I love road trips, so of course, I had to rent a car while in Mexico. In total, my friend and I rented three cars in order to explore as much of the Yucatan Peninsula as possible. And let me tell you that I loved it. After all, driving in Mexico and having a rental car for parts of the trip allowed us to venture off the beaten track.
We rented the first car to get to the remote ruins of Calakmul and had a one-day rental in Cozumel. And as our time in Mexico was coming to an end, we rented a car for a few days of exploring Valladolid and the surrounding area.
If there is one thing I can say about deciding to drive in Mexico, it is that it granted us freedom. We could do whatever we wanted to do and combine different activities however we liked it. While I personally do not recommend combining Chichen Itza with Rio Lagartos in one very long day, it was the only way to see both, and it was only possible thanks to having a rental car.
Having already rented cars and scooters all over the words, renting a car in Mexico was the obvious solution when it came to getting to remote areas and planning a mini road trip with several stops. However, I also know that the mere idea of driving while abroad can be daunting. Hopefully, this guide on driving in Mexico will help ease your worries and enable you to have a great, flexible adventure.
Basic Facts about Driving in Mexico
What is the legal driving age in Mexico?
The legal driving age in Mexico is 18.
However, some rental car companies do have higher age requirements for drivers.
On which side of the road do you drive in Mexico?
In Mexico, you have to drive on the right side of the road.
What is the speed limit in Mexico?
In urban areas, the speed limit in Mexico is 40 km/h (25 mph). On open roads between cities and villages, the speed limit is usually 80 km/h (50 mph). Meanwhile, you are often allowed to drive 100 to 110 km/h (62 mph) on highways and toll roads.
Keep in mind that the speed limit indicated on signs is in kilometers per hour and not in miles per hour.
What are the most important laws you have to abide by when driving in Mexico?
When driving in Mexico, you have to follow the speed limits and the usual traffic regulations. Additionally, you always have to wear a seatbelt.
Your blood alcohol level is not allowed to be higher than 0.8%, and it is strictly forbidden to drive under the influence of illegal substances.
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Renting a Car in Mexico
If you are driving in Mexico, there is a good chance that you will do so in a rental car. And while the process itself is pretty straightforward, there are some things you need to know before renting a car in Mexico.
Having personal liability insurance is mandatory if you are driving in Mexico. This insurance covers the Third Party Liability and is different from the insurance that is included in some credit cards. Be sure to double-check if it is included in the rental agreement.
You should have insurance that covers damages to the rental car. This kind of insurance might be included in the insurance packages of one of your credit cards, so check the terms if you plan to use it. Just know, that you will have to pay for repairs upfront and might have to wait a while before you are refunded by your credit card company. To avoid this issue, you can also include insurance coverage during the rental car booking process. Some rental companies will try to force you to buy this insurance with them, but it is not necessary.
It is ideal to have a credit card as rental companies tend to hold a higher amount of money while you are renting the car. The money will only be released when you have returned the car. Therefore, you should ensure that your credit card limit is high enough to pay all your travel expenses even if a higher security deposit has been temporarily blocked.
You need a driver’s license that is valid in Mexico, so check if there are any regulations that apply to you. While this rule is often not enforced when you are stopped by the police, citizens of many European countries have to get an international license.
It is likely more expensive to rent a car if you are below the age of 25. Most companies have a daily surcharge for young drivers.
Rental Car Costs in the Yucatan
If you rent a car on the Yucatan Peninsula, the price per day not only depends on the size of the car and the rental duration but also on where you rent the car.
Hereby, it is more expensive to rent a car in Tulum than in Playa del Carmen and Cancun. Therefore, it is worth it to check if it would be less expensive to rent a car in a nearby town.
It might not make an impact on your budget if you only rent a car for a day or two, but there will likely be a significant price difference if you are planning a longer road trip around the Yucatan.
Just take the ADO bus to get to the other town to pick up the car and then drive back to pick up your travel buddies and luggage.
Here’s how much we paid for our rental cars and where we rented them.
Tulum: 1350 + 3000 MXN (4 days) – to visit Xpujil and Bacalar
Cozumel: 45-55 USD (1 day)
Playa del Carmen: 2786.90 MXN (4 days) – to visit Valladolid
Safety on the Road in Mexico
In order to stay safe while on the road in Mexico, there are some things you should do ahead of and during your trip, and other things you should know about.
Research the Area
Some areas of Mexico are significantly safer than others, so please do your research while planning your trip. If you plan to limit driving in Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula, you are highly unlikely to run into major safety issues, but other states are not as safe.
Research if the area you will be driving through is known for regular roadblocks. It is unlikely that locals will stop you by holding a rope over the road or by cutting down trees, but it can happen.
Police & Military Checkpoints
There are police and military checkpoints on some of the main routes, including Highway 307 from Cancun to Chetumal. If you drive along this route, you will pass three permanent checkpoints with one being south of Cancun, one south of Playa del Carmen, and another in Tulum. There can also be temporary checkpoints.
You do not have to worry if you are stopped at these checkpoints, so just remain calm. Answer the questions they ask you, and do not object if they want to take a quick look at your car. As long as you have done nothing wrong, you do not have to worry about anything.
Roadside Assistance
If you have car issues, the Ángeles Verdes (Green Angels) will provide roadside assistance. Their service is nearly free as you only have to pay for tolls and gasoline. They have a 24/7 hotline but keep in mind that it can take a while before they get to your location. Dial 078 to reach them.
Driving at Night
The roads outside of residential areas are not well lit and there are animals roaming around, which means it is best to avoid driving long distances at night. Aside from not being able to see wild animals, there is a good chance you will not be able to spot speed bumps and potholes which can be incredibly dangerous.
Throughout my time in Mexico, we only drive at night a few times and never more than 10 minutes. And let me tell you that those distances were enough to tell me that it is not the best idea.
Useful Information
Toll Roads
Cuotas are toll roads and are usually better maintained than regular roads. By using them, you can often reach your destination faster, but doing so also means you will have to pay a higher toll and miss out on hidden gems you would otherwise encounter along the way.
The cuotas are listed by Google Maps, so you have to deselect ‘toll roads’ if you want to avoid them.
There are two toll roads in the Yucatan Peninsula. One of them is the 180D from Cancun to Merida past Valladolid, and there is another one to Playa del Carmen. There are monkey bridges over these toll roads, but sadly, we did not spot any monkeys while driving.
Use of Indicators
In different countries, basic things like the horn are used differently, and in the case of Mexico, this is the case with the indications. Instead of just being used to signal that a car is about to switch lanes or turn onto another road, they are also used to tell cars behind them that they can safely overtake them. Meanwhile, not everyone uses them in the traditional sense.
Fuel
When driving in Mexico, it is highly recommended to fill up your tank if you are planning to drive to more remote areas. After all, fuel stations tend to be few and far once you are away from bigger cities, and you do not want to be stranded when you run out of fuel.
While getting gas, you should always hand over the exact amount you have to pay. Otherwise, there is a risk of you getting scammed. While most gas station employees are honest, there are always a few bad apples that will pretend you gave them less money than you did.
Extortion Schemes
When I started writing this post, I asked my readers which points they would like me to cover, and ‘Is it likely that you will be pulled over and asked for a bribe?‘ was a common question. And while I would love to say otherwise, it is a recurring problem. It usually happens at non-permanent checkpoints or you can just be pulled over.
If you are stopped, even if justified, the first thing you should do is remain calm and wait for them to tell you what the problem is. And if it becomes clear that they are asking for a bribe, you should say no. Ask them to write you an official ticket that lists the offense, for their name and their badge number. Doing so should stop the extortion attempt.
Do not pay the bribe and never instigate a bribe yourself. It is illegal and the government and local police forces are trying to stop it. Therefore, you should report it if someone tries to extort you in any way.
We were stopped by a road control once, but it was not clear to which unit the person belonged. He said something about our license plate being wrong, but after some research on what he could have meant, I can only say that his supposed reasoning for stopping us made no sense.
All in all, it felt like a scheme to collect bribes, but we knew we had done nothing wrong and just decided to wait it out. And after a while, we were just told to keep driving.
Driving In Mexico – What to Look Out For
While driving in Mexico, you should always keep your eyes on the road as there are several things you might encounter on the road. On one hand, there is wildlife that lives in the areas, and then there are potholes and the so-called topes. These three things can cause major issues if you do not see them, so please be careful.
Topes
As you drive through Mexico, you will quickly encounter your first ‘tope’. These speed bumps can be found on highways when they pass through towns and villages, but also on smaller streets. And frustratingly, not all of them are marked.
Therefore, it is crucial to keep your eyes on the road or you can easily miss them. Something, that can be incredibly dangerous as their height is not standardized. Some of them are so high that you cannot drive faster than 10 km/h if you want to avoid damaging your car.
In some places, there are small booths along the side of the speed bumps. The vendors will try to sell you all kinds of fresh fruits from pineapples to coconuts.
If you drive long distances in Mexico, you will not see a tope on time at one point, so just prepare for the fact that your car will jump when it happens. I would love to say that it is avoidable, but even with both of us keeping our eyes out for them, we each managed to miss one tope. Thankfully, they were not particularly high, but it was still not something I would recommend doing too often.
Potholes
Many roads are not in the best condition. Therefore, it is good to research the road conditions of your route ahead of your trip. Some roads have very deep and big potholes which means you would need a higher car to prevent damage. It also means you have to drive slower in order to safely avoid them.
Looking up the road conditions is especially important if you are planning to explore remote areas like Calakmul. The last kilometers of the drive to the ruins were definitely an interesting experience as they resembled a slalom around potholes and branches.
Wildlife
Many roads are surrounded by trees, which means they cut right through the habitat of animals. Therefore, you should not be surprised when you suddenly see a wild animal in the middle of the road.
While there are things like monkey bridges over some roads, they are not in place everywhere. So do your best to drive carefully to ensure that you do not endanger any animals.
In spring, some roads can also feel like butterfly corridors of death with birds that swoop down in order to pick up dead butterflies on the road. Sadly, there is no way to avoid hitting a good amount of butterflies. Be prepared to have to wash your windshield whenever you get fuel.
It might seem over the top when you see a 40 km/h speed limit just because there are animals in the area. But given that I had a jaguar show up on the street only 100m in front of my car, I highly recommend abiding by the speed limits to protect the wildlife. Enjoy the drive in these situations and consider it a free safari where you might spot endangered animals.
What to do before Driving in Mexico
Now that you know what to look out for and how to stay safe when driving in Mexico, there are a few more things you should do before you hit the road.
Download an offline map for your route. The mobile data reception along the roads is often sporadic, so you will not be able to look up the route while you are driving. Even if you only plan to drive from Playa del Carmen to Tulum, you will at one point have no mobile data.
Always store some water in the car. Especially on hot days, it is important to have a sufficient amount of water in case you break down and have to wait for roadside assistance.
FAQ about Driving In Mexico
It is safe for tourists to drive in Mexico?
Driving in Mexico as a tourist is rather safe, but there are several things to look out for. On one hand, there are potholes, topes, and wildlife that might be on the streets, and then there is the fact that some areas of the country are safer than others. Additionally, it is important to fill up the tank before driving to remote areas and to avoid driving at night.
Are you planning a trip?
Check out these useful websites and resources I use to plan my adventures around the world.
Roundup: Driving in Mexico
Renting a car and driving in Mexico is a fantastic way to see more of the country and explore it beyond the scope of group trips. However, it is also important to be prepared and to know the things listed in this guide.
While I can only encourage you to explore the country this way, you also have to take measures in order to stay safe and avoid preventable accidents.
When compared to driving in other countries around the world, I would say that driving in Mexico is easier than in Bali or Vietnam, but harder than in Germany. After all, there are some things you have to look out for, but the traffic is also not completely chaotic.
More about Mexico
If you are planning to visit Mexico, you might also be interested in these travel guides:
Pueblos Magicos de Mexico
Mexico’s Hidden Gems
Are you planning to drive while in Mexico?
Let me know in the comments down below!
Planning to drive in Mexico?
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Hi I need to drive from Northern BC Canada down to David in the north of Panama to pick up a truck load of boat stuff. Google suggests the 180 down the east side of Mexico crossing the Yakatan to San Pedro Sula. From there due S through Honduras on the C5 to the pacific coast and follow the coast through Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Would welcome comments from anyone who had done any part of this rout recently both on road conditions and safety.
Thanks
Hey Roland, I do not know the road conditions all the way down to Panama, but the people in the following Facebook group will definitely be able to tell you more about it: PanAmerican Travelers Association (https://www.facebook.com/groups/572928176079352)