen and you intend on staying for more than seven (7) days in any region of Mexico, you are obligated to pay a Non-Immigrant Fee (D.N.I) which costs $210.00 pesos (around $20.00 dollars), payable at any Mexican Bank.

Visitors arriving by land and staying up to 7 (seven) days are exempted from paying this fee, for any additional information please check with the immigration authorities or with the Baja California State Tourism Secretariat.

And whether you stay the day, the night or the weekend, you can return to the U.S. just as easily. Non-U.S. and starting June 1, 2010 U.S residents must present passports and visas for entry.

 

Prohibited Items

When you get to the border the Mexicans have a red light / green light system set up for who gets their car inspected. If you get a red light and the bell sounds, you are supposed to exit and go into Custom’s Inspection area. The Mexican Custom Agents also randomly direct vehicles into Custom’s Inspection area. There is nothing to fear at Custom’s Inspection unless you have numerous items that you are trying to get across the border without authorization.

There are three items that can get you in very serious trouble in Mexico and these are: guns (any type), ammunition, and unlawful drugs. Please make sure you don’t leave a stray round rolling around in your trunk from your last hunting or target shooting expedition. If you do drugs it is very strongly recommended you leave your stash at home!

Now for the Drive

To get to the toll road from the border after entering Mexico through their customs drive in the far right lane. Once you get to the point to where traffic is merging with you from the right side, immediately start looking for a chance to move to the far right lane that just formed to your right. Very quickly after that is the exit to the right to Rosarito by means of the "Scenic Road" AKA toll road to Rosarito / Ensenada. That will take you to the road that runs along the international border .