🇲🇽 Drive Mexico with Confidence
Know the rules. Carry the right documents. Enjoy the road.
Do You Need an IDP in Mexico?
Recommended for All Visitors
Most visitors can drive in Mexico on a valid home licence, but an IDP is recommended. Mexican authorities expect a licence they can read — an IDP provides the certified Spanish-language translation. Many rental companies ask for one at pickup, and police may request it during routine checks.
Hoy No Circula in Mexico City
Mexico City's Hoy No Circula programme bans cars from driving on set days according to plate number and emissions sticker. It can apply to rental cars — ask your rental company before driving into the capital.
Driving Rules in Mexico
Drive on the Right
Mexico drives on the right side of the road with left-hand-drive vehicles. Overtake on the left, and watch for topes (speed bumps), which are common and not always signed.
Strict Alcohol Limits
Legal limits vary by state — generally between 0.04% and 0.08% — and police run alcoholímetro checkpoints in major cities. Penalties can include arrest until sober, so the only safe rule is not to drink and drive.
Toll Highways (Cuota)
Mexico's intercity highways come in toll (cuota) and free (libre) versions. Cuota roads are faster, safer, and better maintained — pay at booths and carry pesos in cash, as cards are not always accepted.
Speed Limits
Urban areas: 30–60 km/h. Federal highways: 80–90 km/h. Toll motorways (autopistas de cuota): 110 km/h. Limits are posted in km/h and enforced with cameras and patrols — and watch for topes (speed bumps) in towns.
Mandatory Equipment
Rental cars in Mexico come with the locally required safety equipment, such as a warning triangle. Check it is present at pickup, along with the spare tyre and jack.
Renting a Car in Mexico
Mexico has rental desks at every major airport and resort area. Here is what you need to know.
Required Documents
Most visitors need a valid IDP alongside their home licence and passport. A credit card in the driver's name is required for the security deposit. Most companies require drivers to be at least 21 years old.
Typical Costs
Headline rates can look very cheap, but mandatory third-party liability insurance adds a significant daily fee at the counter — budget for the total, not the teaser price. Book early for Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays.
Top Rental Companies
Hertz — wide airport coverage. Avis — locations across the country. Sixt — growing presence at major airports. Mandatory Mexican third-party liability insurance is arranged with every rental.
“We picked up a car in Cancún and toured the Yucatán — Chichén Itzá, Mérida, and the coast. The cuota highways were smooth and quiet, and our IDP made the rental pickup completely hassle-free.”
Read our guide: What Happens at a Police Checkpoint Without an IDP?
Get Your IDP for Mexico — From $29
Delivered digitally in as little as 2 hours. Physical copy shipped worldwide. Valid for 1 year.
Apply Now →Returning to Mexico? Renew your IDP with 10% loyalty discount →
Mexico IDP FAQ
Most visitors can drive in Mexico on a valid home licence, but an IDP is recommended. It provides the Spanish translation officials expect, many rental companies ask for one, and police may request it during routine checks.
Mexico's intercity highways come in toll (cuota) and free (libre) versions. Cuota roads are faster and better maintained. Pay at booths, and carry cash in pesos as cards are not always accepted.
Mexico City operates the Hoy No Circula programme, which bans cars from driving on certain days based on plate number and emissions sticker. It can apply to rental cars too, so check before driving into the capital.
Mexico drives on the right side of the road with left-hand-drive vehicles. Overtake on the left, and watch for topes (speed bumps), which are common and not always signed.