SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/602700
support vehicles that other brokers will not insure." So you might wonder how the dice will roll if your race vehicle or pre-runner is on a trailer in a Mexican hotel parking lot is stolen or damaged. According to Andreoli, you'll want to ensure the value of the vehicle. "These vehicles would be covered for damages or theft, providing that they (vehicle owner) purchased a policy for that coverage," says Andreoli. "They just need to provide us with the vehicle registration information, a starting and end time for the policy. We would also need trailer information, and for any other vehicle on the trailer, we would need that information also." According to Andreoli, if a U.S. registered vehicle is involved in a mishap, and the owner is still making payments on the vehicle, the procedure would be no different than an American insurance policy. The lien holder would be involved in the process and settlement of the claim. Any deductible for fire, theft, and collision are based on a percentage of the value of your vehicle, with a minimum amount for the deductible. For general factory stock pickup trucks, sedans, and motor homes, the value is determined the same way it is done in the U.S.A. "We use Kelly Blue Book for determining values," Andreoli said. "Race vehicles and pre-runners values are determined by a different set of guidelines because they are highly modified vehicles." Mexican auto insurance has limits, however, to the year of manufacture of the vehicle you can cover for acquiring fire, theft, and collision insurance. These limits are usually applied to vehicles that are 14 to 15 years old. This can vary depending upon the make of the vehicle. Although a false sense of security may compel a person to purchase the bare minimum of liability vehicle insurance for your travels in Mexico, you may want to hedge your bet. IMAI offers one level of full coverage that includes collision, fire, and total theft, in addition to liability, medical, and legal services. Full coverage offers peace of mind for your family, your team, and your ability to get back to work when you get home. "All vehicle owners can and should purchase at least liability insurance," Andreoli said. "Regarding equipment, any loose equipment is not covered. Equipment must be built into the policy and be a permanent part of the vehicle in order to be covered. Personal items are not covered for theft. You should check your American insurance policy to find out if that sort of risk is covered while in Mexico. Every policy issued is given a contact number for reaching the carrier. This line is staffed 24 hours-a-day, and an adjuster will be dispatched to you upon request." If something should happen while in Mexico, Andreoli says it's vital to get that information to the insurance company as soon as possible. "It is important to report the accident to the insurance carrier before you leave the country. Once all the reports are completed, IMAI has a customer service representative that can assist in the processing of the claim. During SCORE events, the carrier and IMAI both have representatives and adjusters on site to respond as quickly as possible to any occurrence requiring their expertise," Andreoli said. Mexican Team Members In several cases, Mexican citizens are often personal friends and team members of American race operations. There are times when a Mexican national is assigned to a U.S. registered chase truck or support vehicle because he knows the race course, and all the highways and rural routes around small towns and villages that parallel the race course. "Even in this situation, yes, the vehicle is covered," Andreoli said. "But they must have a valid driver's license as well as a notarized letter of permission from the owner of the vehicle. In the best case scenario, the owner of the vehicle should be in the car while the Mexican citizen is driving it. In general, any person can drive an insured vehicle, as long as they have a valid driver's license." Most experienced racers who travel into Baja understand the difficult consequences of getting into an accident in Mexico without proper automotive liability insurance. For them, people like Hal Andreoli, are simply an extension of the team, one that provide a crucial component to providing a safe and successful outcome. SJ 070 SCORE JOURNAL