Driving to Nuevo Laredo and/or Acura?

Question

I will have a US car rental -- can I walk across the border into these 2 towns? If I drive the car into Mexico, what is the deal with buying the Mexican Car Insurance? Can you buy it at the last minute?

Answer 1

Dude honestly.  I would just walk across the border.  Thats to much to hassle with.  It is $ 0.50 to walk across the border to mexico and $ 0.30 to walk back to the us.  No problems going from Laredo to Mexico and back.  As a matter of fact just did it last night (12/07/07).  Went across, ate dinner, walked around, drank lots of beer, and took the taxi to a couple of other cities.  Came back and crossed the border around 3 or 4 in the morning.

Answer 2

If you decided to drive into Mexico, I would recommend buying the car rental car insurance (if you are going to rent the car here in the States).  Also, in the last link I provided, it has a link in there if you desire to buy temporary insurance through their agency.

According to the last link posted in my references, it states that by June of 2009 you will need a passport to walk or drive into Mexico and re-enter the U.S.  Contact Senator Leahy to get more detailed information in regards to the extension of the deadline for passports.  Also, in any search engine, type in the Leahy-Stevens Amendment and it will give you the above info in more detail.

The following information came directly from a government website.  I would call your local representative to find out the correct answer.

Right now you can walk or drive into these two towns with just your drivers license to get back into the county.  The following info is just in case you are going to either travel after the begining of the year or are going to try to go now and not return until after the end of this year (Jan. 1, 2008).

If you decide upon traveling to Mexico and come back before the start of next year, all you need is your driver's license (unless you go by flying, I do believe you will need a passport).

Once the New Year kicks in, the following information is what you will need.You will be able to use a Trusted Traveler Card or a passport to re-enter the U.S. (if you plan on staying into the summer months of 2008).

If you come back before the summer of 2008, here is what you will need:

JANUARY 31, 2008

U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document (Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative), or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

If you come back during the summer of 2008 (at a time to be determined by the DHS), you will need the following (and passports won't be the only method by which you can re-enter the U.S.)

SUMMER 2008

At a later date, to be determined, the departments will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The proposed rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have either a U.S. passport; a U.S. passport card; a trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, FAST, or SENTRI; a valid Merchant Mariner Document (MMD) when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or a valid U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders.

The implementation date will be determined based on a number of factors, including the progress of actions undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to implement the WHTI requirements and the availability of WHTI compliant documents on both sides of the border. DHS and DOS expect the date of full WHTI implementation to be in the summer of 2008. The precise implementation date will be formally announced with at least 60 days notice.

Answer 3

I drove to Mexico  from New Orleans 3 years ago with a car my boyfriend bought here.    

Dont bother will car insurance ..      no seriously ..  dont..    you dont need it  ..  and no one in Mexico has any .. so its useless....  ..      I was surprised with that when I went.    I was in mexico for 3 months and we didn't have insurance the whole time.  

The only thing you will have to pay for .. is for your car to enter mexico.   The car we had was used ..  I think it was 5 years old ..   and we had to pay them $800.      The newer your car .. the more it will cost you.     If you leave mexico with the same car ..  they will give you back that money .. so dont loose the receipt.  If you come back with the same car .. and no receipt .. you pay a HUGE FINE.    If come back to the US with no car .. then you lost your money.. and you will never be allowed to bring another car (in your name) into mexico.  

  

I dont know about Acura .. but whatever you do .. DONT GO THROUGH LAREDO..   1st off .. Laredo is 1 of the most dangerous areas to go to.    2nd off..    I had soooooooo much trouble getting into Mexico.      I had all my paper work .. but they wouldn't let me through ... I had no idea why.. .. and they didn't believe I was an american.       I had to spend the night at a trashy hotel on the border (in Laredo)  b/c  the @sshole wouldn't let me in.      The next morning I went back and spoke to a women who was the supervisor to that same area..   she finally let me in.    Both times..   going into mexico.. then coming out ..   there was nothing but fighting .. the Americans didn't want the mexicans to come in ..  and the Mexicans didn't want the Americans to come in ..  it was awfule.  

Even worse ..   When I tried to get back in to the US .. MY OWN COUNTRY .. They wouldn't let me !  the Texas officers said I looked Hispanic  .. and that i was probably a mexican lieing trying to get into the US ..  they were even trying to convince me to speak spanish .. which .. mine is very poor.         I look nothing like mexican ..   i'm  100% caucasian ..  I look Brazilian  ..  (i'm half brazilian)       .. They thought my paper work was fake..      the officers on both  sides mexican and american were pretty crooked..  and I guess they take their pick on who they pick on...

so trying to come back to the US..  I got on a bus to cross the river ..   and everyone was suppose to get off the bus to show the paperwork to the guy standing outside..   then get back on the bus ..    the texas officer looked at me .. and told me to come with him ..   I asked him about my luggage . ..  he told me not to worry about it..    I went in the station where I was seated .. and waited and waited and waited..   when another officer asked if I was getting back on that bus soon ..    i told him i didn't know since I had no idea what was going on.  He said that the bus couldn't wait any longer for me .. and said he would take care of my luggage ..       the other officer finally came out and asked why i was trying to sneak into the US ..   I  was like .. You Idiot.. I Have Perfect English .. and i'm from New Orleans ..  I even spoke cajun to him ..  though he didn't buy it.   I then told him to ask me ANYTHING about the US ..  he didn't wont to go for that either .. heh.     After another hour .. he finally let me through.     I went outside to the other officer to see where my luggage was ..    he pointed .. and there was my luggage ..   THROWN in the middle of the street ...   he said the next bus for Houston wouldn't arrive in this area for another 6 hours ..  so he suggested I walk ..  with all my luggage  ( a book bag and 2 large suit cases)  down the highway to the next traffic light  ( a quarter of a mile )  and wait for a bus there that would take me to the closes bus station.

He turned around and went back inside..   I went and picked up all my luggage in the middle of the street ..   and sat on the side and cried for 30 min.      When I was approached  by a 3rd officer .. who finally helped me.  He said he didn't work in that exact area ..   so there was nothing he could do about the other officers.   He ended up stopping a bus and letting me on and telling the bus driver (in spanish) to take me to the bus station.  Though that wasn't  where he was going.    Hes the one who told me about the crime on both sides of Laredo ..   he said he's had to use his gun quite a few times and would'nt suggest anyone pass through laredo.    I've also heard of other bad experiences through lardedo from others.

anywayz..     i know you probably didn't want to hear all that .. lol ..  hopefully you'll have more luck then I did.  

I stayed in San Luis Potosi ..   a state in the middle of mexico ..  and I only traveled to 2 other states ..   all in all..    I didn't care for mexico ..  I most likely will never go back .. not b/c of my incident ..  but b/c there was nothing special about the country ..  tho the food WAS GREAT.. BEST FOOD I've Ever Had.              

but i guess that is all just my opinion.