Cancun Car Rental Tips to Avoid Scams & Extra Fees

Renting a car in Cancun gave us the freedom to explore the Riviera Maya at our own pace, and we were very glad we had one for our month-long family trip. But we also learned a couple of important lessons that I wish we had known before picking up our rental car at the Cancun airport.

The biggest one is to understand exactly what is included in your Cancun car rental before you book. An extremely cheap advertised rate may not reflect the full amount you will pay once mandatory Mexican insurance, fees and deposits are taken into account. We learned that lesson the hard way at the rental counter.

We also had an uncomfortable experience at a gas station near Playa del Carmen that changed how we handled every fuel stop for the rest of our trip.

This Cancun car rental advice isn’t meant to scare you away from driving in Mexico. We would absolutely rent a car there again, and we have since had a much better rental experience on subsequent family trips to Mexico.

Instead, these practical Cancun car rental tips will help you know what to look for in your rental agreement, understand local car rental insurance and avoid some of the common problems tourists can encounter when renting and fuelling a car in Mexico.

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Cancun Car Rental Advice: Understand the Full Price Before You Book

One of the biggest lessons we learned from renting a car in Cancun was to read the rental terms very carefully before booking. A surprisingly low advertised price does not necessarily mean that is what you will pay when you pick up the car.

We learned this the hard way on our first family trip to the Yucatan Peninsula.

When I started looking at Cancun car rentals, I found some ridiculously cheap rates. I knew they seemed too good to be true, but I talked myself into believing that things were simply cheaper in Mexico and that we were getting a great rate because we were renting for several weeks. I was wrong.

Our Experience With a Cheap Cancun Car Rental

When we arrived at the Cancun Airport rental counter, we learned that the advertised price did not represent what we would actually have to pay to drive away with the car.

The rental included only a relatively low level of third-party liability coverage. Our rental company refused to give us the keys unless we purchased a higher level of liability insurance.

By the time the required insurance, airport fees and taxes were added, our daily rental price was many times higher than the price we had originally booked.

The frustrating part was that the final price itself wasn’t unreasonable for a midsize rental car. What bothered me was arriving in Mexico expecting to pay one amount and then learning at the counter that the real cost was significantly higher.

It was an aggravating way to start our family trip, especially because I was just as annoyed with myself for not understanding the rental terms before booking.

Car Rental Insurance in Mexico

Third-party liability insurance is required for vehicles in Mexico, so insurance is one of the most important things to understand when comparing Cancun car rental prices.

The key question isn’t simply “Does this rental include insurance?”

You need to know:

• What insurance is already included in the quoted price?
• How much third-party liability coverage is included?
• Is additional insurance required by the rental company before they will release the car?
• Which coverages are optional?
• What is the deductible?
• What deposit or credit card hold will be required at pickup?
• Are airport fees and taxes already included?

Don’t assume your credit card insurance will solve the problem either. Before travelling, check exactly what your credit card rental-car coverage and personal auto insurance cover in Mexico. Neither of my credit cards provided the third-party liability coverage we needed on that trip. I understand most credit card coverage does not work in Mexico.

Mexico’s consumer protection agency, Profeco, also recommends reviewing exactly which insurance policies are included in the rental price and the cost, coverage and exclusions of any additional insurance being offered.

Cheap Cancun Car Rental Prices Are Still Advertised

Unfortunately, this isn’t just something we encountered years ago.

While updating this post, I checked Cancun car rentals on Expedia again and found the same type of extremely low advertised rental prices. That doesn’t automatically mean there is anything wrong with the rental, but I would never book based on the headline daily price alone.

Click through to the rental conditions and look closely at what is included. The cheapest rental can become considerably more expensive once you add the insurance and fees required to actually pick up the car.

This is especially important when comparing rental companies. A higher advertised price that includes the required insurance may ultimately be a much better deal than a rental with an unbelievably low daily rate.

We Had a Much Better Car Rental Experience in Oaxaca

Thankfully, we’ve also had a much better experience renting a car in Mexico.

On a later family trip to Oaxaca, I booked directly through Europcar Mexico. The rate included the mandatory Mexican insurance we needed, so the price I booked was much closer to the true cost of the rental.

That experience showed me that renting a car in Mexico doesn’t have to involve a surprise at the counter. You simply need to compare the total rental cost, rather than choosing a car based on the lowest advertised daily rate.

Check the Deposit or Credit Card Hold Too

Insurance isn’t the only detail to look for in the rental terms. Our Cancun rental company also placed a very large hold on my credit card while we had the car. This wasn’t an additional charge, but it temporarily reduced the available credit on my card by a significant amount.

Before booking, check the security deposit or credit card hold required by the rental company. This can vary considerably depending on the company, vehicle and insurance coverage you choose.

For a longer family trip, a large hold can be especially inconvenient if you’re relying on the same credit card for hotels, restaurants and activities.

Our Advice for Renting a Car in Cancun

Despite this frustrating start, I’m still very glad we rented a car in Cancun. Having our own vehicle gave us much more flexibility and made exploring the Riviera Maya with our kids significantly easier.

I would absolutely rent a car in Mexico again. I would just approach the booking differently.

Don’t choose your Cancun rental car based only on the advertised daily price. Read the full rental terms, understand exactly what insurance is included, check what you will be required to purchase at pickup and confirm the deposit amount before you book.

If the total cost still looks good after you’ve accounted for all of that, then you’ve found the price that actually matters.

Once you’ve booked your rental car, be sure to read our advice on driving in the Yucatan Peninsula before your trip.

2. Gas Station Tips for Driving in Mexico

Our Cancun car rental experience wasn’t the only lesson we learned while driving in the Riviera Maya. We also learned very quickly that it pays to pay attention when filling up your rental car.

Before our first fill-up, I had already read warnings about tourists having problems at some gas stations in Mexico. I thought I was prepared, but apparently I wasn’t prepared enough…

Our First Gas Station Experience Near Playa del Carmen

On our first fill-up, I stopped at a Pemex station just outside Xpu-Ha Beach, one of our favourite public beaches near Playa del Carmen.

The attendants were incredibly friendly as I pulled in. They were smiling and waving me towards their pumps, and I let my guard down a little. Because I was already wary of having a problem, I deliberately asked for only a small amount of gas.

When the attendant finished, I started the car and immediately noticed something didn’t seem right. The fuel gauge had barely moved. So I backed the car up enough that I could see the pump again.

The attendant was standing beside it pointing at the number I had requested, seemingly to show me that I had received exactly what I had paid for. But I could see that he appeared to be covering part of the pump display with his hands.

I knew something didn’t add up, but I wasn’t confident enough about what I had just seen to challenge him. Being a polite Canadian who tends to avoid confrontation didn’t help either.

So I drove away annoyed with myself and determined that it wasn’t going to happen again. For the rest of our trip, I paid much closer attention every time we stopped for gas.

Be Careful at Gas Stations on Busy Tourist Routes

The location of that first gas station didn’t help. It was directly along the main tourist route between Xcaret and Xel-Há, two of the most popular eco parks in the Riviera Maya. It was an extremely convenient place for visitors driving rental cars to stop for fuel.

After our experience there, I started filling up at a gas station in Playa del Carmen instead. It was farther away from the main tourist highway and the busiest visitor areas. We had much better experiences there.

I wouldn’t assume that every gas station on a tourist route will be a problem, of course. But after what happened to us, I preferred filling up away from the busiest tourist stops when it was convenient.

Get Out of the Car and Watch the Pump

The biggest change I made was very simple: I got out of the rental car and watched the entire fuelling process.

This initially felt surprisingly uncomfortable. Back home in Canada, we’re used to handling our own fuel stops. Standing beside an attendant and closely watching what they were doing felt a little rude.

But after our first experience near Xpu-Ha, I got over that feeling pretty quickly. You don’t need to be confrontational. I would simply get out of the car, greet the attendant with a smile and pay attention while they filled the tank.

Make Sure the Pump Starts at Zero

Before the attendant begins fuelling, check that the pump has been reset to zero. This became the most important thing I watched for at every gas station after our first experience.

I would then continue watching the pump as the fuel was dispensed. Rather than getting back into the car or becoming distracted by the kids, I stayed beside the vehicle until the fill-up was finished.

The goal isn’t to make anyone uncomfortable. It’s simply much easier to understand exactly what you’re paying for when you’ve watched the transaction from beginning to end.

Pay Attention When You Pay

We also became much more deliberate about paying. If you’re paying cash, know what bills you’re handing over and count them clearly before passing them to the attendant. If you’re receiving change, count that too before getting back in your car.

Our Mexico Gas Station Routine

After that first experience, buying gas in Mexico became pretty straightforward. This was the routine that worked well for us:

1. Get out of the car and greet the attendant.
2. Make sure the pump starts at zero.
3. Clearly state how much fuel you want.
4. Stay beside the car and watch while the fuel is dispensed.
5. Check the final amount before paying.
6. Count your cash and your change carefully.

Once I started doing this, we didn’t have another problem buying gas during the rest of our trip.

Don’t Let This Put You Off Driving in Mexico

I also don’t want our experience to make it sound like we spent our entire trip dealing with dishonest businesses. Our car rental pickup and that first gas station visit were the two frustrating experiences from our month in Mexico. The vast majority of the people and businesses we dealt with were friendly, helpful and honest.

We were also very glad we had rented a car. It gave us the freedom to explore the Riviera Maya at our own pace and worked extremely well for our family.

My advice is simply to pay attention when filling up. Get out of the car, watch the pump, take your time when paying and don’t be afraid to ask questions if something doesn’t look right. A little extra attention at the gas station can save you a lot of frustration later.

Plan a Trip to the Riviera Maya with Kids

If you are currently in the Riviera Maya or are planning a trip there, don’t miss our blog post on visiting the Riviera Maya with kids. It’s packed full of planning tips, exciting family activities and links to all of our Mayan Riviera blog posts. It’s sure to help make your family trip a memorable one!

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