“I was just in Tulum in April 2024, it was a great time” Mike — who is a reader of The Gate With Brian Cohen — wrote in the Comments section of this article pertaining to a review of one of the dining options at the Hilton Tulum Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Resort property in Mexico. “I rented a car from the airport and drove; I had no issues at all despite all of the bad reviews and scary stories about renting a car in Mexico.” Driving a rental car in Mexico was easy — this time…
Driving a Rental Car in Mexico Was Easy — This Time…
…but the experience may depend on where in Mexico the vehicle is rented; under what circumstance; and — most importantly — what happens if an accident occurs?
I rented a car from Avis Rent A Car System to drive from the new Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum, as I was staying at a hotel property and a resort property — and I also wanted some flexibility to potentially go to other places. Lastly, the cost of renting a car was actually less than hiring a service for transportation.
Avis did not yet have an established location at the new airport when I was there. Instead, a temporary setup was installed comprising of a portable counter and a large red banner.
I was asked by one of the employees to wait off to the side while they readied the car. I waited approximately 20 minutes before I was accompanied by an employee to the parking lot outside where the car was located.
Be careful when retrieving a rental car at this airport: I accidentally hit my head on one of the metal angled supports for the overhead covering of the cars, as the base of each support connects to a post at a very low level.
Once the stars that circled around my head cleared, I noticed that the rental vehicle that was assigned to me was parked in the spot marked E-16.
The car was a Chevrolet Cavalier. The Chevrolet Cobalt replaced the Cavalier in 2005 in the United States, where it had been sold since 1981; but the fifth generation of the car in Mexico is actually based on the Chevrolet Monza in China and is unrelated to the Chevrolet Monza that used to be available in the United States between 1975 and 1980.
Are you still with me? If not, forget about the strange history of the Cavalier and Monza by Chevrolet.
Instead, let us take a peek inside of this car.
I reserved a Nissan March or similar vehicle of the mini class. I clearly was upgraded; but I was never informed of the upgrade.
A smartphone can be connected to the sound system in the car, which most new rental vehicles now have available. Controls are available at the steering wheel.
This car was equipped with automatic transmission, which is becoming more commonplace worldwide outside of the United States. The climate control system worked quite well in cooling the interior of the car from the heat and humidity outside. Plenty of storage was available in several areas inside of the car.
Speaking of storage, the interior of the trunk of the car is rather spacious…
…and can be even more spacious, as the split rear seat can be lowered to accommodate additional items.
The rear seat itself can adequately accommodate three adults with reasonable leg room.
I found that driving in this area of the state of Quintana Roo was rather easy. I did drive through central Tulum and a couple of other towns, which may not be an experience for the faintest of heart — but it was not difficult; and I felt safe.
Federal law enforcement officers have reportedly been pulling motorists over and trying to charge them with traffic infractions that require a bribe to resolve on the spot. I saw plenty of police everywhere I drove — but none of them stopped me nor have I been stopped at a police checkpoint; so I cannot verify the claims of corrupt law enforcement officers in general.
Warnings abound of a supposedly common scam about how attendants at gasoline stations will attempt to overcharge motorists when filling the fuel tank — but that did not happen to me either, as I got out of the car; checked the entire process with scrutiny; paid with my credit card; and double checked the charge. Did either having federal law enforcement officers in the next bay refueling their vehicle help — or did the fact that I spoke rudimentary Spanish to the attendant help? Perhaps both? Neither? Who knows?!?
Insurance Can Be Tricky in Mexico
Even without potential scams, driving a rental car in Mexico has rules and policies about which you should know. “Think they’re joking about mandatory coverage?” is the question asked in this article from the official weblog of AutoSlash. “An Alamo car rental in Merida, Mexico came with a $2,500 security deposit hold and a requirement of third-party liability protection. Customers have the option to purchase third-party liability or show proof of a valid current liability insurance policy specifying coverage in Mexico.”
As with the United States, collision damage waiver and liability coverage are available in Mexico — but because of a mandatory insurance requirement in Mexico, declining coverage is “a potential minefield.” Inexpensive rental car rates in Mexico can be as low as in the single digits — but those rates do not include insurance, which can increase the cost of the rental by as much as triple.
“Your personal car rental insurance will not extend to Mexico”, according to the aforementioned article. “Your credit card may provide rental car coverage worldwide — but for only for collision damage. Still, bring along any documentation you have. Overzealous rental agencies may try to get you to buy CDW coverage if you can’t prove you’re covered in Mexico.” Additionally, your credit card will not provide the required liability coverage in Mexico.
Final Boarding Call
All I know is that I had a car with every convenience and function I could possibly want and need. The total cost of the rental was $140.38 for four days; and the gasoline cost me a grand total of $17.82 in United States dollars. The rental experience was no different for me than a similar experience in the United States.
Either the aforementioned cautionary experiences do not happen all that often and are more anomalies than routine actions — or maybe I was simply lucky…
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
