Has anyone ever rented a car in Mexico?

[XemaSab]

What do I need to know?

How do I not get ripped off?

What's the story with the insurance?

What is a reasonable price for renting a car for a week?

[AndyTiedye]

1. Might Want to See if "Armored" is Available as an Upgrade

[Shagbark Hickory]

43. LOL n/t

[SoCalDem]

2. Call the place you are staying, or the airline

They will make sure that all the paperwork is in order....Good luck if it;s Mexico City.. scary place to drive:)

[DURHAM D]

3. I was also going to suggest not driving in Mexico City.

Frankly, I would hire a driver no matter where I was in Mexico.

[a la izquierda]

5. Now why would you do that?

Just out of extreme curiosity.

[DURHAM D]

9. The rules of engagement are different.

and, I am female...

[a la izquierda]

15. Yeah, so am I.

Drove there for the 9 months I lived there on research. Never had a single problem (and that was in Guadalajara).

I can pass as Mexican, however, am fluent in Spanish, and sort of adopted a take-no-bullshit attitude.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Comparing Guadalajara and Mexico City

is like comparing apples and oranges. I learned to drive in Mexico City. Later I drove code three in Tijuana... and when I have to drive down there... it still scares me.

It is like comparing oh San Diego to LA traffic... combined with the atitude of Rome drivers.

[a la izquierda]

42. Well, the traffic is different...

but I didn't read that this was the issue with the poster I responded to.

[XemaSab]

4. It's NOT Mexico City

I've heard that place is crazy. :o

[a la izquierda]

7. You wouldn't need one anyway there

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Oh com'on nothing like geting lost

a year ago down there!

:-)

Yes it is crazy.

[RedCloud]

6. A sus órdenes

http://nationalcar.com.mx/index.php?ref=GOMXEng

I would venture to guess that someone has.

[a la izquierda]

8. First...

where are you going? Mexico has excellent public transportation in most cities. You may not need a car.

Deal with a rental agency that speaks English if you're Spanish isn't great. I deal with agencies that speak English, and I'm fluent.
You'll get insurance through the agency, but it IS BEST to get the full coverage (unlike here). You're insurance won't work. Your credit card may, however, provide insurance. Double check.

And as for price, it depends where you're going.

[XemaSab]

12. I'm going to Oaxaca

With all the insurance options, the car rental price appears to QUADRUPLE, and if it's going to be 800+ then I can't afford to go. I'm also worried because I don't have a credit card, and I have heard that some places will put an ugly hold on your debit card, which would also mean that I can't afford to go. :P

[a la izquierda]

13. Oaxaca City?

If so, let me get back to you in a second. How's your Spanish?

[XemaSab]

16. I'd like to get all over the state, and into Chiapas

My Spanish is rudimentary. :D

[a la izquierda]

20. Umm, I wouldn't drive.

There are some extremely rural areas down that way and if you get lost, it's not a good thing if you don't speak much Spanish. You might consider the long-range buses, which are quite cheap, nice, and pretty safe. I've taken them all over. *Some* of the ticket agents speak a little English, and there will likely be tourists all over that would be willing to help you. My friend bused it all over the region with little problems, though he is a native speaker.
Conversely, you could hire a driver, though I'd imagine that would get pretty expensive.

[XemaSab]

21. I'm not planning to get too far off the beaten track

I've got a route mapped out, and it's going to be mostly point-A-to-point-B navigation, with maybe a couple little side noodles.

I'm much more worried about being out in rural areas and having to rely on flagging down passing buses to get around. I also really don't want to have to carry ALL my stuff with me ALL the time I'm there. :(

[PA Democrat]

19. If you go make sure to check out the fabulous wood carvings

Oaxaca is famous for.

[XemaSab]

41. Oh, are there many Asians down there?

/lounge joke

[JVS]

44. Paco Rabinowitz sends his greetings.

[CreekDog]

29. Oaxaca? I'm not worried about the car

I'm worried about you! :O

[Kali]

14. Visa covers, MC not unless it is super platinum or whatever their high end category is called

still need the regular ins. (and yes double check on that, don't trust us on the internets for that kind of detail!)

[Kali]

10. hire a driver

cheaper, easier - ask at the hotel (also if you haven't already done it check Lonely Planet's Thorntree Mexico forum - ex-pats living there and lots of experience)

renting IN Mexico is expensive, renting here and driving across is a little better - same rates plus $25 to 30 a day for Mex insurance.

Enterprise will rent to cross at some locations (Tucson Airport for example) not at others. Alamo wont rent out to cross, I think Budget will at some locations, not positive)

[demosincebirth]

17. that's what I did when in Mexicto City. Not too expensive , either.

[xiamiam]

11. got ripped in cancun..treated fairly in nayarit

would recommed gecko travel north of vallarta...the insurance is what gets costly..have had no problem ever driving in mexico although a few strange turn lane rules..have a good trip..love mexico

[marybourg]

18. Ask your Mexico - related questions here:

http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. The usual suspects have outlets down there

does that help?

Oh and you do not self serve at a gas station either, the employees do, remember to tip, 10% is customary.

Oh and traffic can be... ahem interesting.

[XemaSab]

24. I've looked online

It looks like the rental price is ~17 per day, but the insurance is like three times that!

How can this be?

I've never been down there, and I'm going by myself because my stupid friend flaked on me 2 days ago. :o

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. The insurance should also include LEGAL insurance

if it does not, make sure you get that. That is probably why it is that steep. After all, a common charge down there is damage to the nation, and that is an expensive fine assuming nobody got hurt.

Mexico still runs on the napoleonic code (even if Calderon wants to change that) and relying on the US State is a joke.

[XemaSab]

27. So you're saying that ~65 dollars a day is a fair price?

I have $1400 for two weeks, and if there's a hold in addition to the $800 for car rental, that's cutting it a little too close. :(

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I am not saying that it is fair, just that

your US insurance is not usable down there. When I drive down there I drive Mom's old car... I have never rented.

Though do check if you can buy the insurance in the US.

http://www.motormexico.com/

Can't vouch, never used them. but

[XemaSab]

30. The quotes on this site are very reasonable

Like, 200 for 2 weeks instead of 600 for 2 weeks.

If I rent a car down there, can I get insurance from a private company for a rental car?

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. I am not sure, I have not bought insurance down there in years

when I did the EMS shtick I was actually covered by State Farm, yes I checked with my agent. since it was up to fifty miles from the actual border. See if you can find insurance, there are brokers for the companies down there up here. Just make sure that whatever you buy it does include that legal protection clause. It may be a little more expensive, but god forbid you do crash, or have any other traffic incident that requires a lawyer, you will be glad to have that. Chances are you won't, but it's like travel insurance.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. Ok I just went to one of the large compamies sites

you know the equivalent of State Farm, and they include the legal aid in their basic policy. So definitely if you talk to a US based broker MAKE sure it is included. They used not to... so 20 plus years ago, you got that separate of your policy

[Kali]

34. Not sure about there but when I rent here to go across I HAVE to buy from them

it is a rip-off and yes more than the daily car charge, but the only way to find out would be to call and talk to somebody at the rental desk, ask for an English speaker and then you will know for sure there is one at the office you will be renting from

it is hard to give up the car paradigm, but I can guarantee you will enjoy the trip more if you force yourself to get out and interact with locals, by either taking the bus or hiring a local driver - so what if you get lost or something? - that is called adventure.

[Kali]

35. on second thought

perhaps email would be better, so you can print and carry a copy (and I say that no matter where or what car rental co. - it has saved me money before, carrying correspondence

[UTUSN]

33. Why? Two words: public transportation. n/t

[XemaSab]

36. Here's your answer:

I've never been out of the US before, and I'm going to be screwing around in the woods by myself. And yes, I am female.

If I was going to spend the whole trip in the city, I wouldn't get a car, but being outside the city I am sort of freaked out by the prospect of not having one.

[Tindalos]

37. kick

:kick:

[XemaSab]

39. Thank you!

:)

[HEyHEY]

38. Anyone here or anyone in general?

[XemaSab]

40. Anyone here

:P

[JVS]

45. I always like to go into threads that say something like "Anyone know how to fix my toilet?"

and say "Yes. Someone knows how to fix your toilet"

[montanto]

46. Yes. It's easy.

Take your own insurance card is the best idea, and then go to any of the rental companies that you are familiar with. I picked up a car at the airport when I went. I forget the company, but they are pretty much the same there as here. Price wise too.

[hunter]

47. Not for a long time...

... back in the days of pre-electronic banking when you had to stand in line to change travelers checks into pesos at unconscionable exchange rates. Now the credit card companies rip you off instantly and facelessly.

We did get charged for gas we didn't use, but back then gasoline in Mexico was so cheap it's funny now.

My brother has rented cars recently. He said last time the rental company included a "Get out of Jail Free" card in the glove compartment -- basically a note from the Governor to the police not to harass tourists over small or (reading between the lines) fabricated stuff.

My advice isn't worth anything, I'm just writing because I'm jealous and want to visit Mexico.

[stevenleser]

48. I've done it. There are a number of considerations

1st - If you decide to go ahead with this, make reservation from here with an established agency.

2nd - Would not recommend for extra-city travel. Rental cars (they are identifiable somehow) are targets for bandits/snipers who troll the highways looking to make a score on tourists.

3rd - Driving in major cities is not for the faint of heart. I rented a car for a few days in Mexico city. I did OK because I am used to driving in Manhattan and Panama City Panama, both places that are also crazy although not quite as crazy as Mexico City. I like renting a car because using cabs in Mexico city can be dicey. There are scams involving cabs where the cab driver takes you to an out of the way place, his friends jump out and they hold you overnight so you can withdraw the maximum daily amount from your banking account twice.
--------------------------------------------------

Finally, I just would have to generally recommend against travel to Mexico. Sure, there are safer areas, but even those are sometimes infiltrated by gangs of robbers. I would go almost anyplace else outside of North Korea and Iran.