Traveling to Mexico: What to Know Before You Go

Documents and entry forms

By air, U.S. citizens need a passport book; the State Department notes you can’t use a passport card to fly. By land, a passport book or passport card works, and the card also works in Ready Lanes when you return. The State Department’s February 2026 fee chart lists adult passport cards at $30 and books at $130, plus a $35 execution fee for first-time applicants.

Visitors entering Mexico by land generally need an immigration form called the FMM, which you can apply for online through Mexico’s immigration institute (INM) or at the border. Sources disagree on one point: the State Department says you don’t need an FMM if you stay within 12 miles (20 km) of the border for six days or less, while Baja Bound says every entrant needs one but that it is free for land stays of seven days or less. Because the guidance differs, check INM’s site before you go.

For longer land stays, the FMM fee rose to MXN 983 on January 1, 2026, according to law firm summaries of the federal fee schedule. Air travelers usually pay it in the airfare. Officials decide how many days to grant, up to 180; longer stays require a visa.

Check the travel advisory

The State Department rates Mexico overall at Level 2, “Exercise Increased Caution,” in its advisory issued May 29, 2026, with higher levels for some states.

Source: U.S. Department of State Mexico Travel Advisory, issued May 29, 2026. Levels: 1 normal precautions, 2 increased caution, 3 reconsider travel, 4 do not travel. Check for updates before you go.

If you drive

Mexican federal law requires every vehicle on federal roads and bridges to carry insurance covering damage and injury to third parties (Ley de Caminos, Puentes y Autotransporte Federal, article 63 Bis, added in 2013). Rules published in the Diario Oficial in 2014 set minimum coverage of MXN 100,000 for bodily injury or death and MXN 50,000 for property damage, phased in by model year until they applied to all vehicles from 2019. The rules allow those minimums to be reviewed each year, and they contemplate insurers authorized under Mexican law.

For U.S. visitors, the practical point is simple. The State Department says Mexican car insurance is required for all vehicles, and AAA says Mexico does not recognize U.S. or Canadian auto policies as proof of liability coverage.

Beyond the border zone and the hassle-free areas of Baja California and Sonora, you also need a temporary vehicle import permit.

• U.S. driver’s licenses are valid in Mexico, according to the State Department.
• Using a phone while driving and driving through a yellow light are illegal.
• The State Department advises driving between cities only during daylight and cooperating at checkpoints.
• Mexico’s Green Angels roadside assistance can be reached at 078.
• AAA notes that speed bumps (topes) are often unmarked and toll booths generally take pesos.

Medical care and insurance

The State Department’s Overseas Security Advisory Council has warned that most medical facilities in Mexico require payment, sometimes in cash, before they treat or discharge a patient, and that private hospitals can cost as much as or more than U.S. facilities. It advises making sure your health plan covers you in Mexico or buying travel insurance that does, including medical evacuation.

U.S. coverage often won’t help: Medicare generally doesn’t pay for care in Mexico, and many private plans pay only for emergencies abroad, if at all. A travel medical plan with evacuation coverage fills that gap. Our partner section links to BCBS Global Solutions, formerly GeoBlue, for travel medical plans.

What to pack, and what not to

Sources: State Department Mexico page (Aug. 2026) and Mexican consulate customs allowance sheet. Rules can change; check with Mexican customs.

The State Department says it is illegal to bring e-cigarettes and vaping liquids into Mexico, and the U.S. Embassy’s 2026 spring break alert warned that penalties range from confiscation to fines of over $10,000 or arrest. A Mexican constitutional and health law reform banning the manufacture, sale, import, and distribution of vapes took effect January 16, 2026.

Laws that catch travelers

• Firearms and ammunition: prohibited without Mexican permits, with long prison terms.
• Drugs: possession and use are illegal, including marijuana that is legal in parts of the U.S.
• Car accidents: drivers can be arrested regardless of fault.
• Timeshares and real estate: the State Department urges caution and advice from a Mexican attorney.

Coming home

When you come back, CBP says all items bought in Mexico must be declared. Returning residents generally have an $800 duty-free exemption, including one liter of alcohol per adult every 30 days; the exemption drops to $200 if you were out of the country less than 48 hours or used the exemption within the past 30 days.

Checking a plan and insurer

• Who issues the policy. Mexican auto policies should be issued by an insurer authorized in Mexico; find its name on the policy.
• Limits. Compare liability limits, not just price, and confirm legal assistance is included.
• Dates and territory. Make sure the policy covers every day you’ll be in Mexico and the states you’ll drive in.
• Proof. Carry the policy documents in the vehicle.
• Exclusions. Read exclusions for off-road driving, beaches, and drivers who aren’t listed.

What an independent agency does

An independent insurance agency is licensed to sell policies from several insurance companies. Instead of quoting one company's products, an independent agent can compare options from the insurers the agency represents, explain the differences in coverage, and help you re-shop at renewal. The insurance company, not the agent, makes underwriting and claim decisions.

Blake Insurance Group is an independent agency. We work with clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed, and we will tell you which insurers we can quote for your situation.

How we work

Blake Insurance Group serves clients by phone, email, and online in states where we are licensed. The insurers and plans we can offer depend on our appointments and your location; a company named on this page may not be available through us.

How to verify an insurer or agency

Before buying through any website or app, confirm who is selling you the policy and who will issue it:

1. Find the licensed agency or insurer named in the site's footer, terms, or license page.
2. Look up the agency or producer on your state insurance department's license search, or through the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).
3. Look up the insurer on your state insurance department's company search to confirm it is authorized in your state.
4. Save the insurer's name and policy number once issued, since that is who handles claims.

A legitimate service will make this information easy to find. Be cautious if you cannot identify the licensed entity.

Sources

We checked the facts on this page against the sources below in October 2026. Plans, prices, and rules change, so confirm current terms before you buy.

• U.S. Department of State: Mexico international travel information (Aug. 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: Mexico Travel Advisory (May 29, 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: Passport fee chart (Feb. 2026)
• U.S. Department of State: Passport card vs. passport book
• Baja Bound: Guide to the Mexican FMM tourist card
• Clark Hill: Mexico immigration fees effective Jan. 1, 2026
• INM: Electronic FMM application
• Diario Oficial de la Federación: SHCP Acuerdo 07/2014 (highway liability insurance rules)
• AAA Mountain West Group: Mexico auto insurance FAQ
• OSAC: Health and safety guidance for travel to Mexico
• Medicare.gov: Travel outside the U.S.
• Mexican consulate: Passenger customs allowances (franquicia)
• El Imparcial: Mexico's vape ban takes effect (Jan. 16, 2026)
• CBP: Planning a trip to Mexico
• CBP: Types of exemptions

What to have ready for Mexico insurance quotes

These details help an agent quote accurately.

1. Travelers. Names and dates of birth.
2. Trip dates. When you leave and return.
3. Destinations. Where in Mexico you’ll stay.
4. Current coverage. Your U.S. health and auto policies.
5. Vehicles. Year, make, model, and VIN if you’re driving.

Traveling to Mexico FAQs

Related guides

• Mexico insurance
• Mexican car insurance for tourists
• Temporary vehicle import permit
• Mexico car entry requirements
• Mexico free zone guide

Partner quote options

Your next step

Request a quote, and a licensed agent will compare options available to us for your trip or situation.