A car is a great means of travel. If you are going to Mexico, you won’t find a better way to explore this amazing country than a road trip. Moreover, the rental service allows you to choose the most convenient car for your needs. Another advantage of car rental in Mexico is a great opportunity to see what is not available on regular tourist routes.
In order to make your trip a success, and to avoid problems, we have prepared several important nuances that you should know. Just remember them and your trip will bring only positive emotions.
Where to rent a car in Mexico?
You can rent a car in Mexico at the airport, at the hotel or in a city location. Enterprise at Guadalajara Airport would be the perfect choice for every traveler who is going to explore the Mexican Pacific Coast. You can also book a car in advance, and the company representative will give you a car at the airport.
In the arrivals area there are counters of international rental offices: Avis, Hertz, National, etc. Renting a car in a Mexican-based rental office is cheaper, but sometimes there are problems with the quality of the car and the fairness of the supplier.
Another popular car hire companies in Mexico are Economy Car Rentals, America Car Rental, and Alamo.
Estimated car rental prices in Mexico:
- Economy class car – $40/day;
- Car with automatic gearbox – $70/day;
- Business/luxury class car – $120/day;
- Family car or 7-9 seater minivan – from $140/day.
Of course, insurance is a must-have thing when traveling by a rental car. The price for car insurance in Mexico depends on the certain package – full insurance (SuperCover) can cost $30-40 per day, while standard insurance (CDW+SLI) is available $10-20 per day.
Additionally, you can add the following optional extras to your reservation:
- Satellite Navigator – about $70/rental;
- Baby seat – about $30/rental.
What do you need to rent a car in Mexico?
Mexican legislatures along with car rental companies, governs the qualifications and requirements that a potential renter must meet. In order to rent a car in Mexico you need to:
- Be at least 21 years old;
- Have an international driving license with at least 1 year driving experience;
- Have a security deposit on the credit card (or in cash) of about $500-1,000 depending on the car class.
Roads in Mexico
Mexico has toll and toll-free roads. A road map can be taken at the hotel or bought at any kiosk. ‘Cuota’ means the road is paid, and ‘Libre’ – is free of charge.
You can pay for the toll road at the entrance or exit at the barrier. Toll roads are most often of good quality – they are multi-lane, without pits and potholes. As a rule, such roads connect all the major cities and resorts in Mexico.
Free roads are often single-lane, and feature speed limiters presented with speed bumps. There are practically no signs on the free roads, and serpentine zones can happen quite often. On the other hand, free roads open up very beautiful landscapes.
It’s not recommended to drive at night on free roads, since accidents and robberies often occur. Toll road fee in Mexico is approximately $10 per 100 km.
Parking in Mexico
It’s better to park your car in the parking lot at the hotel, store or even on a multi-story covered parking lot. This is because street car thefts are common in Mexico.
Parking for several hours will cost about $2.5/hour. Places where parking is prohibited are indicated by the crossed-out ‘E’ letter.
Traffic Regulations and Fines in Mexico
General speed limits in Mexico may vary from 20 km/h in cities to 110 km/h on toll roads. The maximum speed to travel in cities is usually 50 km/h. Drinking alcohol while driving is prohibited.
Locals often don’t follow the regulations and exceed speed, as well as don’t pay attention to road markings and signs, but violators can be fined. Fortunately, policemen are usually loyal to travelers and often forgive small errors.
What is the best time to go to Mexico?
The climate in the country is very diverse, changing depending on latitude and altitude. The central plateau is characterized by a dry temperate climate – subtropical in the north and tropical in the south. The peaks of high mountains are often covered with snow.
The most comfortable weather conditions in Mexico and the best period to visit the country is from mid-September to mid-May, although some regions have good weather at other times of the year. The hottest and wettest months are from May till October. A little rain can go in the summer, but it quickly ends and doesn’t have time to ruin your mood.
In Mexico it’s pretty cold in the early morning, and in the winter it’s very cold at night. Thus, get prepared for wetter weather in coastal areas.
Summer temperatures there can rise up to 38°C, while the humidity will be about 100%. The average air temperature on the coast of Mexico is about 23-32°C in the daytime, and 15-27°C at night. Thus, it’s recommended to bring a sweater and an umbrella on your road trip.