Renting a Car in Tulum: What You Need to Know So You Don’t Get Scammed

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Looking into Tulum Car Rentals for your trip?

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 Tulum, Mexico. I’ve rented cars in six cities in Mexico (including Tulum), 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 a rental car in Mexico that will boost your confidence.

First and foremost, most travelers want to know about the best place to rent a car in Tulum Mexico.

When I rent a car in Mexico, I recommend and always use Discover Cars, and you’ll see why in this article.

⭐️ OUR PICK

BEST MEXICO CAR RENTAL COMPANY

When booking my Tulum car rental online, I recommend and use Discover Cars.

Discover Cars searches international corporations and local Mexican companies, so you get the best deal. They also offer FREE cancellation, so you’re covered even if plans change.

→ Check Rates & Availability Now

If you’ve looked for tips on renting a car in Tulum Mexico, you may have encountered conflicting info. There are official rules for how to rent a car in Tulum — 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 Tulum 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 Tulum.

Ready to learn the ins and outs of renting a car in Tulum?

Let’s get to it, starting with my personal experience renting a car in Mexico with Discover Cars, and ending with the frequently asked questions about renting cars in Tulum Mexico.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

Renting A Car in Mexico 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 Tulum).

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:

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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 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: Please read

This information is my first-hand experience of renting cars about 10 times in six Mexican cities.

Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing how your rental process will play out — I can only share what has been my lived experience. What I can say is that 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 4.6 out of 5 Star rating, and about 150,000 reviews.

Want more info on renting a car in Tulum Mexico? You can read more about why I love Discover Cars in this article, Discover Cars Mexico Review: Should You Use Them? (Hint: You should, and I do too!)

Renting a Car in Tulum Mexico: FAQ

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

However, if you’re prepared (which you will be by the end of this article), you should be perfectly safe renting a car in Tulum and driving in Tulum.

For a deep dive into this topic, check out Is Tulum Safe to Travel to Right Now? and this Tulum Solo Travel Guide if you’re planning a solo trip to Tulum Mexico.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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 Tulum that will help you get comfortable.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

How are the roads in Tulum Mexico?

Most roads in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which includes Quintana Roo State roads, Riviera Maya roads and Tulum roads, are quite good and generally well-maintained.

Unless you’re venturing off the beaten path on a road trip, you’ll be just fine with mid-size or economy cars.

If you’re planning to drive in the more rural parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, consider a full-size car, Jeep or SUV.

Note: You can also find SUV and Jeep rental Tulum options on the Discover Cars site, as well as sports cars and other speciality vehicles.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

Still wondering, Do you need to rent a car in Tulum? or Should you rent a car in Tulum? It really depends on your Tulum travel itinerary.

You’ll find an explanation below for why you should, and why you should not.

🟢 Here’s Why you should rent a car in Tulum

Remember that Tulum car rentals allow you the freedom to go where you want, and at your own pace. While I do love Tulum tours, you do have to follow their schedule.

Even if you don’t want a rental for your entire trip, you can do a one day car or truck rental on the days you plan to use the car all day.

With your own car, you can venture off the beaten path to the lesser-visited beaches near Tulum.

These include the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, Playa Punta Allen Beach, Playa Xpu-Ha Beach and Playa Maroma Beach — home to the best overwater bungalows in Mexico.

There’s also amazing Yucatan pueblos magicos (Mexico magic towns) nearby, like Lake Bacalar, AKA “The Lagoon of Seven Colors,” Valladolid and “The Yellow City” of Izamal, located in Yucatan state.

🏝 Looking for more Tulum things to do? You have plenty of options, including swimming in the Tulum cenotes and going snorkeling in Tulum.

🛑 Here’s Why you should not rent a car in Tulum

Now, if you just want to lay on a Tulum Beach, drink in hand while soaking up the sun — skip the rental car in Tulum Mexico!

Instead, opt for this private Cancun to Tulum shuttle with Cancun Airport Transportation to your hotel and use taxis to get around. To see the sites, you can book these best Tulum tours instead.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

If you prefer to use a Mexican company to support the local economy, four of the best local car rental companies in Tulum are City Car Rental, Easy Way Car Rental Tulum, Nu Car Rental and Mex Rent A Car and Nu Car Rentals — but do read reviews before booking.

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.

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

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, or a place gets a few bad reviews in a row right before I rent with them.

Using an aggregate search service means you get the best deals, because Discover Cars checks all Tulum car rental company options at once, so you get the best price at the highest-rated companies.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

🚙 Tulum Car Rentals: Online via Discover Cars

Wondering, Can you rent a car in Tulum? The answer is yes, but options are sometimes limited — which is why I suggest getting a rental car in Cancun (see below).

However, if you’re already in Tulum and want a rental car, head to Discover Cars and look for a rental car that way. This option works best if you’re renting a day or more in advance.

🚙 Tulum Car Rentals: In Person, Same Day Rentals

When looking for a same day Tulum car rental, you’ll want to do that in person.

There are several Tulum car rental locations on Avenida Coba Sur, which is the road that goes from Tulum Town to Tulum Beach.

Note: Tulum Town goes by many names. You might see it called Downtown Tulum, Tulum Centro or Tulum Pueblo, but they all refer to the main part of town.

🚙 Cancun Airport Car Rentals

Wondering, Is it better to rent a car in Tulum or Cancun? In my opinion, Cancun makes more sense for most travelers. Here’s why:

Since you’re flying into Cancun Airport anyway, and then you have to get to Tulum, the best place to rent a car in Tulum is actually Cancun International Airport (code: CUN). This is the closest airport to Tulum Mexico.

You’ll find the most rental car companies at Cancun Airport, with a wide range of vehicles to choose from.

With so many companies on-site, you’ll usually find the rental cars in Cancun are cheaper than even the cheapest Tulum car rentals.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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 — you can cancel up to 48 hours before your rental at no cost.

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

I’ve found the cheapest Tulum car rentals from City Car Rental Tulum, Easy Way Car Rental Tulum, Nu Car Rental Tulum and Mex Rent A Car, which all have good reviews.

Based on many bad reviews, Fox Rent A Car Tulum seems to be the worst place to rent a car in Tulum Mexico.

It’s imperative you read Tulum car rental reviews, as not all companies are created equal — and you don’t want your vacation ruined over a rental car.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

Wondering, How do I rent a car in Tulum?, or What do I need to rent a car in Mexico?

While it is an easy process for most renters, below you’ll find an explanation of the four things you need to get a Tulum rental car.

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 Tulum 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? Apply for yours here.

2. A Valid Credit Card or Debit Card

When renting a car in Tulum, 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. Tulum Pro Tip: Use your credit card for this.

3. 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.

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

As with the U.S., anyone aged 25 and older can rent a car in Tulum 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 Tulum that rent to drivers aged 18-20.

For 18- to 24-year-olds renting a car in Tulum Mexico, you’ll need to call places directly to see what they offer.

Make sure to double check each company’s policy before booking to see which one offers the best option for underage renters.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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

The last time I rented a car in Tulum, it was a Dodge Journey.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

When I book with Discover Cars, all cars are labeled as automatic or manual (stick shift), so you know what you’re getting. However, the vast majority of rental cars in Tulum will be automatic.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

While there’s sort of Uber in Cancun (read more about that “sort of” part here), they can’t legally pick you up at the Cancun International Airport. You must fully exit the airport and get onto the main road to call the Uber.

In short: If you’re not getting your Tulum car rental in Cancun Airport, you’ll want to book this Cancun to Tulum Airport Shuttle.

It is the easiest, safest, fastest and best way to get to Cancun from Tulum for those who won’t be renting a car.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

As you can see in this section on Why you should not rent a car in Tulum, I don’t recommend a Tulum car rental for everyone.

In fact, if you’re just staying in Tulum itself, you might want to skip the rental car.

Now, for these best Tulum day trips, a rental car is the way to go, especially if you want to do a few day trips from Tulum.

🚲 Renting bikes in Tulum

However, for in-town travel, a Tulum bike rental is the better option.

Tulum traffic is awful, and parking fees can get outrageous (especially on Tulum Beach), so a bike is better for getting around in Tulum Mexico itself.

For bike rentals, Ola Bike Tulum is a great option — and they will deliver the bike to you! Tulum bike rentals average about $10 USD per day.

Depending on your Tulum hotel or Airbnb, they may provide free bikes. As with all free things, you get what you pay for!

Now, you might get a nice, well-maintained bike, and you might not. Personally, I’ve had no luck with these free bikes, but you you might.

🛵 Renting scooters in Tulum

You can also rent a moped, scooter or motorcycle, if you’re comfortable driving one.

For these, Scooter Rental Tulum Mexico has the best reputation for customer service. Tulum moped rentals average about $40 USD per day.

🏍️ Renting ATVs in Tulum

ATVs are a fun way to get around Tulum, as they’re a lot more stable than a scooter, and easier to drive.

For these, ATV 180 Tulum is a well-rated company with excellent customer service. Tulum ATV rentals average about $60 USD per day.

Looking to take a Tulum ATV tour? Check out this linked article to discover the top-rated ATV tours in Tulum Mexico.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

At the minimum, you need Mexican Personal Liability Insurance to legally drive in Mexico, which most companies include in the rental cost (though some don’t).

Some car rental companies won’t let you take their car unless you either purchase it from them.

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.

🤔 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.

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.)

🕵️ Discover Cars Full Coverage Policy

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.

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.

Of course, this is often much more costly than third-party car insurance, so I still recommend renting with Discover Cars and then buying the rental company’s insurance.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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 Tulum 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.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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 Cancun.

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

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

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 by any means.

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.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

How to avoid this Tulum 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 Tulum 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.

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

3 Other common Tulum travel scams

⛽️ 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.

📑 Extra Insurance Scam

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

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

Flat out: If the company tells you that you must purchase additional insurance from them, they are lying.

Ever heard of a “tourist tax?” It’s when unscrupulous locals scam tourists simply because you don’t know any better — and this is one way that happens (sadly).

💸 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.

The person will usually then say you gave them a $20 MXN pesos when it should have been a $500. You’ll then give them a $500 bill, which they will pocket.

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

Renting A Car in Tulum Mexico

10 Tulum 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 couta roads.

2. Always use the couta 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.

💸 Tulum Rental Cancun Tips: When driving in Tulum and Yucatan, 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 the majority do not.

3. Beware of topes (Speed bumps in Mexico)

Mexico roads are notorious for an abundance of topes (pronounced toe-pays, and meaning “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.

Driving too fast over a tope can cause serious damage to your Tulum rental car. They’re all different sizes as well, so remember that not two topes are alike.

4. Download an offline map for driving in Tulum

Your cell signal may go in and out as you’re driving in Tulum Mexico, 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 Tulum 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. (🇲🇽 Mexico Fun Fact: It’s also illegal to put on make-up or shave while driving.)

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 add this hands-free phone holder to your Tulum packing list

6. Window cleaners may approach you at stop lights

When you’re at stop lights in Tulum, 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.

7. Tulum 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 or oil.

8. 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 Yucatan and Tulum, 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
• Retorono: Turn-around, which is where you make legal U-turns
• Entrada: Entrance
• Salida: Exit
• Restringido: Restricted area
• Prohibido: Entry prohibited

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 Tulum Tips: You are still legally supposed to stop at the yellow light, just like in the U.S.

10. Yes, Mexico cops 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 Tulum 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.

Renting a car in Tulum is usually a simple, hassle-free process. However, picking the right company to rent with could mean the difference between a fun Tulum vacation and a headache!

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

For the sake of convenience, I’d suggest you pick your rental up at Cancun International Airport when you fly in, as it has plenty of international and local agencies on site.

You can also rent a car in Tulum itself, but Cancun will have the bigger selection. Since you’ll likely have to get to Tulum from Cancun anyway, the easiest way to do that will be in your rental car.

Mexico Car Rental Blogs

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.