Are you debating on whether to rent a car or to take a taxi while in Mexico? Last year, we opted for tours, taxis and public transportation during our stay in Cancun. During our recent visit to Tulum in mid May, a close friend helped us to decide to rent a car instead. It was definitely the right decision for us because of the convenience it gave us. Recently, I’ve been getting many inquiries about renting a car and driving in Mexico. I have put together a post with all the common questions. These answers are based on flying into the Cancun airport and driving from Cancun to Tulum. Comment below and let me know if I missed any questions you may have!
Where should I rent the car from?
The best place to rent a car from is the Cancun International airport itself. We chose the car rental called MEX RentACar, but there are many more car rentals to choose from at the airport. Most of them offers shuttles from the airport to the car rental office and back to the airport, which was very convenient.
I would HIGHLY recommend MEX RentACar as they were very easy to work with. It only took us about 20 minutes to get the car and drive out. They were also very clear about the prices and we didn’t pay a penny more than the staff mentioned at the airport. This rental service is also open 24 hours, so even if you have a late night flight or an early morning flight like we did, nothing to worry about!
Do I need to pre-book or reserve my car?
You can pre-book your car online, but it’s not mandatory. If you are specific in which car you want, then it is better to book ahead of time. However, you can always book at the airport itself if you don’t mind which car you get. Upon arrival in the Cancun airport, there are many car rental stations and staff waiting to approach you with deals.
Will you have to pay more if you book on the spot?
Not necessarily. We had reserved a car from a private company prior to getting to Cancun. However, since their staff were not present to take us to the rental office, we decided not to book with them. This is an example of when reserving, not paying, was a good choice. We ended up getting a car from MEXCar for the same price and similar to the car we had reserved initially.
Are you wondering what is that price? Keep Reading!
About how much should I expect to pay for my car rental?
For a basic 4 passenger car, we paid 800 MXN (pesos) per day. This should come with full insurance and all taxes. (This was the same price that the private rental offered us as well.) Note that every company will also charge you a deposit fee that they return to you when you return the car safely. However, if you have caused any damages to the car, they will keep the deposit fee. For this company, the deposit fee was relatively low, around $75 USD.
Pro-tip: When you look at prices for the car rentals, look at the MXN pesos rate. They will tell you different USD rates, but that rate is not up to them! That rate is the conversion rate that is up to your bank and the market at the time of the transaction. Read the next section to find out an option to pay the least possible.
What is the cheapest and most efficient way to pay for your rental?
I didn’t think this through when we paid for the car, so I will share it with you so that you can try it out! There is a little bit of math involved so pay close attention. When you pay with a credit card, your credit card company is who decides the conversion. For example; we paid 800 per day for 7 days, which is a total of 5,600MXN. When we charged this on our credit card, we ended up paying for a conversion of 19.85. However on a chart at the rental office, they showed dollar conversion of 22.00. If we had paid in USD at the car rental location, we would have probably gotten a higher conversion rate and therefore a better deal.
What do you need to drive in Mexico?
The only thing you need is a valid (not expired) US drivers license. That’s right! You don’t need an IDP (International Drivers Permit) or anything else except your US drivers license.
How much does gas cost?
Gas is around 19-22 pesos per liter, depending on where you get gas from. Expect to spend around 1000 pesos for a full tank for a basic 4 passenger car. If you don’t fill up your tank all the way before returning your car, they will charge a few extra pesos per liter.
How are the roads and driving conditions compared to the US?
The main highway that connects Cancun to Tulum is in great condition. It is well lit and has several gas stations an restaurants along the way. The roads leading off from the highway are also mostly paved, but may have a pot hole here and there. Few roads that lead further into communities may be dirt roads with more pot holes. Speed bumps are very common on regular side streets as well as the highway! The speed bumps on the highway are placed when you come to an intersection or town. There will be several warning signs on the side and the speed limit will start to decrease as you come to a speed bump. However, there are NO reflectors, so you will need to pay close attention. Go slowly to avoid damaging your rental.
Is driving at night safe?
YES! This was one of my major concerns with driving. It’s as safe as driving in the US at night. Of course, you will need to take precautions such as not running out of gas and not getting out of your car in the middle of the street.
The best part about MEXCar being open 24 hours comes during night drives. Although we hope for the best, mishaps happen often. The better planned you are for it, the smoother it can be taken care of. If you’re having problems with your car or get a flat tire, you can CALL the rental office anytime and they will assist you.
(Above is a clip of driving in Tulum hotel zone.)
Where do you park? Is parking free/safe?
Most hotels have free parking for their guests. All the tourist destinations and most restaurants also have free parking. While in Tulum/Cancun Centro and other local areas, you can park on the street as long as you don’t see a sign with an E on it. (See picture below)
In Tulum hotel zone, there are many paid parking lots/dirt grounds, which range around 300 pesos for a whole day. In the touristy area of Playa Del Carmen, you’ll have to pay for street parking via a parking meter which is at the end of the street.
Tip: 1. Bargain down on the parking price if someone is present for the hotel zone parking lots. We were able to bargain down from 300 to 150, which was good because we only spent an hour there.
2. Parking meters in Playa Del Carmen are only 10 pesos for 1 hour, but they only accept coins, so be prepared.
Speed limit, police and more
- While you don’t need to worry about police or getting a speeding ticket, I would highly recommend you follow all the rules while driving and take an extra precaution.
- Stop signs in Mexico basically mean slow down. Although locals never come to a full stop, I would still recommend you do.
- When you come to a speed bump on a busy street with people (like in Tulum Centro), pedestrians have the right of way. You need to stop for them to cross before the speed bump.
Did I miss any questions you have? Let me know below or via Instagram!
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