This submit was written by Emily Becker, who’s a Mexico-based freelance author for BMTM.
Contemplating renting a automobile in Mexico? It may be a bit nerve-wracking when you’ve by no means finished it. In any case, driving abroad comes with its personal units of guidelines, security issues, and potential scams. It doesn’t must be a frightening thought, although. It’s truly surprisingly simple to lease a automobile in Mexico, and this information will enable you keep protected whereas avoiding getting ripped off.
Advantages of Renting a Automobile in Mexico
You may have extra freedom to maneuver.
This virtually goes with out saying, however having a automobile in Mexico means you get to go the place you wish to, when you wish to. You don’t have to fret about chasing down buses to get from place to put or excursions that solely permit a sure period of time at every cease.
After I drove to the coast of Oaxaca from Oaxaca Metropolis, I liked with the ability to cease within the little villages alongside the way in which. I had the liberty to do what I wished, which I wouldn’t have been capable of if I had taken a bus.
You will get off the crushed path.
Particularly when you’ll be flying into vacationer hotspots resembling Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, or Cabo San Lucas, it could actually really feel such as you’ve simply gone to a Mexican model of the US in some locations. If you wish to get off the crushed path in Mexico, a rental automobile could be essential.
Renting a automobile permits you the mobility to get to smaller cities and cities that might in any other case be a ache to succeed in through public transportation. You may also entry secret seashores, secluded cenotes, and different pure areas which are far much less crowded.
Take the Riviera Maya, for instance. You probably have a rental automobile, you will get to locations like Xpu-ha, Punta Allen, and different small seaside cities that different vacationers don’t go to as a lot.
You possibly can see extra of Mexico.
If you wish to journey from one metropolis to a different, renting a automobile is a good possibility, as a result of buses that journey lengthy distances usually take a number of extra hours than driving by yourself would. Renting a automobile permits you to go additional, faster. You’ll be capable of see extra in a shorter period of time, taking in every second and really savoring the magic of Mexico.
It’s enjoyable!
My absolute favourite street journeys have all been in Mexico. I really like how the terrain right here adjustments drastically, making for a stimulating street journey whether or not you’re with a accomplice, pals, or solo. When you’re open to journey, you’re certain to seek out loads of spontaneous stops alongside the way in which. You would possibly encounter a roadside elote stand, a nature protect, or a pueblo mágico (“magic city”).
With a rental automobile, you get to really benefit from the journey with out a lot give attention to the vacation spot, which is such a enjoyable approach to expertise Mexico.
Drawbacks of Renting a Automobile in Mexico
It may be expensive.
Particularly when you go for full-coverage insurance coverage with no deductible (extra on this later), the each day value to lease a automobile in Mexico can get fairly costly. Tack on the ever-fluctuating value of gasoline and it could actually even be tough to foretell how a lot you’re prone to spend on a rental automobile.
Examine automobile rental costs in Mexico right here!
Neglect about metropolis driving.
I don’t suggest renting a automobile in Mexico Metropolis when you plan to make use of it inside the metropolis. The visitors is totally insane, and driving there may be not solely nerve-racking however can truly take longer than hopping on the metro. It’s additionally fairly harmful to navigate Mexico Metropolis when you’ve by no means pushed there earlier than, as many drivers don’t observe visitors guidelines. It sound nerve-racking as a result of it is nerve-racking.
Smaller cities like Oaxaca and Mérida are rather more drivable, however until you might be planning to go away town, a automobile isn’t completely essential as a result of most small cities in Mexico have respectable public transportation.
You’re restricted to driving solely in the course of the day.
For security causes, it’s not a fantastic thought to drive your rental automobile at night time in Mexico. There’s no legislation or express rule that claims you’ll be able to’t, however I don’t suggest risking it.
For instance, the freeway between Tulum and Bacalar turns into harmful at night time, as organized crime teams are recognized to create blockades and extort drivers. This occurs in different components of Mexico as properly, totally on poorly lit highways and in areas the place there isn’t a cell reception.
Inside a metropolis or city, it’s in all probability no huge deal, however keep away from highways as a lot as doable when you completely must drive after darkish.
Avoiding Hidden Charges
When you Googled “rental vehicles in Mexico” and noticed corporations promoting charges as little as $5/day, I promise you that it’s too good to be true. Some automobile rental companies use these low base charges to lure clients to their website. That $5/day charge doesn’t embrace any insurance coverage (which is necessary in Mexico) or different charges. When you fall for this, you’ll possible arrive to choose up the automobile you reserved on-line and be slapped with a invoice a lot increased than you imagined.
The minimal you’ll be able to count on to pay per day on insurance coverage alone is $7-10 for the naked minimal protection. See why $5 a day for a rental automobile is just too good to be true?
To keep away from falling for this rip-off, try numerous corporations on-line and ensure to pay shut consideration to what the each day value contains. Will you want an additional driver? How a lot is insurance coverage? Is there a deductible?
The place to Hire a Automobile in Mexico
On-line
One respected website that’s nice for shopping and reserving rental vehicles is Uncover Vehicles. There you’ll get a full image of what you’re paying for, with no hidden charges. The positioning permits you to see choices from a number of corporations, making evaluating them simpler than ever.
A candy characteristic of Uncover Vehicles is you could partially pay while you e book, and pay the remaining while you choose the automobile up on the airport or on the town. (This characteristic isn’t out there for all vehicles; some leases require full cost at time of reserving.)
On the airport
If you wish to wait till you arrive to Mexico to e book your rental automobile, the airport is commonly the very best place. Not solely do you will have a number of corporations in a single location for straightforward comparability, however you additionally gained’t have to fret about transportation to and from the airport. When you’re flying in someplace like Cancún however plan to spend most of your time elsewhere, that is the best choice to avoid wasting money and time.
One other perk of ready to get to the airport is with the ability to discuss to an precise particular person when deciding what automobile to lease, which insurance coverage to buy, and so forth. Most workers at these corporations within the airport places communicate English as properly and may reply any questions you will have.
Corporations I’ve used
I’ve rented vehicles in Mexico by way of Alamo, Avis, and Europcar with no issues in any respect. I discovered all three of those corporations to be equally as useful and easy.
I rented a automobile with Alamo in Tulum with some pals, and it was tremendous fast to choose it up and drop it off. When you use Avis, I like to recommend reserving in particular person, as a result of usually folks reserve vehicles on their web site solely to reach on the bodily location and be given a unique (dearer) automobile. This didn’t occur to me, although, as a result of I rented on the airport in Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
The final time I rented a automobile, I went by way of Europcar at a bodily location within the middle of Oaxaca. It was the very best expertise I’ve had to date, as a result of the staff went the additional mile to stroll me by way of the prices of all the things. Additionally they had been tremendous responsive after I known as to ask questions whereas I had the automobile.
Value for Renting a Automobile in Mexico
Automobile leases in Mexico usually begin at $30 per day for fundamental financial system guide automobiles and the minimal insurance coverage requirement (an additional $7-10 per day). Full-coverage insurance coverage runs about $12-20 per day, relying on the automobile, on prime of the bottom value of the automobile. Remember that automated automobiles value further and are tougher to come back by than guide ones. When you drive stick, that is your time to avoid wasting money!
Examine automobile rental costs in Mexico right here!
So as to add a further driver, you’ll be able to count on to pay round $10-15 further, per day.
Bigger and 4×4 automobiles begin round $50 per day with fundamental insurance coverage. Since small vehicles are extra in style, you would find yourself with a big automobile when you don’t e book forward throughout excessive season (spring break and November to December).
Selecting the Proper Automobile
To decide on the best automobile to your Mexican journey, step one is deciding if you need a guide or automated automobile. Within the States, it’s a on condition that the rental vehicles are automated, however that isn’t the case in Mexico, so be sure to double-check earlier than reserving.
You must also have a transparent thought of the place you propose to go, as you would possibly want a 4×4 automobile to get to sure locations. For probably the most half, 4-wheel drive isn’t essential in locations just like the Riviera Maya (between Cancún and Tulum). Nonetheless, when you plan to discover some distant Mayan ruins or hidden seashores, you would possibly think about it.
For a winding street journey by way of the mountains in Oaxaca and driving from Bacalar to the ferry for Holbox, I discovered a fundamental financial system automobile to be simply positive. To get to many of the cenotes close to Tulum and Cancún, you don’t want a 4×4 both.
Rental vehicles in Mexico, just like the States, often are newer fashions and have bluetooth, USB ports, and built-in navigation methods. The makes and fashions of the vehicles are about the identical as you’d discover stateside as properly.
What You Want Earlier than Renting a Automobile in Mexico
To be no less than 25 years outdated
Identical to in america, you should be 25 or older to lease a automobile in Mexico. Some corporations like Europcar and Mex Automobile will make an exception and lease to drivers between 21 and 25 for an additional payment of $10-20 per day.
There are only a few corporations that may lease a automobile to drivers between 18 and 21 years outdated, however they do exist.
A sound driver’s license
You don’t want a world driver’s license to lease a automobile in Mexico. You possibly can simply use your legitimate driver’s license from residence and be good to go. Nonetheless, if your property nation’s official language doesn’t use the Latin alphabet, you have to a world driver’s license.
A bank card with no less than $1,000 of accessible credit score
So as to e book your rental automobile in Mexico, the automobile rental firm will almost certainly want to put a maintain of no less than $1,000 USD in your bank card. Generally you will get round this by buying full-coverage insurance coverage, although I’ve by no means tried this myself.
I’ve been capable of e book a rental automobile utilizing a debit card, however this isn’t at all times doable with each firm. It’s greatest to take action with a bank card, as they may place a maintain moderately than pulling out the cash out of your account and reimbursing you while you return the automobile.
Driving in Mexico
Obtain offline maps.
Even when you determine to seize a Mexican SIM card, there’s an opportunity you’ll drive by way of a lifeless zone throughout your street journey. To keep away from getting misplaced, obtain an offline map to make use of. To do that, you’ll be able to open Google Maps and search the realm that you simply plan to drive.
When you’re doing an extended journey, you’ll be able to zoom out to obtain all the space. Even when you don’t have cell service, you’ll be capable of see your location on the map, which is able to enable you navigate.
Gasoline stations and potential scams
Virtually all gasoline stations in Mexico are serviced, that means you don’t must pump your personal gasoline or go away your automobile when you don’t wish to. One potential rip-off can occur on the gasoline station, although, when you pay with a card. I as soon as had an attendant overcharge me on the terminal by 100 pesos, considering I wouldn’t discover. After I noticed my receipt, I noticed the overcharge and pointed it out. He gave me my 100 pesos reluctantly, but it surely was an in depth name.
I’ve since heard that that is fairly widespread, so ensure to test the quantity earlier than you insert your card.
Generally the attendants will say that the terminals are offline, so you’ll be able to’t use a card. This could be true in some circumstances, so simply be sure to have sufficient money readily available to pay for gasoline to your complete journey.
Ask your lodging about parking beforehand
It’s not a on condition that your Airbnb and even lodge or hostel can have a delegated parking spot. Ask your host earlier than reserving to verify there’s a protected, ideally enclosed, house to park your automobile in a single day. I bumped into this challenge as a result of I didn’t ask forward of time and ended up having to park on the road, which was dangerous. Nothing occurred, but it surely made me nervous to go away my rental automobile on the street in a single day. Reside and study, proper?
Velocity limits are in kilometers per hour
Do not forget that Mexico makes use of the metric system. You would possibly suppose the “100” pace restrict indicators are stunning till you notice that’s solely about 60 miles per hour.
It looks as if folks solely take these limits as a delicate suggestion, however I at all times obey them for worry of being pulled over. It’s greatest to play it protected.
What occurs if I get pulled over?
Chances are high, you’ll solely be pulled over by Mexican police if you’re blatantly breaking the legislation. Sadly, bribing law enforcement officials remains to be quite common right here. When you get pulled over, the officer would possibly trace at a bribe to keep away from ticketing you, which might be very costly.
I don’t have a powerful opinion on this a method or one other, as a result of I perceive that it is a sophisticated challenge around the globe and never simply in Mexico. If handing over a pair hundred pesos for a bribe sounds positive, you do you. I’ve rented a automobile a number of occasions right here and by no means been pulled over, so I’m undecided what I’d do. Ideas?
Pin me for later:
Able to buckle up and begin your Mexican street journey? I hope this helps you keep protected on the street and keep away from getting scammed.
Tell us in case you have any extra recommendation about renting a automobile in Mexico!
Click on to learn extra posts about
Mexico
