Car Rental Playa del Carmen
We wrote this article to help and make it easy for you to rent a car in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I have rented cars in dozens of cities in Mexico and can guide you through the process without any confusion.
After reading the article, you will understand the Mexico car rental process better and share tips for driving a rental car in Mexico that will increase your confidence.
One of the most common questions we get from travelers is where to rent a car in Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen. As someone who rents cars in Mexico frequently, I suggest using Discover Cars, which I will explain in detail in this article.
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I suggest using Discover Cars to book your Mexico car rental online because they search for deals from both international corporations and local Mexican companies, giving you the best options
Renting a car in Playa del Carmen can actually be more cost effective than booking tours if you want to take multiple-day trips. This will give you the freedom to explore the sites at your own pace.
Whether you should rent a car for your Playa del Carmen trip or not depends on your itinerary. Renting a car allows you to explore off-the-beaten-path attractions of Mexico such as cenotes, stunning towns like Izamal, Muyil and Valladolid, ancient sites, and Mayan ruins near Cancun. However, there may also be reasons not to rent a car.
If you’re going to Cozumel Island, keep in mind that rental cars aren’t allowed there. However, if you’re just planning to relax on a Playa del Carmen beach, it’s best to skip the rental and use Cancun Airport Transportation to get to your hotel. From there, you can take taxis or public transportation to get around. To experience the local attractions, you can book group tours in Playa del Carmen.
Expert Tip: Playa del Carmen does not have an international airport. Only a small regional airport.
Since 2016, I have been visiting Mexico multiple times a year and have rented cars about a dozen various cities while traveling within the country and this guide is from is my personal experience.
When renting a car in Mexico I book a rental online and I use always use and highly recommend Discover Cars.
I choose to use them because whenever I search, they consistently have the best deals available, and they provide the added benefit of allowing FREE cancellations 48 hours prior to the reservation. Below is the precise process that I consistently follow to obtain my rental car:
If you are traveling to the city of Cancun, the airport you will need to use is called CUN Airport.
It’s a good idea to filter the car rental options based on ratings. Even though everyone wants to find affordable deals on car rentals in Mexico, the cheapest option is usually not the best. In my opinion, it’s best to choose a rental location with a rating of at least 8 out of 10 stars.
Of course as always you get what you pay for. Personally, I don’t want to risk having a bad customer service experience during my vacation just to save some money.
Discover Cars offers insurance coverage that costs approximately $7-10 USD per day. This insurance covers up to $59,000 pesos (around $3,270 USD) in damages incurred to the rental car, such as body repairs, scratches, window/glass damages, tire damages, towing expenses, lost keys, and various other damages.
Yes. Playa del Carmen is generally a safe place for most tourists in Mexico. Although bad incidents do occur, reading this article can prepare you to rent a car safely and avoid any potential risks.
The roads in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, including Quintana Roo State, Riviera Maya, and Playa del Carmen, are mostly in good condition and well-maintained. Avenida 10 is one of the main streets in Playa del Carmen that you can drive on. If you stay on the main roads, a mid-size or economy car should suffice, but if you plan to explore rural areas, it’s better to opt for a full-size car, Jeep, or SUV.
If you’re looking to rent a car in Playa del Carmen, it’s advisable to do so from the Cancun International Airport (CUN) due to the wide variety of options available in the area. While there are also car rentals near Cancun Airport, it’s more efficient to get one directly from the airport. Since you’ll already be arriving at Cancun Airport and then driving to Playa del Carmen, it makes sense to rent a car from CUN, which is the best location for renting a car in Playa del Carmen.
There are many car rental businesses available at the Cancun Airport with a wide range of vehicles to choose from. Due to the large number of companies, rental cars at Cancun Airport are usually less expensive than even the least expensive car rentals in Playa del Carmen.
Renting a car from Cancun Airport might cost more than renting from an off-site agency in Cancun, but you will end up spending more on taxi fares to reach off-site car rental locations than you save on rental costs. Renting a car from Cancun Airport saves you valuable time, which is extremely important during travel. If you’re currently in Playa del Carmen and need a rental car, please refer to the information below
There is no single car rental company at Cancun Airport that is considered the best. However, you will find many well-known rental companies there, including Hertz in Cancun, National, Sixt, and Alamo Cancun. It is recommended to read reviews before making a booking. If you rent a car in Cancun, Mexico, Tulum is one of the popular destinations you may want to visit.
I’m curious about the rental car cost in Playa del Carmen. Generally, you can expect to pay around $30 USD per day, which covers a basic economy car and full coverage insurance. Keep in mind that actual rates may vary.
I recommend these travel resources for Mexico that I personally use:
🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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