Mexico - Cancun: $99/week AI for Hertz rental car is ok?

Hello everybody,

Just received mail with $99/week Hertz offer. Is this price reasonable, or you reccomend to look for something locally? What extra fees are applicable while renting?

Thx for help

Hello everybody,

Just received mail with $99/week Hertz offer. Is this price reasonable, or you reccomend to look for something locally? What extra fees are applicable while renting?

Thx for help

Insurance is a biggie. I was also going to rent from hertz, but after I read numerous horror stories regarding this specific station (forcing insurance, finding non-existent damage on the rental car, long waits, total disregard for the customer), I decided to take my business elsewhere and will now be renting from Avis.

The $99/week is a good deal, but it will probably escalate (double or more) due to the agency insisting on extra for insurance. Insurance is imperative because Mexican law puts you in jail until you prove yourself innocent particularly as a foreigner. CDW does not protect you; it protects the rental agency for damage to the vehicle. Be sure that the vehicle comes with proper liability insurance.

The hidden extra cost of insurance is prevalent not only in Mexico but in much of Latin America including Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador. And, Hertz is not the only one doing it. Going to Avis or Budget will not help.

Having ridden with you, I know that you are a good driver, but that does not protect you from drivers in Mexico, both foreign and domestic as well as the vagaries of the local police.

That said, I have driven extensively in Mexico with minor difficulty. It did cost 200 pesos one time for an alleged illegal turn.

Insisting that you only speak Polish might or might not be helpful, but I doubt any local police will be able to respond.

Going to Avis or Budget will not help.


Actually, my understanding is that Avis is the only company that includes Liability insurance in its base rate, so they don't insist on you buying their insurance if you have your own (i.e, credit card insurance).

BB

A few years back I had a CUN Avis rental for a week,
under $200 all-in which I found unusually low.
No problems, just look the car over of course.

Now, the local police in Merida, that is another story:
"Lets go to the Station".

Actually, my understanding is that Avis is the only company that includes Liability insurance in its base rate, so they don't insist on you buying their insurance if you have your own (i.e, credit card insurance).

BB

This is exactly what I was referring to above. Many travelers have a misconception that liability insurance is provided by a credit card. All credit cards in my experience provide CDW which pays for damage to the car in the event of accident. They do not provide liability insurance which is what helps you get out of jail.

I have rented from Avis in Mexico, not in Cancun, but other airports and have been hit with additional insurance charges. YMMV, maybe the Avis franchise in Cancun is different. Just do not count on it.

This is exactly what I was referring to above. Many travelers have a misconception that liability insurance is provided by a credit card. All credit cards in my experience provide CDW which pays for damage to the car in the event of accident. They do not provide liability insurance which is what helps you get out of jail.

I have rented from Avis in Mexico, not in Cancun, but other airports and have been hit with additional insurance charges. YMMV, maybe the Avis franchise in Cancun is different. Just do not count on it.

Opushomes,

Great to hear from you :)
Thx for your feedback - it's really helpful. So I assume it's better to agree for full day with taxi driver I suppose...

Opushomes,

Great to hear from you :)
Thx for your feedback - it's really helpful. So I assume it's better to agree for full day with taxi driver I suppose...

Kris, You are a year late for SinDo.

I didn't say that at all. I drive quite comfortably in Mexico. The drive south to Akumal is quite easy. In fact, if you have time you can make it to the Belize border. Since I have not driven in Cancun proper, I cannot legitimately comment on driving conditions in the city, but I expect that it is somewhat chaotic as in most Mexican cities. The road on the hotel row is four lanes with moderate traffic.

I find it easier to just hop on the local bus to go to dinner and come back. To see much of the area, I normally rent a car although Cancun is not a normal destination from Portland. That said, Marsha and I have been there 3 or 4 times in the past.

I think that you get to see more of the country by going on your own. The increased risk is in an infrequent accident and an encounter with the police. I believe that if you want to go North (west) toward Merida you have to drive through the city. Driving is not crazy like in Italy or Romania.

BTW: The roads are normally well maintained but often have no shoulders. In addition, as is very frequent in Latin America, there are Topes (sleeping cows/burros in Argentina) that will rip the wheels off the vehicle if you hit them at any sort of speed. They are often not marked with a sign and may consist of many things including raised concrete, asphalt, big steel 1/2 spheres and other assorted configurations. Just slow way down and negotiate them very slowly. You will find them for sure at the entrance to towns and often in built up areas. Here in the politically correct U.S., we call them "speed bumps" or "traffic calming devices". Outside of towns be on the look out for cattle and other critters wandering on the roads.

Drive defensively, be observant and enjoy. It is much more interesting to pull over at something that appears interesting than instructing a driver to do it for you.

Many thx for your help. I survived in Naples driving there for couple of days so it'll be good in Mexico ;)

I'm renting a car this weekend to drive from CUN to Rivera Maya and back. We don't plan on using the car otherwise. My current rental is with National. I am staying away from Hertz, per the advice above.

Some questions ...

- Is there another company that's a better choice in terms of honest dealings? Price seems to be comparable among all.

- National tells me 9.99/day liability is automatically added and CDW 19.99/day is optional. How are these rates compared to other companies?

- Can I get away with liability only and no CDW, or would you experts recommend both? I have Amex Gold card but they tell me they only cover what my personal auto insurance does not, and my insurance co tells me I have no coverage in Mexico.

TIA. First trip to Mexico.

... In addition, as is very frequent in Latin America, there are Topes ... that will rip the wheels off the vehicle if you hit them at any sort of speed. They are often not marked with a sign and may consist of many things including raised concrete, asphalt, big steel 1/2 spheres and other assorted configurations. Just slow way down and negotiate them very slowly. You will find them for sure at the entrance to towns and often in built up areas...This cannot be overemphasized! If you see a vehicle in front of you slowing to a crawl, for no other obvious reason, one of these is probably why. (There's a yellow pyramid-shaped plastic variety, often stretched across a road on a rope, that looks innocuous but isn't.)

To make things worse, in places where the topes come before something (e.g., on entering a town) they may be placed only on the right side of the road as a money-saving measure. Locals, knowing this, avoid them by driving on the other side. (Rules about keeping to the right are advisory at best in much of Latin America.) Some of those drivers are distracted, don't expect oncoming traffic, or just don't care. Keep your eyes open!

Hertz clearly states that for Mexico, the required liability is included in their base rates. I have used Hertz several times, and they didn't care at all what insurance we purchased. They are nice enough -- very busy though as I believe they have the best base rates at the Cancun airport for a compact car.

From Hertz' web site (for Mexico)
Third Party Liability coverage is provided for all rentals, up to USD 35,000.00 per accident.

Additional coverage is available by purchasing the optional ALI (Additional Liability Coverage) at the time of rental. The cost for ALI is

USD 13.00 per day, and increases the total coverage to USD 450,000.00.

Hope this helps.

As a side note:
They do have timeshare salespeople at the office that I didn't like -- if someone is overly nice in the office and offering to "go get your car for you" and give you advice on where to buy gas (duh, gasoline stations are government run in Mexico), just be aware. It's very CANCUNish

Kris,

Did you go? And, if so, how was the trip?