Cancún car hires from £6/day

To rent a vehicle in Cancún, you must have a valid driver’s license from your home country, a passport, and a major credit card. The minimum age requirement is 18, however, motorists aged 18-24 must pay an underage driver fee, which costs an additional $11-15 per day. Now that hurts!

Cancún abounds with rental car outfits, meaning you can easily find any vehicle you need, no matter the size, shape, or color. The options range from economy and mid-size autos to minivans and full-size SUVs. An economy car will serve you well for city driving and squeezing into tight parking spaces. Off-road vehicles prove useful during the rainy season if you plan on tackling the bumpy jungle roads. Rates for economy car rentals usually start at about $40 per day with liability protection and unlimited mileage included. Shop for online deals and discounted weekly rates.

It’s possible to take rental vehicles to nearby Isla Mujeres and Isla Cozumel aboard car ferries departing from Punta Sam and Calica. The fares cover the vehicle and one passenger. You do not need a car for either place, but some visitors find it convenient for exploring remote areas. Alternatively, numerous agencies on the islands rent golf carts, buggies, and scooters, which essentially serve the same purpose as a car.

Most rental companies in Cancún do not allow you to take their cars across Quintana Roo’s southern border into Belize, however, you can do so through America Car Rental, which provides both insurance coverage and the permits you’ll need to enter Belize, or if you prefer, Guatemala. Taking a car across the border can be somewhat expensive though.

Mexican law requires you to have third-party liability coverage, known in Spanish as daños a terceros. In most cases, your insurance policy at home does not cover driving a vehicle in Mexico. If asked at the counter if you want to add extra coverage, keep in mind that major credit cards provide some form of collision damage protection. Call your credit card issuer to ask specifically what the coverage entails. Some companies in Cancún run promotions that include complementary theft coverage, but it normally comes at an additional cost.

Under a new law, both drivers and passengers are required to use seatbelts in Mexico The speed limit on federal roads is about 65-70 mph and it’s around 45 mph in the city’s hotel zone. Do not exceed 25 mph when driving through busy pedestrian areas. If stopped by traffic police, remain calm and politely ask why you’ve been pulled over. Most officers will let you off with a warning, however, some bad apples may try to shake you down for a bribe, which is illegal. They usually give up if they see you jotting down their name and badge number. Whenever possible, avoid heading into the hotel zone during rush hour between 7:00 am-9:00 am and 5:00 pm-7:00 pm.

Parking in and around downtown’s busy Parque de las Palapas can prove difficult at times, otherwise, you should have no problems finding spots throughout most of the Centro. In the hotel zone, however, parking is far more limited. Many of the north-facing beaches have small lots and you’ll find free public parking at Playa Delfines and Playa Caracol. If you’re catching a ferry to Isla Mujeres from the docks at Puerto Juárez, El Embarcadero, Playa Tortugas or Playa Tortuga parking costs about M$100-200 (around $5.56-11.12) per day.

When you roll up to the pump, the gas station attendant will ask if you want Magna or higher-octane Premium; the latter usually costs at least US$5 per gallon. Always check that the pump is set at zero before the attendant begins dispensing gas. Most gas stations accept debit and credit card payments but have cash on hand in case there’s an issue with the terminal. It’s customary to leave a M$5-10 (around US$0.28-0.56) tip for the attendant. For electric vehicles, you’ll find charging stations at the airport and various points throughout the hotel zone, including Golf Puerto Cancún, Fiesta Americana, and Live Aqua.

For the most part, Cancún has sunny weather year-round, so visibility is rarely a problem. The rainy season runs from May to October and can make navigating certain dirt roads difficult. Hurricane season normally lasts from June to November, and you should refrain from driving in storms that bring gale-force winds and flooding.