What to worry about while driving to Ensenada, Mexico?
You need Mexican auto insurance. I cannot stress this enough. Driving without auto insurance in Mexico is a serious felony, far more serious than in the United States. If you are stopped by the Federales (the Mexican national police) and you don’t have proof of insurance, you’re in big trouble. If you get in a minor fender-bender, and the cops come by, and they discover you are an American with no Mexican insurance, you will be taken to jail and held until the case is fully settled i.e. the other party takes his or her car to the body shop, has it fixed, you pay the bill, and then you’ll be released from jail. And while I have never been there, friends have told me La Mesa prison is one of the worst places on Earth, particularly if you are an American.
Going into Mexico w/o insurance would be incredibly stupid. It isn’t that much money, and there are tons of places to buy it before you leave. I was just there last weekend, and buses from Tijuana to Ensenada are frequent. There are many lots right on the CA side, I like the one at the duty free shop [check the prices there as you walk in on booze to use as a comparison to on the Mexican side]. That lot charges $9/day. There’s another lot on the right just as you exit the freeway that is $7/day prepaid. It also acts as a bus stop for Mexicoach. I know they go to Rosarito, but you might contact them about Ensenada. The bus means no one has to drive and everyone in your party can have a good time. The autopista to Ensenada is an easy drive. It is the first kilometer with all of the turns and offramps that can be offputting. Not only do you avoid dealing insurance and the car, by taking the bus, you can avoid the huge “linea” trying to re-enter the US that can take hours and hours. On foo
