Mexico

Hire car prices

Hire car prices in Mexico tend to be in the mid-range. You can often snag a good deal if you book well in advance of your trip and use our handy price comparison tool.

age limit

You must be 21 years old with many rental companies to get a hire car in Mexico. And numerous hire car companies charge drivers younger than 25 extra. Drivers who are older than 70 will also miss out with some providers. Find out your hire car company’s terms and conditions before booking.

Language barrier

In Mexico, you may well find that staff at a hire car station speak only Spanish. You may find it helpful to write down the phone number of your rental company’s Mexican headquarters. With luck, you’ll find a staff member there who speaks English and can act as an interpreter.

Tank control

Some rental companies offer a questionable service to their customers. For a service fee, the first tank of gas can be purchased at the time of rental. You then return the car with an empty tank.

But since you’ll never manage to drive the car completely empty, with this option you’ll pay not only the service fee but also the gas that’s still in the tank when you return the car. Rather, book with a rental company where you pick up the car with a full tank and return it with a full tank.

Customer Satisfaction Hire Car

Although most customers are quite satisfied with hire car locations in Mexico, some do complain that on the spot they tried to sell you additional insurance. Make sure your hire car is adequately insured at the time of booking and then consistently refuse to sign any additional contracts.

The exterior condition of hire cars sometimes leaves something to be desired as well. Have all scratches and dents confirmed in writing in a damage report. Only in this way can you avoid being held responsible on the day of the vehicle return for defects that you have not caused at all.

Safety tips Mexico

The north is taboo
The drug war is escalating, especially in the northern parts of the country. Shootings in the cities happen all the time. So avoid the north of the country and rather visit the south.

At night, keep the car in the garage
At night, robberies are common, often fatal. Plan your trips so that you are always at your hotel well before nightfall.

Do not resist when robbed
Always comply immediately with the perpetrators’ demands when robbed. The gangs are usually armed and will make use of a firearm if you resist. Passport and money are replaceable, your life is not.

Take as few valuables as possible
Even a camera represents a huge value to many Mexicans. So it’s better to take the small camera with you on your trip and leave your high-tech gadget at home. Your wallet should primarily contain traveller’s cheques and credit card. Both can be blocked by phone in the event of a robbery.

The small hire car is the best choice
From the tense security situation also comes the choice of hire car. Small and inconspicuous should be the car. That way, you won’t attract the attention of potential malefactors in the first place.

The authorities must be obeyed
Not only criminals, but also the police in Mexico are not exactly squeamish and often corrupt. So it is not worth to argue with an officer about the fine, even if it is obviously unfounded. Pay the amount to avoid having to make acquaintance with a Mexican jail.

Suggestion for a trip by hire car

Mexico City: Hold your breath
At the airport you can pick up the key for your hire car. Our first tip. Leave the car in the garage.

Take the subway or a taxi into the city and drive your hire car at most wide around it. Mexico City is a shock, with 25 million people crowding the streets.

Add to that more than three million cars. The thin high-altitude air – Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres above sea level – combined with the perpetual smog, ensures that many a newcomer suffers health problems. So take your city stroll slowly.

Perhaps visit one of the city’s parks first, such as Parque Alameda in the centre of town. Once you’ve acclimatized a bit, it’s time to take in Mexico City. Visit the Palacio Nacional, the seat of the president, or have your first encounter with Aztec culture at the Templo Mayor.

There are endless things to discover in Mexico City. But the flâneur who doesn’t just tick off the sights will experience the most. Let yourself drift, enjoy life, sit down a café or enjoy the fiery Mexican cuisine with a visit to a restaurant. This is the best way to get a taste of the country’s lifestyle.

Acapulco: The journey begins
Mexico City is now behind you and you board your hire car. You might get lucky and get a classic VW Beetle, which was still built in Mexico until just a few years ago. At the airport, the real road trip begins.

From the highlands, you’ll head to the coast. Acapulco is the next destination In about four and a half hours you are there. Acapulco attracts with dreamlike beaches and is not called the pearl of the Caribbean for nothing. At the same time, Acapulco is also a city with 1.5 million inhabitants.

The tourist can expect countless restaurants, lots of beach fun and also a nightlife that can be seen. A tourist must is a visit to the rock jumpers of Acapulco. Young men throw themselves from 35 meter high cliffs into the sea. Many rocks are waiting at the bottom. A small mistake during the jump can be fatal.

Oaxaca: The past catches up with you
Leave the holiday El Dorado behind you now and dive into the Mexican past. In Oaxaca, which you will reach in seven and a half hours, the last destination of this road trip, the colonial heritage comes to life. The downtown area is protected as a historic monument and is reminiscent of Spain in olden times.

Enjoy the relaxation after the exciting metropolises of Mexico City and Acapulco. And book a special hotel. The Camino Real is one of Mexico’s most beautiful hotels and takes guests back to a bygone era. Formerly a convent, this hostel is now known for elegance and a very special atmosphere.

Monte Albán and Mitla: Mexican Heritage
Near Oaxaca are several historic sites worth visiting. Monte Albán, about 12 km from Oaxaca, was the capital of the Zapotecs. The site has been considered settled since the 8th century BC. In 1987, it was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Also worth visiting is Mitla, about 44 km from Oaxaca. 200 after Christ the oldest still existing buildings were built. Archaeologists assume, however, that the place was already inhabited in 500 BC. Especially the ornaments on the palace walls inspire culture enthusiasts from all over the world.

This is where this road trip ends. But the fascinating Mexico has infinitely more to offer.