Renting a Car in Riviera Maya Mexico (What to Know so You Don’t Get Scammed)

Looking into a Riviera Maya Car Rental?

You’re in the right place as I live in Mexico, and I’m going to walk you through the process of renting a car in Riviera Maya. I’ve rented cars in five cities in Mexico (including Cancun), so I’m here to demystify everything for you.

By the end of the article, you’re going to feel comfortable with the entire Mexico car rental process — and have 10 Tips about driving in Mexico that will boost your confidence.

First and foremost, most travelers want to know about the best place to rent a car in Riviera Maya. When I rent a car in Mexico, I recommend and always use Discover Cars, and you’ll see why in this article.

If you’ve looked for tips on renting a car in Riviera Maya Mexico, you may have encountered conflicting info. There are official rules for how to rent a car in Riviera Maya — and then there’s how things play out in the real world.

Don’t worry: We’re going to clear all that up in this article! You’re also going to get 10 Useful Mexico Driving Tips so you feel confident while driving a rental car in Mexico.

If you’ve seen mentions of Riviera Maya car rental scams, we’ll cover that so you’re not caught off guard by hidden fees. You’ll find out about Mexican car insurance, which is mandatory for all car rentals in Riviera Maya Mexico.

Ready to learn the ins and outs of renting a car in Riviera Maya? Let’s get to it, starting with my personal experience renting a car in Mexico with Discover Cars, and ending with a FAQ about renting cars in Riviera Maya Mexico.

Renting A Car in Riviera Maya With Discover Cars

I have been living in Mexico since 2018, and travel frequently within the country. What I am going to explain is my personal experience renting a car about 10 times, in five cities throughout Mexico (including Cancun).

When I book a Mexico car rental online, I recommend and use Discover Cars.

I use them because they have always had the best deals when I’ve searched, and they offer FREE cancellations up to 48 hours before your reservation. Here is the exact process I have followed to get my rental car:

1. Reserve Your Car Online with Discover Cars

Head to the Discover Cars website, and input your travel dates and preferred pick-up location. For more travelers, this will be the airport in the city you’re visiting, which is CUN Airport in Cancun.

⭐️ Only rent from well-rated places

Personally, I don’t rent from locations with less than a 7 out of 10 Stars rating. It’s like the saying goes: You get what you pay for; for me, it’s not worth sacrificing some money for terrible customer service on my vacation.

2. Opt for Full Coverage with Discover Cars

I always opt for their Full Coverage when I rent with Discover Cars — and I’m not alone! According to the Discover Cars site, 85% of customers use their Full Coverage Policy to enjoy peace of mind when renting in Mexico.

For about $7-10 USD per day, Discover Cars covers up to $58,500 pesos (about $3,250 USD) of damage to the rental car. This includes body repair work, dings, scratches, windows/glass, tires, towing, lost keys, and more.

What’s covered with Discover Cars? (And what’s not covered?)

🤔 Will car Rental companies accept this Policy?

Legally, they have to, and personally, any company I have used has accepted this third party policy through Discover Cars. This is just one reason I encourage you to rent from a well-rated company known for good customer service.

What has happened almost every time I’ve rented is that they will try to up-sell me to their insurance, which I decline. As mentioned, the Discover Cars policy does legally satisfy any Mexico car rental insurance requirements.

When you decline the car rental company’s insurance, they will hold about $50,000 pesos ($2,700 USD) on your credit card. When you bring the rental car back with no damage, they return your deposit in full.

If you bring the rental car back with damage, they will take it out of your deposit. From there, you’ll have to make a claim with Discover Cars, which is usually processed in 48 hours or less, according to their site.

As long as the damage is under $58,500 MXN pesos (about $3,250 USD) — which does cover a lot — Discover Cars will reimburse you under their Full Coverage Policy.

🤔 How do I make a Claim with Discover Cars?

If you need to file a claim with Discover Cars, the process is easy. You’ll find your login credentials in your booking confirmation email, which you can use to login via your laptop or the Discover Cars app (📲 Android; 🍎 Apple).

At just $7-10 USD per day, the Discover Cars Full Coverage Policy is far cheaper than any I’ve been offered through the car rental companies themselves. With direct policies, they usually charge about $30 USD per day.

If you would rather get full coverage Mexican insurance from the company directly, you can also do that and still rent with Discover Cars to take advantage of their great rates and NO FEE cancellation policy.

🚨 Disclaimer

This information is my first-hand experience of renting cars about 10 times in five Mexican cities. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing how your rental process will play out, but I do hope this info was helpful for your Mexico trip.

If you need further clarification on Discover Cars, please contact the company directly. You can also read Discover Cars reviews on TrustPilot, where they have a 4.5 out of 5 Star rating, and about 100,000 reviews.

Renting A Car in Riviera Maya: Frequently Asked Questions

That’s not to say bad things don’t happen in Riviera Maya Mexico; they do.

However, if you’re prepared (which you will be after you read this article!), you should be perfectly safe renting a car in Riviera Maya.

For a deep dive into this topic, check out Is Mexico Safe to Travel to Right Now?

The one obvious caveat is that you’ll be driving in a foreign country, with different driving laws than your home country.

Check out these 10 Mexico Driving Tips for Riviera Maya that will help you get comfortable.

With your own car, you can venture off the beaten path in Mexico to see the lesser-visited cenotes, pueblos magicos (magic towns) like Valladolid and Izamal, ancient sites and Mayan Ruins near Riviera Maya.

🛳️ Planning to visit Isla Mujeres or Cozumel Island? You can’t take your rental car to the islands!

Now, if you just want to lay on the best Riviera Maya beaches, drink in hand while soaking up the sun, skip the rental.

Instead, opt for this Riviera Maya to Cancun Airport Transportation Shuttle to your hotel and use taxis or public transportation to get around. To see the sites, you can book these Riviera Maya tours.

For those who aren’t renting a car, the shuttle is the easiest, safest, fastest and best way to get to Cancun Airport to Riviera Maya. 🚌 Check rates and availability for the best private Cancun Airport Shuttles now!

A Cancun Airport car rental is the most convenient, since you’re flying there anyway. You’ll find the most rental car companies there, with a wide range of vehicles to choose from.

While a car rental in Cancun Airport might be a bit more than an off-site agency, you spend more in taxis to get to off-site car rental locations than you save in rental costs.

It also saves you time to rent a car in Cancun Airport — and extra time is the most precious of all travel commodities.

I love renting with Discover Cars because I can see reviews from recent customers. Also, their FREE cancellation policy gives me a lot of piece of mind in case my travel plans change.

5 Tips for renting a car at Cancun Airport

• Rent with a reputable company like Discover Cars, the company I recommend and have used myself about 10 times.
• Take photos and/or video of all scratches, dings and dents to the car’s exterior. You’ll want to do the same for the car’s interior, noting stains, rips in the fabric, etc. 
• Have all your emails accessible with any rental agreement booking information. If you want, you can print them out, though it’s not necessary.
• Some companies will not let you take the car if you don’t have Mexico car insurance, so be prepared with a backup plan.
• When returning your rental car at Cancun Airport, you’ll want to follow the signs for Terminal 2 and 3, and then look for the sign of whichever company you rented from.

They compare local, national and international companies so you always get the best rates from any Riviera Maya car rental services, even in the high season from November to March, when rates are highest.

I’ve found the cheapest Riviera Maya car rentals from Mex Rent A Car, America Car Rental and Yes Rent A Car Cancun, which all have good reviews.

Based on many bad reviews, Fox Rent A Car seems to be the worst place to rent a car in Riviera Maya, so don’t skimp on excellent service for a cheap car rental.

In this article, you’ll see why you can’t believe the first price you see quoted online, and discover your options for Mexican car insurance, which will affect the rental price.

1. A Valid Driver’s License (or IDP)

If you have a valid driver’s license in a language that uses the Roman alphabet (this alphabet), you can rent a car in Riviera Maya with your country’s license.

Drivers from countries like Japan and China, which use the character alphabet, will need to get an International Driving Permit, or IDP. 🪪 Need an IDP? You can apply here.

2. Mexico Car Insurance is mandatory

You do need car insurance to drive in Mexico. There’s a whole section of this article that covers everything you need to know about getting the best Mexican auto insurance, as it’s a big topic.

If you want to jump ahead, use this link to find out all about mandatory insurance in Mexico.

3. A Valid Credit Card or Debit Card

When renting a car in Riviera Maya Mexico, they will swipe your credit or debit card to have on file in the event of damage to the car.

Different companies hold a different amount of money, but it’s usually about $1,000-3,000 USD. When you return the car undamaged, you’ll get that money back.

🚨 Here’s one of my top car rental Riviera Maya Mexico tips: When leaving a card on file for any Riviera Maya car rental, opt for your credit card over debit card.

When you use debit cards, the company will remove the money from your account, meaning you could be out several thousand dollars on your vacation. However, with a credit card, the money is just on hold, rather than taken.

4. with most companies, You must be 25 years old

As with the U.S., anyone aged 25 and older can rent a car in Riviera Maya from any car company without restrictions.

Some companies do rent to drivers aged 21-24, though they often have a $10-20 USD per day surcharge for underage drivers. There is a small minority of Mexico car rental companies in Riviera Maya that rent to drivers aged 18-20.

For 18- to 24-year-olds renting a car in Riviera Maya, please call places directly to see what they offer. Make sure to double check each company’s policy before booking to see which offers the best option for underage renters.

Besides those, some common companies in Mexico that aren’t common in the U.S. include Peugeot and Renault, both French companies.

When I book with Discover Cars, all cars are labeled as automatic or manual (stick shift), so you know what you’re getting.

Note: If you have any general questions like this, don’t hesitate to ask when you pick up your reservation at the car rental agency. They are there to help you be as comfortable driving in Mexico as possible.

If you prefer to use a Mexican company to support the national economy, one of the best car rental companies in Mexico is Mex Rent A Car.

🚙💨 Car Rental Riviera Maya Tips: Wherever you choose to rent a car in Riviera Maya, make sure to read reviews about that particular location.

While some brands and companies are generally considered good overall, many car rental companies are franchises. This means they might have a location that’s sub-par — and you don’t want to rent from there.

Using an aggregate search service like Discover Cars means you get the best deals. As Discover Cars checks all Riviera Maya car rental company options at once, you know you get the best price at the highest-rated companies.

At the minimum, you must have Mexican Personal Liability Insurance to legally drive in Mexico, and some car rental companies won’t let you take their cars unless you purchase it from them.

🤔 Wondering, Do I Need Travel Insurance for Mexico? Legally, no. You don’t need travel insurance to visit Mexico — but you do need Mexico driving insurance to drive in Mexico.

While Mexico car rental companies aren’t legally allowed to make you buy insurance from them. Here, the most you can do is argue with them, and as a worst case scenario, they just won’t let you rent the car.

This has become especially true of people who try to use U.S. credit card insurance. (More on insurance through a credit card in a minute.)

I rent cars in Mexico a few times each year, and have never had any issues using the Full Coverage Policy I have purchased through Discover Cars.

Legally, third party insurance is completely valid.

However, that’s not to say an agent won’t try to up-sell you their company’s insurance. They will! Some companies actually encourage employees to do so — which is why you want to read reviews before booking.

While Mexico car rental companies aren’t technically allowed to make you buy insurance from them, the most you can do is argue with them. As a worst case scenario, they just won’t let you rent the car.

For the least amount of headaches on your Mexico trip, buy insurance from the company you’re renting from. If you get full coverage, you could essentially return it in any condition, and should not have to pay them a single cent.

When I’m renting a car in Mexico, I always use Discover Cars. Their full coverage policies only cost about $7-10 USD per day. ▶︎ Book now with Discover Cars.

With just Personal Liability Insurance, you’ll usually have about a $2,000+ USD deductible. The full coverage deductible is often $0, because you’re already fully covered (though Terms and Conditions can vary by company).

What is a CAR INSURANCE deductible?

If you aren’t familiar with what a deductible is, here’s a quick explanation.

If you have a $5,000 USD deductible, and you cause $5,250 in damages to the car, you will be responsible for paying the $5,000 deductible. The insurance will cover the remaining $250, after you cover the deductible amount.

As what you select will depend on your budget, do know that cheap Mexican car insurance is one of those “you get what you pay for” type of situations.

If you’re wondering what’s the best Mexican car insurance, that would be full coverage with no deductible.

Now, some car companies will let you take a rental car with just CDW insurance; but some won’t since it’s not Personal Liability Insurance.

This is just one more reason I always opt for Full Coverage when I rent with Discover Cars. Their policy means I am fully covered in Mexico for any damages to the car up to $58,500 pesos, and I won’t pay out of pocket.

The last time I rented a car in Mexico City (notoriously more expensive than most Riviera Maya rental agencies), I paid just $10 USD per day for a Discover Cars Full Coverage Policy.

With this I am legally covered in Mexico — and no company can deny my rental.

Horror stories of using credit card insurance in Mexico

I have been in Mexico long enough, and heard enough horror stories, that I always tell people not to rely on credit card insurance.

If you do opt for it, you’ll want to call the credit card company and double check their policies (even the fine print), so you know you’re comfortable with it.

Also, know that if anything happens to the car, you will likely have to pay for 100% of the damages out of pocket when you return the car in Riviera Maya.

You’ll then file a claim with the credit card company, and hope they fully reimburse you 🤞 Spoiler: They don’t always do so!

Purchase Third Party Mexico Car insurance

You can also buy a separate Mexican auto insurance policy from a Mexican insurance company or a U.S. company that works with Mexican insurers, like Baja Bound, Allstate and Geico.

🚙💨 Driving to Mexico with your own car? Get your FREE quote on Mexican Insurance from Baja Bound so you can cross the U.S.-Mexico border without any issues or delays.

This is called Third Party Liability Insurance (sometimes called TPL insurance, or PLI insurance), it is 100% legal.

It is also enough to satisfy the Mexico Personal Liability Insurance requirement.

Depending on where you’re renting, this can be the cheapest Mexico car insurance for drivers who need extra coverage.

Purchase general Mexico travel insurance With a car insurance add on

Another option is to purchase a travel insurance policy for Mexico, and get an upgrade to include your Riviera Maya rental car.

For this, purchase the Explorer Plan with World Nomads, one of the best Mexican travel insurance providers and top names in travel insurance.

↳ Click here to get your FREE quote with World Nomads travel insurance.

How this is legal anywhere, we may never know, but here’s the rundown:

Months before writing this article, I booked a Miami rental car online. When I picked it up, I had to pay $200 USD in extra charges, taxes and additional insurance costs.

If this has also happened to you, you’re already familiar with the “Mexico car rental scam” — which isn’t exclusive to Mexico at all.

If you’re lucky enough to have never fallen victim, the scam in question is that most renters don’t read the fine print (who does?!) and aren’t aware of the fees, taxes, etc., that get tacked on.

For many, the price you end up paying is double what you saw online when you booked the car.

How to avoid the Riviera Maya rental car travel scam

When renting a car in Mexico, you may see rates as low as $5-10 USD per day — and if this seems too good to be true, it is.

This base cost doesn’t factor in a whole slew of fees, taxes and the legally-required Mexico car rental insurance, all of which you do have to pay for.

To avoid this most notorious of Mexico travel scams, simply double the price you see online listed as the base price for the car if you’re taking the minimum insurance, and triple it for full coverage.

This new amount is closer to what you end up paying anyway — and now you won’t feel scammed.

✅ Best way to calculate Riviera Maya car rental costs

For a car rental listed online at $10 USD per day, assume you’ll pay closer to $20 per day for this car with taxes, fees and Mexico Personal Liability Insurance (minimum required coverage).

For this same car with full Mexican insurance coverage, plan to pay about $30 USD per day.

Annoying? Yes, it sure is. However, this is just how car rental companies seem to work. The price you see listed is the starting price or base price, but won’t be the final price.

3 Other common Riviera Maya travel scams

📑 Extra Insurance Scam

Unless you purchase Mexico car insurance from the rental agency directly, they will try to upsell you extra services and coverage that they provide.

There is no need to pay this extra insurance cost if you already have a full Coverage Policy coverage — which I purchase when renting with Discover Cars, as it’s the cheapest I’ve seen.

⛽️ Non-Reset Pump Scam

In Mexico, you don’t pump your own gas. When you get to the pump, there will be an attendant who pumps and takes your payment.

When you pull up, make sure the pump is zeroed out — meaning the pump is set to $0. Some attendants will even ask you to verify before they start pumping.

💸 Quick Change scam

This is a pretty standard bill swap, or wrong payment scam.

If you’re paying in cash, count the bills one by one in front of the attendant, otherwise they can quickly change the bills with sleight of hand after you hand them the money.

With this scam, they’d take your money and quickly swap out a $500 peso bill with a $20 peso bill, saying you gave them a $20 MXN pesos when it should have been a $500 — you’ll then give them a $500, which they will pocket.

This has never happened to me in Mexico, as I pay with a credit card.

10 Riviera Maya Driving Tips for Mexico

Wondering, Is it easy to drive in Mexico? For the most part, it’s not too dissimilar from the U.S. or Canada. However, here are 10 things to keep in mind when driving in Mexico:

1. Avoid driving at night in Mexico

When you live in Mexico as long as I have, you realize many people simply avoid driving at night, if possible. If you do drive at night, stick to only main roads and paid highways, called cuota roads.

2. Always use the cuota roads (toll roads in Mexico)

In Mexico, there are libre roads (free roads), and cuota roads (paid toll roads).

For longer drives, and when traveling between cities, always opt for the cuota roads. While they do cost more, they are better maintained and generally considered safer for drivers.

💸 Car Rental Riviera Maya Tips: When driving in Riviera Maya, make sure to have small bills and coins to pay for the tolls. Some rental cars come with an automatic toll payment system or pre-paid card, but most don’t.

3. Beware of topes (speed bumps)

Mexico roads are notorious for an abundance of topes (speed bumps).

While some roads have bright yellow road signs that do alert you to the topes, keep your eyes on the road at all times, as some topes don’t have a sign — and can cause serious damage to your Riviera Maya rental car.

4. Download an offline map for driving in Riviera Maya

Your cell signal may go in and out as you’re driving in Riviera Maya, especially when venturing to more rural places in the Yucatan Peninsula — so you’ll want to download an offline map from Google Maps or Maps.Me.

📲 Car Rental Riviera Maya Tips: For the best possible cell signal, get a Mexico SIM Card.

5. Don’t use your cell phone while driving in Mexico

Not only is it unsafe to use your phone while driving, it’s also illegal in Mexico.

In fact, even just holding your phone is an easy way for you to get pulled over. When packing for Mexico, don’t forget to bring this hands-free phone holder for the rental car.

🇲🇽 Mexico Fun Fact: It’s also illegal to put on make-up or shave while driving.

6. Mexico speed limits are in kilometers per hour

Mexico street signs are not in not miles per hour; they are in kilometers per hour! For those who are curious, 1 mile is 1.6 kilometers.

Rather than having to do math as you’re driving in Riviera Maya, just make sure the number on the speed limit sign matches the number on your speedometer.

As you might imagine, the street signs and highway signs in Mexico are also in Spanish. Here are a few you’ll want to know:

• Alto: Stop
• Retorno: Turn-around, which is where you make legal U-turns
• Entrada: Entrance
• Salida: Exit
• Restringido: Restricted area
• Prohibido: Entry prohibited

7. Riviera Maya gas stations are not self-serve

When you stop for gas, an attendant will pump it for you and take the payment. Many attendants don’t work for the gas station, and live off tips.

When they finish, it’s customary to tip them $10-20 Mexican pesos ($0.50-1 USD), or more if you ask them to perform a service like checking your tires.

8. Window cleaners may approach you at stop lights

When you’re at stop lights in Riviera Maya, you may be approached by someone offering to clean the car windshield.

There’s no set amount to pay for this, but $10 pesos ($0.50 USD) is a standard amount — and well worth it for a nice, clean windshield.

9. Mexico traffic lights have an extra step

In Mexico, stop lights go from green to yellow, to flashing yellow for a few seconds, to finally, a red light. Some lights go from green to flashing green for a few seconds, to yellow, to finally, a red light.

🚦 Car Rental Riviera Maya Tips: You are still legally supposed to stop at the yellow light, just like in the U.S.

10. Yes, Mexico cops do take bribes

If the cops pull you over — and they usually only will if you give them a reason to — they often expect a cash “payment” in exchange for not ticketing you.

The best ways to insure this doesn’t happen to you is to: 1) not speed, 2) not be on your phone, and 3) not break any other Mexico driving laws.

Now, I’m not in any way defending this practice, and what I am about to say might be controversial for some. However, the easiest way to make this problem go away is by paying them 🤷‍♀️

The worst thing you can do is argue because they can take you to jail — and is that where you want to spend your Riviera Maya vacation?

👮‍♀️ Article 152 & Tarjeton Turistico

About 10 years ago, the Mexican government implemented Article 152, though efforts fell flat.

The Tarjetón Turístico tourist card was intended to end police bribes on tourists, so it’s sad the program failed, but if you see anything about Mexico Article 152 online, it’s no longer operational.

Final Thoughts: Renting A Car in Riviera Maya Mexico

Driving in Riviera Maya is generally considered safe, and renting a car in Riviera Maya Mexico is a simple, hassle-free process.

For the sake of convenience, just pick your rental up at Cancún International Airport (code: CUN) when you fly in, as it has plenty of international and local agencies on site.

One of the most important things to keep in mind for a Mexico car rental, is to rent with a reputable company like Discover Cars. I also recommend their Full Coverage Policy, which I always use.

If not, make sure you also purchase Mexican car insurance, as you’re not covered in any way through your U.S. or Canadian policy.

Looking to rent a car in other parts of Mexico?

Check out these linked guides so you understand the process at car rental agencies throughout the country, and you avoid getting scammed when renting a car in Mexico.

🚙 Renting a car in Yucatan Peninsula

• Renting a Car in Cancun Mexico
• Renting a Car in Tulum Mexico
• Renting a Car in Playa del Carmen
• Renting a Car in Merida Mexico

🚙 Renting a car in Baja Mexico

• Renting a Car in Cabo San Lucas
• Renting a Car in San Jose del Cabo
• Renting a Car in La Paz Mexico
• Renting a Car in Loreto Mexico

🚙 Renting a car in central Mexico

• Renting a Car in Mexico City
• Renting a Car in Puerto Vallarta
• Renting a Car in Oaxaca Mexico
• Renting a Car in Puerto Escondido
• Renting a Car in Huatulco Mexico