If your US- or Canadian-plated car is stolen in Mexico, two calls come first: 911, then Chubb's claims line. After that you'll need a denuncia from the Ministerio Público, and — if you crossed with a temporary import permit — a separate report to Banjercito. Whether the theft itself is paid out depends on your coverage: total theft is covered under full coverage, not under liability-only.
Liability-only policies cover damage and injuries you cause to others. They do not cover your own car being stolen. Only full coverage does, subject to the deductible written in your policy. See liability-only vs. full coverage for the full breakdown.
🚨 Safety first, then 911
Make sure you and anyone with you are safe before anything else. If the theft just happened or you saw it happen, call 911 — Mexico's emergency number works the same way as in the US and Canada.
Give the operator your location, a description of the car, and the plate number. Ask for the case or folio number if they give you one; you'll want it later.
📞 Call Chubb's claims line — any time, any day
This is the call that actually moves your claim forward. Chubb's claims team is available 24/7 and will tell you exactly what to do next, including how to file the denuncia correctly for your case.
📱 From a Mexican phone
800 801 0117
🌎 From any phone
+52 81 8864 9322
🇺🇸🇨🇦 Toll-free US/Canada
+1 877 699 6679
Have your policy number ready if you can find it — it's on the PDF you received when you bought the policy.
📝 The denuncia at the Ministerio Público
The denuncia is the formal police report that makes the theft official in Mexico. Without it, no insurer — Chubb included — can process a theft claim.
You file it at the Ministerio Público (the local prosecutor's office), usually the one covering the area where the car was stolen.
- Passport or government ID
- Your policy PDF (not a photo of the car, the actual policy)
- Vehicle registration or title
- Any keys you still have, including spares
Ask for a certified copy of the denuncia before you leave — you'll need it for the claim and possibly for Banjercito.
File the denuncia as soon as you can. Chubb's claims team can tell you which office to go to and what to say, so call them before you go if possible.
🛃 Had a temporary import permit? Call Banjercito too
If you brought the car in with a temporary import permit (TIP) — common outside the border free zones — the theft also has to be reported on the customs side so the permit gets closed in your name.
This is separate from your insurance claim. Confirm the exact procedure, documents and any fees directly with Banjercito; we won't guess at deadlines or costs here since they can change.
📋 What the claim will ask for
Once the denuncia is filed, Chubb will walk you through the rest of the claim. Expect to provide:
| Document | Why they need it |
|---|---|
| Vehicle title | Proves ownership |
| Registration | Confirms the vehicle details match the policy |
| All keys | Standard for theft claims |
| Certified denuncia | Official proof the theft was reported |
The payout — if the claim is approved — follows the valuation and theft deductible written in your policy's conditions. Your Chubb adjuster can tell you the exact figures for your case; we don't publish generic percentages because every policy is different.
✈️ Getting home without your car
If your passport or other documents were in the car, the nearest US or Canadian consulate can help you get emergency travel documents to cross back.
Keep your folio number and denuncia copy with you — border officials and the consulate may both ask for them.
A stolen car is only a covered loss if you bought full coverage, not liability-only. It's worth checking which one you have before you travel — you can review current options any time on the tourist auto quoter.
This guide covers theft specifically. If your car was in a collision instead, the steps are different — see what to do after an accident in Mexico. And if you're still deciding between coverage levels before your trip, Timi issues policies online by chat in minutes, backed by Chubb, so you can sort this out before you're at the border. For more situations like this one, browse the rest of the guides.