This is Part 6 of my 6 Part series on Driving in Mexico. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
What to do if you break down in Mexico
If you plan on bringing your car to Mexico, you should make sure it is in good shape before you come. As with any long car trip, you’ll want to check your tires, change your oil, check fluid levels and filters, etc.
In spite of your best preparations, sometimes things can still go wrong with your car. This does not mean your trip is ruined… here are a few pointers:
If you are on the main highways in Mexico, especially on toll roads and in what are called tourism corridors, areas of interest to tourists, the government sponsors rolling mechanics called the “Angeles Verdes” (Green Angels in English). The Green Angels patrol major highways and stop to help motorists in need. They can help out with minor repairs, or a little gas if you didn’t top up at the last gas station. If your problem is beyond their ability to fix on the road, they can call a tow truck for you. The Green Angels services are free but if you need a tow, the tow operators fees would apply. If you are stranded, you can dial 078 on your cell phone for assistance.
Av. Vallarta in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
A quick note about cell phones: If you plan to travel in Mexico, it’s a good idea to carry a cell phone. Call your provider before you come to Mexico to see if they have international roaming plans, and have them turn it on for you. Once you get to the border, confirm that your international service is working. Another alternative is to pick up a pay as you go phone when you get into Mexico. Just look for one of the ubiquitous Telcel stores in any shopping plaza in the country. They sell the “Plan Amigo” kits with a cheap phone and minutes for about $50USD. I recommend Telcel because they have the most coverage in rural areas and you can buy minutes for them on just about any street corner in the country.
A good mechanic is hard to find anywhere in the world. In Mexico you can walk into a primitive dirt lot and find a mechanical wizard …or not. It’s really hard to tell and looks can be deceiving. If you were helped out by a Green Angel, ask him where you should take your car. If you weren’t, ask around a little… ask where you had lunch, or at the hotel, or at the auto parts store. Once you have your mechanic, ask for a price up front (that’s the same advice I give if you want to take a Taxi, btw). Most people in Mexico are honest and helpful, but there are crooks everywhere and waiting for the mechanic to finish before discussing price is an invitation for the unscrupulous ones to charge whatever their hearts desire. Car repairs are not always straightforward and may end up costing more than the estimate (hence the name: estimate), that doesn’t necessarily make the mechanic a crook. But if you run into someone who gets evasive when you ask about cost up front, you may want to try another mechanic.
Mexican mechanics are pretty good at adapting and jury rigging. That’s why they call it “a la Mexicana,” or Mexican Style. This is good because parts for your car may not be available, or may be very hard to come by. Even if you see a car just like yours driving by, parts may not be interchangeable between American cars and their Mexican counterparts; even if the car is the same make and model,and both may have been built in the same Mexican factory… Strange but true. Your mechanic may suggest some odd solutions, but chances are they will work and get you down the road. Just be careful that his fix doesn’t make any permanent changes that can’t be undone later.
If you have read all six parts of this post, thanks for reading. A lot of what I said may sound alarming; I tried to be a little bit pessimistic for the benefit of the first time driver in Mexico because it is important that you take the time to learn the ropes carefully when driving in Mexico, but once you have a little experience, you’ll find that driving here is no more difficult (a bit more exciting, maybe) than driving at home. Just remember to do as they say in Texas… “Drive Friendly” and you’ll be fine.
Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5
I’d like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks.
Good informative blog. The only thing I didn’t see (or did I miss it?) is something I’ve read elsewhere about signals and if a car or truck in front of you turns on the left signal that means you are clear to pass????????? Is that how it goes? Might be important to mention somewhere.
Yes, that’s a good point… Many times if you are behind someone, usually a truck, they will turn on their left turn signal to let you know it’s safe to pass. You’ll want to exercise a little judgment when that happens as occasionally the driver of the other vehicle can’t see far enough ahead to really know if the road is clear. If you stick your nose out and see you are approaching a blind curve, you may want to hold back, otherwise make the pass… I usually flash my turn signal back to say “thanks” to the other driver when I have completed the pass. The left turn signal can be a bit disconcerting if you haven’t seen it before, as your instinct is to assume the truck is changing lanes… a little unnerving if you are just starting your pass!