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Car Rental in Canun

azdave

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Hey Guys. What company have you had luck with from the airport. We will be renting a car from 4/12-4/23. Thanks
 

SMHarman

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Did you have to buy extra insurance or was it included in the price?
I rented on the Blvd
Jeep Compas for 612MX USD ~$30 and paid another 215MX ~$10 additional liability.

Was only a day last minute, booked the noght before.

Airport is way cheaper but not worth the schlepping for a day.

Next trip to CUN / WLR I would likely rent for the duration from the airport. Costs less than the airport transfer and you can do the trips at your own pace not in a bus rolling from hotel to hotel.
 

Phydeaux

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I've rented from a number of different agencies over the years. Last year it was America Car Rental.

This year, however, my research lead me to Avant. I will post my experiences with them upon my return.
 

lauraleigh9mm

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Avis for me as well. Also invest in a gamin with Mexico maps, like $100-$150 worth EVERY penny.
 

belor

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Regarding the Garmin, if you want to save a few $s, Google Maps allows you to save regions "offline", so if your phone doesn't have data, you can still have the map handy. Doesn't do directions (at least don't think so), but for use as a map and reference to where you are, I've been using it to drive all over the Yucatan peninsula and never had a problem.
 

easyrider

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Worldmark * * Villa Del Palmar UVCI * * Vacation Internationale*
This trip we are renting a full size from Alamo. Alamo requires you to purchase their 3rd party liability insurance, but even so, has a bigger car for less money. We use American Express upgraded rental car insurance to protect the car.

Our original reservation was a mid sized with Avis but we needed a larger vehicle. Im glad we took the bigger car as some of our excursions have been Coba, Tulum, Playa del Carmen and all over Cancun.

Bill
 

cubigbird

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We go to Cancun many times but I am a bit apprehensive to renting a car in Mexico overall. To avoid any shenanigans with the Policia Federal or Municipal what do you use as a drivers permit? I would also be apprehensive handing them my US drivers license as I have heard horror stories of having to try to get it back. Would an international drivers license from AAA suffice? I know they are good for a year but if they attempt to take that, they can keep it. What insurance exactly do you need to buy - damage waivers and liability??
 

easyrider

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The only thing that is sometimes hard to navigate, for me anyway, is Cancun is laid out in a wheel pattern instead of a grid pattern. At night, it is difficult for me to navigate the many roundabouts. When possible, I avoid the areas where I will need to use 5 roundabouts at night to travel through Cancun central.

I have the AAA international drivers license and have used it once in Naryat. The police looked at it and let me go without a problem.

Last night on our return to Cancun we were stopped at a check point. They asked me where I was coming from and I said Cancun. They asked me where I was going and I said Cancun. After thinking about it, I think my answer was wrong as I was heading to Cancun from Coba. Anyway, they smiled and told me to go.

All in all, I don't think the aaa international drivers license is a bad idea but the reality is you will only get pulled over for a violation and will likely be let go because your a tourist.

Regarding insurance, many credit cards have a 0 deductible coverage on the car when you use that card. All of the rental companies are required to have the minimum 3rd party liability on the car. If you are in a rental car in Mexico it will have the liability coverage. Some companies charge for this and others offer the minimum coverage in the quoted rate with an option to purchase a better liability coverage if you want it.

Bill
 

Aekatty

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Cancun car rental..ugh!

I just went to Playa Del Carmen for Valentine's Day. I rented an SUV from National over the Internet on car rentals.com. I was forced to pay an extra $20/ day for liability insurance and had a 2500$ hold put on my credit card. Annoying and smarmy, but not life-shattering or vacation-ruining. I would probably save the grief and buy it online at booking.

Longer version:

At the airport, I breezed past the timeshare guys claiming to offer transportation. I was met by National van driver and taken to rental place about half a mile away.

There, National runs a scam, and honestly? They have you a bit over a barrel if it is after dark and you are not real savvy re: Cancun. I go to Cozumel a lot, but it had been at least 5 years since Cancun.

Upon arrival, I was told that I could not rent the car unless I bought their insurance. In Mexico, the only mandatory insurance is actually included in the rental price by law. When this was pointed out, the counter guy shrugged and said, "meh, we are a franchise and our manager requires purchase of additional liability insurance or proof of coverage in Mexico." My US credit card auto insurance doesn't travel to Mexico, and I had actually looked in to buying a policy for Mexico, but could not do it without a residence there.

So, it was either walk away, try to hail a cab to go in the dark to playa del Carmen or couh up the extra dough for the 3rd party liability insurance for 20/day.

The only solace that I carried away was that 1) I called National and verified this was Mexican franchise policy, and 2) it was equally imposed against English and Spanish speakers.
 

easyrider

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The Avis rate is usually higher than the other agencies and does include the 3rd party liability. They do place a hold on your credit card for about $2500 usd if you decline their insurances. All major agencies place a hold on your card when you decline their insurance.

Alamo is pretty easy to deal with as in the terms and conditions within the reservation it spells out the terms. I like that if you join the Alamo insider you get the additional driver free.

Hertz & Budget include the 3rd party liability but you may have to prove it. I rented from Budget about a month ago in PV and was given the run around regarding insurance. I had called Budget, like I do with any Mexico rental reservation, to verify that the insurance was included. It was and my paper work also verified this.

I think the biggest problems are reported from those who do not rent directly from the agencies, and instead use expedia, orbitz and other discounters. This works well in the USA but not so good for Mexico.

Bill
 

Phydeaux

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Liking the hell out of Avant thus far.

Very impressed with pickup, vehicle - brand new 2016, and all communications.

Will provide a full report after return in a couple weeks.

So far, this is the finest rental company I've dealt with out of Cancun airport in 24 years.

Let's see how the return goes. I anticipate no problems. I think I found a new rental company!!:whoopie:
 

Helene4

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America car rental. All fees and insurances included. Window and tires extra. We were traveling down the coast and with all the topes ( speed bumps) figured we might need it. Good, reliable car. They are off site. Will pick you up at the airport and drive you to their office.
Make sure to ask for Articulo 159? It is a sort of pass for tourists to be given to the police if stopped. Obey the speed limits ( which can change 8 times in a 1 mile stretch!) and you shouldn't get stopped.
 

easyrider

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America car rental. All fees and insurances included. Window and tires extra. We were traveling down the coast and with all the topes ( speed bumps) figured we might need it. Good, reliable car. They are off site. Will pick you up at the airport and drive you to their office.
Make sure to ask for Articulo 159? It is a sort of pass for tourists to be given to the police if stopped. Obey the speed limits ( which can change 8 times in a 1 mile stretch!) and you shouldn't get stopped.

It is articulo 152. This is a privledge granted tourists who are pulled over and is subjective to the officer. The officer 1. can let you go 2. let you to the police station to ask for the article 152 3. let you pay the fine on the spot (bribe) 4. take your drivers license and make you go to the police station.

If you have an AAA international drivers license you can place $20 usd in the pages regarding Mexico and give it the officer when pulled over. If they have to tell you how much the fine is they will start at $1000 pecos which can be negotiated down to $500 pecos which is about $40.

I was nailed near my resort last Thursday and didn't have my AAA kit with me. It costed $500 pecos. They asked for $1000 pecos. A semi truck was blocking a roundabout and the police were blocking it as well. A police waved me on so I looked to see if traffic was coming and slowly merged without going around the roundabout. About 1/2 mile down the road a police truck flashed me over and told us that we bypassed the roundabout. I told him I was waved through by the other police. The spanish speaker in our car argued with the police for 3 minutes and told me they wanted $1000 pecos. I ended up giving them $500 pecos. They like the bribe wrapped or concealed. The entire deal took about 5 minutes. Using the AAA international license with the twenty takes less time. They just take the international drivers license and remove the twenty and give the license back.

Bill
 

Helios

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I have rented from Avis and used Amex insurance.
 

rpennisi

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Article 152

ARTICULO 152: - Se establece en el municipio la boleta de infracción de cortesía que se aplicara exclusivamente a turistas que infrinjan este ordenamiento. Esta infracción de cortesía no implica costo alguno a los turistas, siendo su objetivo señalar la violación cometida y exhortar a conducir cumpliendo con las reglas de transito. La sanción de cortesía es aplicada hasta en dos ocasiones al mismo vehiculo y/o conductor y no procede en los casos de actos y omisiones graves contrarios a lo que se dispone en el presente reglamento.

Article 152: - is established in the municipality infringement ballot courtesy applies only to tourists who violate this order. This breach of courtesy is no cost to tourists, the aim being to point out the violation and driving urge compliance with traffic rules . The penalty courtesy is applied twice to the same vehicle and / or driver and is not appropriate in cases of serious acts and omissions contrary to what is provided in this regulation.
 
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