A rental car in Mexico is one of the most convenient ways to get around if you plan to go to out-of-the-way places where the busses don’t go to, or if you need to get around quickly. The roads are well maintained and relatively easy to navigate, so driving is not a hassle. But just like any place new, there are some things you need to know about getting a rental car in Mexico.
You cannot use your US insurance for a rental car in Mexico
The Republic of Mexico requires that all drivers carry Mexican liability insurance. Your US policy, even if you have sufficient coverage and will apply to travelling in Mexico, is not acceptable. If you are ever in an accident that involves property damage or personal injury to a third party, you will be held both criminally and civilly liable if you don’t have liability insurance for your rental car in Mexico.
A rental car in Mexico already carries liability insurance
Fortunately, when you get a rental car in Mexico it already has liability insurance included in the fee. This is because the law requires it, and rental car companies simply make it easier to follow the law. However, you should know that the liability coverage included in the lease contract may not be enough to cover costs associated with an accident. As a rule of thumb, you need to make sure that the liability coverage is about the same as you would have back in the US. If it doesn’t, you should arrange to have additional liability coverage with the rental car company.
Credit card insurance for a rental car in Mexico
Many credit cards give free insurance coverage if you use it to charge the entire fee for a rental car in Mexico. However, there are quite a few limits to this coverage. In general, the insurance is effective for only a short period and only applies to certain vehicle types, business travel, and selected countries. It does not cover open-ended rentals and may carry high deductibles. Insurance from credit cards should be considered as a supplement to your main Mexico insurance policy.
A rental car in Mexico should include collision damage waiver
You will notice that when you arrange for a rental car in Mexico that you are required to present a valid credit card even if you pay for your lease in cash. This is in case the vehicle sustains damages for whatever reason, making it easy for the rental car company to charge the cost of repair or replacement to your card. You don’t want this, as you will not have a choice in the matter. It is better to circumvent this by purchasing collision damage insurance together with your liability insurance. Collision damage covers the cost of any damages to the rental car in Mexico, and most rental car companies will offer this as an option.
These are some of the most important things you need to know about a rental car in Mexico. Before you cross the border, make your preparations ahead of time such as purchasing adequate insurance online for the duration of your stay. You can save a lot of money that way when you get a rental car in Mexico.