One of the best perks of living in Texas is that Mexico is only a quick plane flight away. In fact many times, flying to Mexico is actually LESS expensive than flying to my home in Florida – pretty crazy, right?
Trying to decide which city in Mexico to visit is never easy, since there are so many amazing beach towns to explore – which is why I decided to plan a mini Mexico road trip to hit a couple of my favorite spots during one getaway! (And let’s be real, we all know I LOVE any excuse for a road trip!) For my road trip, I flew into Cancun and rented a Jeep at the airport to kickstart the journey. I explored a bit of Cancun, drove to Playa del Carmen for a few nights, then made my way up to Tulum (the best).
The drive from Cancun to Playa del Carmen to Tulum felt very safe. It was an easy drive on major highways, so we never got lost. It was actually a really fun drive, because we passed so many of the popular resorts along the way (including Mayakoba), so it’s a great way to really get to know the area + map out your next trip!
A lot of people worry about traveling to Mexico these days, so the idea of renting a car and traveling through Mexico on your own can add a bit more worry, but honestly my experience was smooth and easy – and I would definitely do it again! I rented a car on Expedia.com and picked it up at the Cancun airport when I arrived. It was extremely easy process. Today I’m sharing some helpful tips on what to know before renting a car in Mexico and how to avoid any negative incidents! Keep reading to learn more:
Note: If you’re heading to Tulum and don’t want to rent a car, there are plenty of easy and affordable shuttle services to take you to your hotel! You can search for these online OR coordinate a shuttle directly with your hotel.
Travel Times From Cancun:
Mayakoba: 1 hour
Playa Del Carmen: ~1 hour 10 minutes
Tulum: ~2 hours
13 Tips For A Safe And Easy Road Trip
Rental Prices Will Double (Or Triple) When You Pick Up The Car – If you reserve a car online before your trip (highly recommend this), you’ll be shocked to see prices are as low as $5 a day. Don’t be fooled, there’s a catch. While it may seem like a steal, prices will vastly increase when you arrive due to the mandatory liability insurance upon arrival.
You MUST Buy Mexican Liability Insurance When You Pick Up Your Rental – Unlike renting cars in the US, you have to purchase liability insurance to rent a car in Mexico. Basic coverage from your existing car insurance, credit card company, or online websites like Orbitz or Expedia will not work in Mexico, so you MUST purchase additional liability insurance upon arrival. If you have the option to add on insurance when you’re reserving your car online, skip it and add it on when you arrive to make sure you have the correct insurance. If you get in a fender bender in Mexico without liability insurance, you could be taken directly to jail – so do not forget to add this on before leaving with your car. Prices are generally ~$20, making your total car rental on par with general US rental prices.
Rentals At The Airport Will Be More Expensive Than Off-Site Rentals – Renting a car from the airport will cost a bit more than renting from off-site agencies, however the small premium is definitely worth it to simplify the process. The airport location is so accustomed to working with travelers that they can walk you through the whole process easily, plus it saves so much time renting directly through the airport and avoiding additional taxis.
SHOP VACAY DRESSES:
Rent From A Reputable Place – While you may find a better deal with local agencies, you don’t want to risk renting a lemon and having it break down in the middle of nowhere. Pay a bit more and rent from providers like Hertz, Avis, etc to guarantee a quality car.
Choose Your Car Wisely And Rent An SUV If Possible – While a bright red convertible may look like a ton of fun, don’t choose a car that calls a lot of attention to yourself. If you’re driving a fancy car, thieves are more likely to assume you have valuables inside. Keep your car locked and windows up when you’re parked. Also, rent an SUV if you can. You never know what types of roads you will find on the way, so having an off-roading vehicle like a Jeep will help! We drove down a couple sandy roads and streets with potholes, we and wouldn’t have made it without the jeep!
Take Photos Of Any Dents And Scratches Before You Leave The Airport – To avoid any scams, take photos of any dents or scratches on the car before you drive away to avoid being charged for existing damages upon return. This is pretty common, so make sure you have evidence to avoid additional fees!
You Don’t Need An International Driver’s License – A basic US drivers license is really all you need to rent a car in Mexico, so no need to secure an international driver’s license for the trip. (To learn more about international driver’s licenses, see our Europe rental car post here)
Don’t Be Surprised If You Hit Roadblocks And Car Checks – Not going to lie, getting pulled over by a swarm of policemen carrying machine guns can be SUPER intimidating. However, they simply checked our license and searched our car, and we were on our way. They pulled over every car passing, which actually made us feel safer on the drive!
Drive The Speed Limit – While hitting car checks is one thing, I don’t recommend fighting the speed limit and getting pulled over for your own action. Cops are very strict on speeding, so pay attention to road signs to stay within the speed limit. Note: many locations will have quick and random speed drops, so always be on the lookout for speed bumps or passing signs.
Don’t Drive At Night – Your risk of being carjacked is raised at night, so try to drive in the mornings or afternoons to avoid any trouble. Also you never know what the road conditions are, so you don’t want to hit a pothole at night and be stranded on the side of the road in the dark. Even locals will tell you to avoid driving at night, so make sure your journey is complete during daylight!
Stay On The Route – On most road trips I love taking detours and finding cool photo opps along the way, but to make sure you have a safe and hassle-free experience, don’t stray from your travel route.
Always Have GPS Or A Map Readily Available – No matter how simple a route may be, you always want to have a GPS system to make sure you’re heading the right way or assist if you stumble on road work or detours. MAPS.ME is a great navigation app that works for free offline if you don’t have an international travel plan. Also, most rental companies will rent GPS systems with cars, and you should always keep a basic map on hand in case your phone dies.
OUR SWIMWEAR FAVORITES:
Keep Pesos On Hand – The safest roads for traveling are the toll roads, and toll booths will only accept pesos. Also, many gas stations will not accept credit cards – so it’s best to have pesos on hand in case you run low on gas. Our full tank lasted from the airport to Tulum and back, so we never had to pull over – but if you do get gas, apparently attendants pump the gas for you – not yourself.
Overall, renting a car in Mexico is a safe and easy process as long as you use common sense and pay attention to your surroundings. The most important thing to know before renting a car is to make sure you purchase the liability insurance, as your basic car insurance coverage or credit card coverage will not work. I had such an amazing time exploring the Yucatan Peninsula, so I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fun getaway!
(Note: you will need a credit card for the rental, and most agencies require drivers to be at least 25 years old – so check the age limits if you’re traveling under 25!)