Before driving into Mexico, it's usually necessary to purchase vehicle insurance. Most insurance companies provide standard policies that are not valid in Mexico. Many Mexican drivers are not very skilled at maneuvering their vehicles. Thus the need for the extra insurance. I've heard horror stories about people who skip the insurance and then get in an accident.

We pulled off of the freeway just prior to reaching the border. There were several insurance operations to choose from. We picked this drive-thru business. It cost us about $20 for a 24 hour period, and took us about 10 minutes to complete the transaction.