Motorcycle Insurance in Mexico: Why “Liability Only” Isn’t the Whole Story

Antonia Issa
Oct 27
3 min read

Crossing the border on two wheels comes with plenty of unknowns: potholes, paperwork, and the occasional cow in the road. But there’s one thing you can control: your insurance. If you’ve ever tried to buy motorcycle coverage for Mexico and wondered why every quote says “liability only,” you’re not alone. The answer is buried somewhere between outdated databases, cautious underwriters, and the magic of calling the right human being at the right moment.

Liability Insurance: The Legal Minimum

Mexico requires all foreign drivers to carry liability insurance from a Mexican insurer. Your Canadian or U.S. policy means nothing once you cross the border — no matter how comprehensive it sounds at home.

Liability covers damage or injury you cause to others. That’s it. It keeps you legal, but it won’t fix your bike, replace it if it’s stolen, or help you when something goes really wrong.

Full Coverage: The Smart Move

If you’re traveling long distances or parking your bike anywhere that isn’t your front yard, you want full coverage.

Full coverage typically includes:

Physical Damage – Repairs if your motorcycle is damaged in an accident.
Total Theft – Replacement if your motorcycle disappears entirely.
Legal, Medical, and Roadside Assistance – Because “mañana” is not the best time to start making phone calls in an emergency.

It costs a bit more, but it’s worth every peso if things go sideways.

The Mystery of “Liability Only” Quotes

When I ran quotes for a Triumph Bonneville T120, every portal: MexPro, Sanborn’s, you name it, only offered liability.

Out of curiosity, I changed the bike model to a BMW GS 1200.

Suddenly, full coverage appeared like magic: physical damage, total theft, everything.

That’s when I learned that the issue wasn’t my country of registration or my value input. It was the database.

Most insurance brokers use automated systems linked to Mexican carriers like Chubb and HDI. Those systems rely on a pre-approved list of makes and models. If your exact bike isn’t on it, the software just defaults to liability, not because you can’t get full coverage, but because their system doesn’t recognize you.

In other words, the BMW was in the database. The Triumph wasn’t.

What To Do If You’re Stuck With Liability Only

Double-check your details. Make sure the make, model, year, and country of registration are accurate.
Try adjusting the declared value. Use market value, not MSRP.
Switch portals. Some brokers (like Baja Bound, Ride Baja, and Cross Border Coverage) have broader insurer access than others.
Ask for manual underwriting. If your bike isn’t in the database, a human underwriter can approve it anyway.
“Can you manually request full coverage for a 2022 Triumph T120? The system only gives liability.”
Confirm your coverage territory. Some programs cover only Baja or border states; if you’re crossing the country, make sure it says “All Mexico.”
Make a phonecall to talk to a real human who can override the system.

Portals vs. Providers

Here’s where most riders get confused:

Portals (brokers) like MexPro or Sanborn’s are middlemen. They handle the quote and paperwork.
Providers (insurers) like Chubb Seguros, HDI Seguros, and GNP Seguros are the ones who actually insure you.

If a portal’s quote engine doesn’t recognize your model, it can’t auto-approve full coverage. Another broker using the same carrier might, simply because they’re hooked into a different underwriting program.

The Call That Fixed Everything

After spinning in circles online, we finally picked up the phone and called Baja Bound.

A real human answered immediately. No hold music. No “press 2 for motorcycles.” Just a helpful associate who knew the system inside out.

Five minutes later, my partner had full coverage for his Canadian-plated bike: physical damage, total theft, roadside assistance, the works, all underwritten by a top-tier insurer.

Sometimes, all it takes is a five-minute conversation to bypass a software blind spot.

The Takeaway

Liability is mandatory in Mexico: it keeps you legal.
Full coverage is optional, but essential if you care about your bike (or your sanity).
If the portal says no, call anyway. The system isn’t smarter than a person.
Baja Bound is worth your time; they know their stuff and pick up the phone.