moisheh wrote: My point was who would even know you need an air brake endorsement? Not the adjuster or any Federal or State highway cop in Mexico. Much ado about nothing. If one sweats every little thing in Mexico you are in the wrong country. I just looked at my DL. On the back is printed the size of vehicle I can drive and the # of axles. It also states I have an air brake endorsenment. It also states I need corrective lenses. My wife'e license is just BLANK in this area other than the corrective lenses.. Like I said how would anyone know you need somthing special to drive that vehicle!
Moisheh
This has NOTHING to do with sweating things in Mexico, nor does it have anything to do with any Federal or State highway cop. Your license is valid for operating an airbrake equipped vehicle.....your wife's is not. If she is operating an airbrake equipped vehicle and has an accident, your insurance will be VOID. The same applies to the OP and your advice to her is extremely poor.
And if you think for a single moment that your insurer won't find out, you need to give your head a shake. Insurance companies will find ANY possible excuse to avoid paying out a claim.
The air brake endorsment only apllies to canada, unless the mexican inshurance also states, that they need to have a license with an air endorsment.
Otherwise, we all would have to have, a bio-hasardus endorsment, for carring a black water tank, for an emergency situation, the wife can drive the RV, as far as the Canadian border, and then have the husband, or a friend drive, the rest of the way home.
Drive during the day, and try not to get into situations, that are dangerus, drive at 55 miles per hour, or 90 kmh, and follow the 2 to 3 second rule.
You watch the vehicle in front, pass a spot, or mark, and you count "one -thouisnd one, one-thusand two", and when you reach that spot, or mark, you know if you are to close, or yust right for the speed, that you are travelling at.
That gap gives you the time to react, in an emergency, Good luck with the travell.
Having dealt with Mexican insurers there is no way that they would even ask you about any endorsements. So unless they are psychic how would they know that an air brake endorsement even exists. If highway patrols in the USA often do not know about the Canadian endorsement how would a Mexican insurer be aware??? Let's paint a scenario: Are you saying this is how it would happen?:
" I am Senor Gonzales your adjuster. May I see your license? Hmm I see you do not have an air brake endorsement. I am sorry your insurance is void!"
navegator wrote: The air brake endorsment only apllies to canada, unless the mexican inshurance also states, that they need to have a license with an air endorsment.
Navegator
Again, totally untrue. Your insurance policy requires you to have a valid license for the vehicle you are driving. If your Cdn license does not allow you to drive a particular vehicle (airbrakes, ambulance, schoolbus etc) then you cannot drive such a vehicle ANYWHERE. Your license is not valid PERIOD and you can bet your bottom dollar the insurer will use this to void your claim.
Here is the wording from our Insurance policy: In no event shall this insurance cover: A whole list follows this statement and then it states (h)Damages sustained or caused by insured vehicles while being driven by by a person lacking a driver's license issued by the proper legal authorities.
Nothing about any DL being for any class of vehicle. As an aside I would bet that most if not all of the Mexican truck drivers who do not use Federal highways ( dump trucks with air brakes) have just a basic car DL. I also doubt that they are breaking any laws by doing this.
The Mexican underwriter is interested only in determining a driver is complying with MEXICAN law with regard to the type of vehicle. There are two general classes of license, one for private vehicles, the other for commercial. Banjercito does not issue TIP's for commercial vehicles period. That places the vehicle in the category of a PRIVATE vehicle. Therefore a standard unexpired driver license is sufficient.
Any PRINTED OUT amendments or endorsements that the issuing agency places on the driver license such as corrective lenses, or driving at night restrictions also apply in Mexico. I went over this point-by-point with a PFP sargento about five years ago.
moisheh wrote: Having dealt with Mexican insurers there is no way that they would even ask you about any endorsements. So unless they are psychic how would they know that an air brake endorsement even exists. If highway patrols in the USA often do not know about the Canadian endorsement how would a Mexican insurer be aware??? Let's paint a scenario: Are you saying this is how it would happen?:
" I am Senor Gonzales your adjuster. May I see your license? Hmm I see you do not have an air brake endorsement. I am sorry your insurance is void!"
Ya sure!!
Moisheh
And if you think a multi-billion dollar insurance company is going to pay out a claim (possibly in the thousands of dollars, with injury or deaths involved) without checking beyond your Sr Gonzales adjuster's brief review, to see that the driver was legally entitled to operate the vehicle, you are dreaming!
Your comments that this would not happen because you are in Mexico are demeaning to Mexico and its people.
moisheh wrote: Here is the wording from our Insurance policy: In no event shall this insurance cover: A whole list follows this statement and then it states (h)Damages sustained or caused by insured vehicles while being driven by by a person lacking a driver's license issued by the proper legal authorities.
Nothing about any DL being for any class of vehicle. As an aside I would bet that most if not all of the Mexican truck drivers who do not use Federal highways ( dump trucks with air brakes) have just a basic car DL. I also doubt that they are breaking any laws by doing this.
Moisheh
OK, so if I have a BC license that limits me to driving a Limited Speed Motorcycle (moped) in Canada, you think I can drive an 18 wheeler doble semiremolque in Mexico and my insurer will pay a claim when I have an accident????
All those who feel that they can go ahead and drive a vehicle in Mexico that their DL in Canada specifically prohibits, please do so. If you have an accident, you can always say "But, but....I read on the internet a posting by Moisheh that said "Go right ahead". I'm sure your insurer will immediately see he has no option but to yield to this greater intelligence and pay out the claim.
mexbungalows wrote:
Any PRINTED OUT amendments or endorsements that the issuing agency places on the driver license such as corrective lenses, or driving at night restrictions also apply in Mexico. I went over this point-by-point with a PFP sargento about five years ago.
Yup, and that would include not being able to drive an airbrake equipped vehicle unless you have the appropriate endorsement, but Moisheh says "No way" so that can't be true.
By his rationalization, I should be able to fly one of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliners because my DL doesn't say I can't.
All it's going to take is one insurance adjuster to decide to have a look and you're in deep. With my luck, I would happen upon that one if I were to have an accident. Ultimately, it's up to you if you want to take that chance. I'm sure Mexican insurance is exactly the same as US or Canada - if there is way for them to deny your claim, they'll certainly give it a go. All it takes is one person to make one call to see if you're licensed for air brakes, if they feel a need to check. As unlikely as it may be, that's all it takes.
That being said, you can be sure that there are other drivers on the road who DO NOT have insurance, or don't have a valid driver's license for the vehicle they're driving. Of course, they are taking the risk of getting caught and being in a pretty nasty situation. My brother, for example, has driven motorcycles for decades... he never got the motorcycle endorsement.