Mexico Driving Information

Renting a automotive in Mexico and driving across the nation your self is an excellent option to expertise the Land of the Maya. Right here’s some recommendation about one of the best ways to do it.

I really like Mexico. I’ve each lived & vacationed there for a few years, with most of my time spent within the nation’s Yucatan Peninsula space. Mexico is a really massive nation with loads to supply!

At any time when I go to, I ALWAYS lease a automotive to discover alone. It’s far more enjoyable!

Renting a automotive in Mexico and driving your self can have its quirks and challenges, however they’re minimal and shouldn’t deter you.

I really like the liberty of street journeys and planning my very own journey itineraries. Mexico is such a various nation that it is sensible to lease a automotive so you possibly can cease anyplace to find small villages, historic Mayan ruins like Chichen Itza, and hidden seashores or secret cenotes at your personal tempo.

Not on some strict (lower than supreme) schedule with a tour firm.

Listed below are some essential suggestions we discovered from our many experiences renting a automotive in Mexico, that can assist you lower your expenses and keep protected whereas driving across the nation!

Hello, I’m Matthew Karsten

I’ve been touring the world for 10+ years as an expert photographer & author. I hope you take pleasure in my Mexico driving suggestions! In the event you discover them helpful, utilizing my affiliate hyperlinks will give me a small fee, at no further price to you. Thanks!

How To Hire A Automobile In Mexico

1. Ought to You Self-Drive In Mexico?

Hey, in the event you love these massive group bus excursions, by all means, go guide one. It’s a good option to see Mexico in the event you don’t have a variety of time.

No planning, no driving, simply sit again and let another person do all of the work!

However in the event you’re like me, you like the journey of unbiased journey.

No set schedule or timetable — driving round Mexico with the liberty to cease anyplace cool you discover alongside the way in which.

If that’s the sort of traveler you’re, renting a automotive in Mexico is the way in which to go!

Simply remember the fact that some roads in Mexico might be complicated, and a few drivers are aggressive too. However with some observe, you’ll acquire confidence driving there!

One other good factor we loved about having a automotive was the power to retailer issues within the trunk, stopping off in small Mexican villages with journey backpacks somewhat than hauling baggage in all places.

2. The place To Hire Your Automobile In Mexico

Some frequent automotive rental corporations in Mexico embrace Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, an area one known as Fox Leases, and lots of extra.

However the perfect web site to guide your automotive is Uncover Vehicles. They search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that can assist you discover the absolute best value. That is the simplest option to lease a automotive in Mexico.

We frequently lease our automobiles in Cancun or Playa del Carmen. From there it’s very straightforward to drive down the coast exploring the well-known Mexican Riviera Maya.

Cancun Airport: Plan to select up your automotive about 60 minutes after your flight arrives. When departing, attempt to be on the airport a minimum of 2.5 hours earlier than your flight leaves. As a result of returning your rental automotive and catching a shuttle again to the airport can take as much as half-hour.

Playa Del Carmen: There are numerous Mexican automotive rental corporations primarily based in downtown Playa del Carmen. Chances are you’ll determine to select up your automotive in Playa del Carmen after you get dropped off at your resort from the Cancun Airport Shuttle. Leases primarily based in Playa are sometimes a bit cheaper than Cancun.

Hire A Automobile In Mexico

Search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that can assist you discover a whole lot.

3. Automobile Rental Insurance coverage In Mexico

Among the rumors about driving in Mexico are true, and the roads aren’t at all times maintained properly, and drivers might be considerably aggressive. Don’t fear, I’ll share some suggestions for coping with them under.

For this reason I extremely advocate getting full insurance coverage protection.

Many vacationers guide rental automobiles utilizing a journey pleasant bank card that features automotive rental insurance coverage hoping that may save them some cash, however in Mexico they received’t settle for your bank card’s insurance coverage, and can insist you purchase further Private Legal responsibility insurance coverage that prices $10-20 USD a day.

Some Mexican automotive rental corporations will allow you to decline the insurance coverage in the event you pay a big refundable deposit in your bank card (often round $2500 USD). But when one thing occurs that prices far more than that deposit, you’re paying out of pocket past that.

If it’s your first time driving in Mexico, I’d advocate getting the insurance coverage simply to be protected.

4. How A lot Does It Value To Hire A Automobile In Mexico?

Renting a automotive in Mexico goes to price you round $20-$50 USD a day, relying on the kind of automotive you get. Our 4 door sedan was about $30 per day.

I like to recommend renting a automotive with an precise trunk (no hatchbacks) to cover your baggage from prying eyes. It helps to stop break-ins if thieves can’t see your stuff.

Gasoline Costs

Gasoline (petrol) costs in Mexico might sound low cost to People, however keep in mind that the remainder of the world quotes gasoline in Liters, not Gallons (1 Gallon = 3.78 Liters). At present, gasoline prices about $5.14 per gallon ($1.39 per liter) in Mexico. Diesel automobiles will typically prevent some cash on gasoline.

Automated vs Handbook

Automated automobiles are dearer to lease than guide automobiles and you need to specify what kind you need when reserving. In the event you’ve by no means pushed a guide automotive earlier than, don’t begin in Mexico! It’s safer to pre-book an automated.

One-Method Leases

There’s a further charge for one-way automotive leases in Mexico, which might fluctuate by firm. For instance, if you wish to drop off the automotive in a unique metropolis than the place you began from.

5. Age Necessities For Renting A Automobile

The minimal age for driving in Mexico is eighteen years previous, nonetheless most automotive rental corporations implement their very own age restrict of 21 years previous to lease a automotive. Additionally they cost a further charge in the event you’re beneath 24 years previous.

6. Mexican Driving Legal guidelines Vacationers Ought to Know

Watch out with parking tickets! In the event you park illegally in Mexico (like not paying for a metered parking spot), you’ll doubtless get a ticket together with the police eradicating your license plate or booting your automotive’s wheel till you’ve paid.

In lots of components of Mexico chances are you’ll come throughout occasional police street blocks. Usually you simply drive via them slowly except an officer tells you to drag over. Don’t be scared or nervous, they’re commonplace observe.

The velocity restrict on native roads is usually round 90 km/h whereas on nationwide highways it’s as much as 100 km/h.

Rushing Tickets In Mexico (Bribing The Police)

In the event you get pulled over for dashing whereas driving in Mexico, Mexican law enforcement officials will typically be on the lookout for a bribe (aka “La Mordida”) from vacationers. It’s simply how issues work. The quantity is about $10 – $20 USD.

In the event you try to combat it, or ask for an official ticket as an alternative, put together to cope with a variety of trouble and paperwork that may definitely break the remainder of your day.

7. Worldwide Driver’s License

No, you do not want an worldwide driver’s license to drive in Mexico or lease a automotive there. Simply convey your passport, bank card, and your driver’s license from your own home nation.

8. Useful Ideas For Driving In Mexico

You don’t need to cease for individuals! Pedestrians typically don’t have the appropriate of method in Mexico, which suggests automobiles received’t cease for individuals strolling throughout the road. This took some getting used to for me.

Whilst you may very well be further good and cease for them anyway, it is advisable watch out as a result of any native drivers behind you’ll NOT expect that, which may end up in a foul accident. They hit you, you hit the individuals.

Merging onto a freeway may be very totally different than within the US. Usually automobiles are stopped on the ramp ready for a gap. And in the event you miss your opening (regardless of how tight it might appear), you’ll definitely get honked at by these ready behind you.

Watch out for hidden velocity bumps (known as “Topes). Whereas more often than not there might be a street signal saying an upcoming velocity bump, generally the indicators are lacking, and the velocity bump paint has been worn off, and also you’ll be rudely shocked by a really aggressive velocity bump (that might wreck your suspension). You’ll typically discover them as you enter and exit small cities.

Rushing drivers who’re in a rush could tailgate you whereas flashing their lights. They simply need you to drag over a bit to allow them to proceed dashing previous you. So long as it’s protected to take action, I’d advocate doing it to keep away from any street rage incidents.

9. Further Recommendation For Renting A Automobile In Mexico

• Gasoline Station Scams: In Mexico, gasoline station attendants fill your automotive for you. Some attendants will try to rip-off vacationers in the event that they assume they’ll get away with it. Both by not resetting the pump (so it seems to be such as you obtained extra gasoline than you actually did), or pretending you didn’t give them sufficient money utilizing slight of hand. Preserve your eye on the attendant & the gasoline pump display always
• Don’t guide a automotive with out studying the corporate opinions. You’ll discover loads of unhealthy opinions for each firm (individuals like to complain on-line), however attempt to decide one with the LEAST unhealthy opinions.
• Chances are you’ll not at all times get the make/mannequin/kind of automotive you booked. If they provide you a smaller automotive, or a guide if you requested for an automated, be pushy and ask for an improve.
• Examine your automotive totally and document video in your smartphone stating harm earlier than you permit. It is a backup in the event that they try and cost you for harm that was already there. It is a frequent automotive rental rip-off in Mexico….
• Take note of in case your Mexican rental automotive takes common petrol or diesel gasoline, so that you replenish with the proper kind at gasoline stations.
• Use Google Maps in your smartphone for instructions as an alternative of renting a GPS machine. Merely use your personal hands-free automotive mount and a good worldwide mobile phone plan.

10. Accident & Breakdown Info

In a street emergency on a freeway, you possibly can dial the Inexperienced Angles (Ángeles Verdes) in Mexico by dialing 078. Alternatively, you possibly can name: 250-82-21. They supply free journey info, mechanical help, and medical assist for nationals and vacationers.

In case your automotive must be towed, otherwise you want mechanical help, ran out of gasoline, or obtained in a wreck, you possibly can name them for assist.

Usually the rental firm’s personal emergency roadside help quantity positioned on the rental settlement.

Get pleasure from Your Mexico Highway Journey!

Exploring the small villages, hidden seashores, lush jungle, and coastal cities of Mexico in a rental automotive was undoubtedly the appropriate selection for us.

Self-drive street journeys get off the overwhelmed observe to see issues most individuals miss! ★

Hire A Automobile In Mexico

Search each native and worldwide automotive rental corporations that can assist you discover a whole lot.