The next time you head down to Mexico, you might want to take a second and buy your insurance online from MexPro, a locally owned insurance company in Flagstaff.
It takes only a few minutes to complete the process and the company partners only with top-rated Mexican Insurance Companies.
“We are a pretty unique online insurance agency we call a ‘managing general agency,’ which means we are the [liaison] between companies and the client,” said Nate Watson, CEO.
“We put up a website for multiple quotes from multiple companies and since that time, have been able to grow MexPro into the leading provider of Mexican auto insurance in the nation,” said Jim Labelle, who founded the company along with his wife, Andrea.
The company also offers insurance for any- one crossing the border in their own vehicle, a boat, cruise ship, via air or even on foot.
MexPro Assist is the only Mexico vacation travel product of its kind and is only available through International Insurance Group, Inc. (IIG), MexPro’s parent company. This insurance is useful in cases of emergency medical transfers, repatriation, and can provide coordination with embassies and consulates due to lost passports, customs issues, misconduct by authorities or helping find missing or stolen personal property.
In November, Americans with homes in Mexico will be able to buy homeowners insurance through the company.
The Labelles founded the company in 1999. They both had worked for large insurance companies and decided to strike out on their own and offer insurance online.
“In the early days, there was nothing. We took a great a leap of faith moving to Flagstaff and putting up a website. It was about going to search engines of the time and submitting company information. We were also going to Mexico-related websites, RV-related, Mexico- related travel websites,” Labelle said.
“It’s a patented system we built. That is why we don’t sell auto, life, and home, not the run-of-the-mill lines,” Watson said.
When, for instance, a client of AAA wants insurance in Mexico, AAA will refer the customer to MexPro.
In 2003, the company decided to diversify its line, so it took up the specialty niche of insuring rental homes, manufactured homes, vacant homes, recreational vehicles such as jet skis and some health insurance. It turned out to be a good decision because the recession and other factors made visitors stay away from Mexico.
“The recession hit, the Swine Flu hit, there was the new passport law and the drug wars. We got beat up in a dark alley,” Watson said. “We were grateful to have our specialty programs.”
The company employs about 20 people locally.
“It is a relaxed and family environment.
There is not a lot of turnover,” Labelle said. “We love what we do and we believe in the products we sell,” said Watson. “We think everyone who goes to Mexico should buy our products.” FBN