You start the engine, open your window and there is a wonderful tranquillo music. There are palm trees along the road, the sun is shining and you can smell the fresh sea air. Does this sound like music to your ears? Then a road trip through the south of Mexico is definitely your thing! The south of Mexico is paradise on earth. Think of pearly white beaches, hidden cenotes and ancient Mayan temples. Although public transport in Mexico is very well organized, a rental car is very nice because you can really get everywhere with it. This way you experience the ultimate freedom and you can go wherever you want. However, there are a number of things to take into account and that is why we share our tips for renting a car in Mexico here.

Safety and driving in Mexico

Fortunately, driving in southern Mexico is very easy and safe. There are straight highways between the villages and towns. These roads are very wide, well paved and almost always quiet in terms of traffic. Most of the highway runs through the jungle so keep an eye out for animals crossing the road such as iguanas or snakes. When you leave the highway and take the road to a cenote, for example, the roads are sometimes unpaved and often full of potholes. When you drive quietly and this is not a problem. It’s okay to be a little brutal in traffic in Mexico. Mexicans don’t give much to others in traffic. It’s not chaotic, but you don’t easily get priority from other road users. Try to avoid the highway after dark as the roads are poorly lit so you may see animals,

Traffic rules in Mexico

The traffic rules in Mexico are quite similar to the traffic rules in Europe and the US. In Mexico they drive on the right and overtake on the left. Within built-up areas you can drive at a maximum speed of 50 km/h and outside built-up areas the maximum permitted speed is 80 or 110 km/h. This is always clearly indicated on signs. 20 km/h is allowed at schools and hospitals in the area. Watch out for topes in Mexico. These are often very high and you must take them at a snail’s pace. The topes are not always clearly visible, but there is usually a warning sign next to them.

How to deal with corrupt cops in Mexico?

Unfortunately, it occasionally happens that tourists are scammed by corrupt cops in Mexico. A cop pulls you over on an empty highway and makes up a story about an offense you allegedly committed. You then have to pay an extremely high fine of up to $200. Then you know right away that you are dealing with a corrupt cop. An incredibly annoying situation, of course, because you do not know the local laws and are not used to dealing with them. Don’t be put off by this because the majority of travelers will fortunately not have to deal with this. Still, it’s smart to prepare for this so you can limit the damage if it happens to you. Below we share the most important tips for how to deal with corrupt police in Mexico:

• Don’t speak Spanish!  No matter how well you may speak Spanish, play the dumb tourist and speak no more than 5 words of Spanish. Don’t say where you’re from or where you’re going. You don’t understand any of his questions. Usually the agents do not speak English, so he cannot exert any pressure with words. This is always the first tactic and with any luck the conversation will flow so smoothly that he will give up after a while. Does he speak English? Then you hardly speak any English and you mainly communicate in another language.
• Empty your wallet before driving. Going out of town and onto the highway in Mexico? Empty your wallet first. Take out all your cash, debit cards and driver’s license and hide it somewhere he won’t find it. Also hide your passport so that he cannot keep it with him as a means of pressure. You only show this at official border controls of states and not if you are stopped at the roadside. Put some worthless cards in your wallet beforehand, such as a sports card and an insurance card. Also leave 300 pesos in your wallet. If he makes it clear that you have to pay, show your wallet and make it clear that you have nothing else with you except the 300 pesos. The rest is in the hotel. Of course you still don’t speak Spanish so make this clear with hands and feet.
• Indicate that you want to go to the police station.  Are you really not coming out and he keeps insisting? Then make it clear that you want to solve the case at the police station. This is a last resort so please be patient with the earlier tactics as they take time. He most likely won’t want to go to the police station because it won’t help him. Sometimes they threaten to do this because the police station is hours away and they know you don’t want to detour for hours. Of course they don’t want this themselves, because they can’t scam you at the police station.
• Always remain calm, polite and respectful.  The worst thing you can do is get angry or impatient. Always stay calm and polite, even if he isn’t. Cooperate and use the above tactics.

What kind of rental car is best in Mexico?

If you follow The ultimate bounty itinerary  or The alternative itinerary then a normal passenger car is fine. In these regions a 4×4 is unnecessary. We always choose to rent an automatic transmission abroad, even though we can of course also drive a manual transmission. Driving abroad is still – especially in the beginning – a bit uncomfortable and then an automatic transmission is just a bit nicer. This way you have full attention for the traffic. When booking a rental car, also keep in mind that you have enough space in the trunk for the luggage you are taking with you.

Tip: When picking up the rental car, make sure that there is a parcel shelf in the car. It’s nice to put things in the trunk when you visit a sight or grab a bite to eat on the way. This way your belongings are out of sight and you have less chance of car break-in.

Pay extra attention to scams when refueling

At gas stations (especially around Tulum) all kinds of scams are used to make you pay too much. 
You do not refuel yourself in Mexico, but a gas station attendant does it for you. 
They distract you with a chat while the other person quickly adjusts the amount on the counter or they play an exchange trick with notes. 
Here you give 500 pesos, someone distracts you and the other exchanges your note with a 50 pesos note. 
Then he says that you only gave 50 pesos. 
Check the reviews of gas stations on Google, especially around Tulum, and choose the best one. 
In addition, it is smart to only pay with cash when refueling and not to be distracted. 
Keep an eye on the pump’s counter when they fill up and count aloud the bills you give to the pump attendant. 
Wait for your change and don’t get distracted.

Important: Don’t forget your credit card

Something you should definitely not forget is to bring a credit card that is in the name of the main driver. This is mandatory for the deposit of the rental car. If you show a credit card in a different name, you will not be allowed to take the rental car with you. Also make sure that your credit card has sufficient balance for the deposit of the rental car. The amount of the deposit is described during booking under ‘specific conditions’ and after your booking also on your booking voucher. Don’t have a credit card yet? Then we recommend this credit card .

Rent a car in Mexico without a credit card

Is it not possible for you to apply for a credit card, for example through a BKR registration? Then use the filter ‘no guarantee’ on for example sunnycars . This will show you all rental cars that you can book without a credit card. Sometimes this is a bit more expensive, but it is still possible to rent a car in Mexico without a credit card. After your booking you will receive an email with a link to register. You must do this at least 48 hours before departure and then you will be able to rent your car without a credit card.

Extra tips and info for renting a car

Some useful things to keep in mind when renting a car in Mexico.

Refueling in Mexico

Filling up at a gas station is done for you in Mexico and it is customary to give a small tip if they also wash your windows. It is also good to know that there are almost no gas stations along the toll roads. So make sure you have a full tank when you are going to drive a long distance.

Navigating Mexico

You can choose to rent a navigation system with your rental car, but we do not recommend this. This always costs a lot of extra money and is unnecessary because you can navigate fine and free with your phone. We recommend that you navigate with Google Maps. Download the map in Google Maps of the region where you will be driving in advance so that you can navigate offline. It is useful if you also pin the pre-booked hotels and any places of interest in Google Maps. If you need to fill up on the road, you can search Google Maps for the nearest gas station on the spot.

International driver’s license

You do not officially need an international driver’s license to drive in Mexico, but it is recommended to bring one with you due to possible language problems.

Minimum age to rent a car

It differs per rental company from which age you can rent a car in Mexico. Most car rental companies require you to be 21 years or older as a driver. You can rent a car from other car rental companies from the age of 18. Sometimes there may be an additional surcharge for drivers under the age of 25.

Note:  If you return the rental car at a different destination than you pick it up, you pay a ‘ one way fee ‘. When you submit the request for a rental car, you will receive an email within 24 hours with the amount of this fee. You then have the choice to accept it or cancel the booking for free. If you travel from Oaxaca to Cancun, you should count on about $500.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Mexico?

You can rent a car in Mexico from $48 per day including full insurance. You then have a small passenger car that is manual. Prices strongly depend on the season and how early you book. With a rental car you always run the risk of damage and problems along the way, which is why it is smart to book with a reliable party. At Temco rental cars, the price always includes full insurance, you can change your booking free of charge and all conditions are clearly indicated. They also have a 24/7 emergency number where you can get help in if you have problems. So you don’t have to worry about snags and if something goes wrong during your trip, everything will always be reimbursed and arranged. Sometimes you pay just a few tens more here than with other parties, but you don’t have to worry about anything anymore. As far as we are concerned, this is completely worth it, especially on the more adventurous destinations.

Note: Sometimes the local landlord will try to sell you extra insurance. These are absolutely not necessary because with the included insurance from Sunnycars everything is covered. So don’t be fooled because you are 100% covered, they even reimburse your deductible in case of damage.

Price increases due to shortage of cars:  There is currently a major shortage of rental cars worldwide. To survive the corona crisis, car rental companies have had to sell a large part of their cars. Since demand has increased sharply, there are not enough chips for new cars and prices have risen enormously due to the shortage. As a result, many rental cars are twice as expensive or even fully booked. It is best to book as early as possible to be sure of a rental car that is still somewhat affordable.