Pre-running – driving the course before race day to learn the lines, hazards and silt beds – is where Baja races are won and lost. A pre-runner is a purpose-built truck, and it needs the right insurance for the weeks it spends in Mexico.
Insuring a pre-runner
Pre-runners log serious miles on Baja roads and trails, sometimes for a week or more before the event. They need a Mexican policy for that whole window. Because pre-running is part of your race effort, we set the coverage up at the office alongside the race car and chase trucks.
Permits and safety
If you are pre-running past the border zone or staying longer than seven days, you will likely need an FMM tourist permit. Pre-run in daylight, carry recovery gear and water, and respect private land and local communities. Race, chase and pre-runner policies are written in person at our San Ysidro office, not online. Instant Mexico Auto Insurance has been the official insurance agent for SCORE International and the off-road racing community since 1975. Contact the office about three weeks before race week so we can put the right coverage in place. Race promoters provide participant liability for the event itself, and we add the supplemental and chase-vehicle coverage your team needs.
Teams that cross the border for every round of the SCORE World Desert Championship usually do best on an annual policy — it covers your support vehicles all season and is often better value than buying day by day. Call us at (800) 345-4701 to set up an annual policy – off-road racing coverage is issued by our office and cannot be purchased through the online quote form.
Part of our racing hub: Insurance for Off-Road Race Vehicles in Mexico.
A SCORE partnership since 1975
Instant Mexico Auto Insurance has worked with SCORE International for more than 50 years. It began at the 1975 SCORE Baja 500, when our president, Harry Andreoli, and then-SCORE president Sal Fish agreed that Instant would provide the liability insurance for every participant entered in the event. We have insured SCORE races for over 40 years — covering race teams and the official SCORE vehicles — and our representatives have attended the races for over 45 years.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pre-runner insured like a race car?
Yes – pre-runner, race and chase coverage are arranged together in person at our San Ysidro office, not online.
Do I need an FMM to pre-run in Baja?
If you travel past the border zone or stay longer than seven days, yes. See our FMM tourist permit guide for details.
Racing the SCORE series? Talk to the official SCORE insurance agent since 1975.