Why Renting a Car in Mérida Is the Best Way to Explore the Yucatán Peninsula

Thinking about renting a car in Mérida, Mexico? Good call. While the city itself is easy to explore on foot, a rental car gives you the freedom to reach nearby cenotes, haciendas, Mayan ruins, and even the coast at your own pace.

The roads are straightforward, prices are affordable, and the adventures you can unlock are endless. Here’s what to know before you hit the road.

I live in Mexico and have explored Merida extensively. I’ve had to rent cars here many times. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned.

I would recommend renting a car in Mérida to explore all the amazing things to do in the surrounding areas. There are many amazing places to visit in the area, from the Uxmal ruins to the Homun Cenotes and all the beaches north of Merida; there is a lot to see, and having a car will make your trip even more enjoyable. I will tell you more about it.

In this post, I’ll explain the car rental options and provide some practical tips for driving safely around Merida. I’ll also answer some frequently asked questions travelers have about car rentals. Continue reading to discover the best practices for renting a car in Merida.

ALSO, MAKE SURE YOU READ:

• 15 Amazing things to do in Merida for first timers
• 10 Merida dreamiest Airbnbs for a stylish stay
• The Best Cenotes Near Merida

Disclaimer: This page may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of those links, I may earn a commission at zero cost for you. Please see my disclaimer policy  my privacy policy.

Renting a Car in Merida, Mexico: Overview

👉 Do You Need a Car in Merida, Mexico?

This depends on your itinerary and whether you want to use Mérida as a base to explore other parts of the Yucatán. In this case, you can rent one of the beautiful casitas, old houses that have been refurbished with modern amenities, or stay in one of the gorgeous hotels and then take daily trips from there, either by car, organized tours, or bus.

Other options are also available, such as public transport buses and ride-sharing services.

However, the buses are often more inconvenient and don’t cover the whole expanse of what Merida has to offer. 

Of course, having a car with you is the most comfortable option for traveling on your own schedule and exploring the relatively far-off places that public transportation cannot reach.

Especially during the summertime, it gets extremely hot, and having an air-conditioned vehicle makes for a more comfortable ride.

Another consideration is how big your travel group is, as it can actually even be cheaper than ride-sharing services to rent a car and divide the cost if you’re traveling with a larger group.

If you’re on a budget, however, you could consider using ride-sharing apps such as Uber and DiDi, both of which run in Merida.

Do keep in mind that if you’re going to a more far-off, less ‘touristy’ place, it is best to take a car with you as getting a ride back through these apps can be troublesome.

If you’re planning to go to such places, or simply going on a road trip, you can rent a car for a day or two and use ride-sharing apps while you’re inside the city.

However, using Discover Cars here may be an issue as shorter rental times tend to be more expensive. 

👉 How Much Does It Cost To Rent a Car in Merida, Mexico?

There are many car rental services offering different prices, and it also depends on what vehicle you want to rent. Additionally, there are car insurance fees and other taxes that need to be paid. 

The actual rental price varies a lot depending on which car you select, and what provider you’re choosing among other factors.

According to Discover Cars, a service I’d personally recommend to compare prices, a reasonable estimate is anywhere from USD 30 to USD 50 per day for smaller cars (but keep in mind that cheaper and more expensive offers are possible depending on the season). 

Car rental advertisements sometimes show very low prices, such as USD 5 per day, but these are misleading because insurance and tax aren’t included in these. We’ll speak more about insurance in a bit.  

Keep in mind that there’s also an additional fee that some rental companies will ask you to pay if you’re renting a car and you’re under 25, because of car safety concerns. 

If you choose to forgo the additional coverage fees, rental companies will usually increase the amount of security deposit that you have to pay upfront.

This fee can be charged to your credit card, but you’ll need to check with the provider to confirm. 

To find the best car rental deal, it’s very important to compare rates, not only within the Discover Cars platform but also with the car rental directly.

👉 Is Driving in Merida, Mexico Difficult?

For the most part, driving in Merida is as easy as driving anywhere else.

Although there are some nuances to the style of driving that you may or may not be comfortable with.

Depending on where you normally drive, you will find that the traffic isn’t as bad as in other metropolitan cities. 

Usually, new drivers here need some adjustment to get used to the one-way streets and the roundabouts (or glorietas, as they’re called in Spanish), but it’s nothing to worry about.

These are an issue if you’re driving around the historic city center, or more posh areas where car traffic is higher.

There are lots of local motorists around as well, so if you’re not used to motorbike traffic, you might find this a little more difficult than normal.

However, if you have some experience behind the wheel, driving in Merida is as safe as what you’re normally used to. 

You just need to pay more attention.

Where To Rent a Car in Merida, Mexico

There are three main options to consider when choosing where to rent a car in Merida: first, my personal recommendation, Discover Cars; second, going directly to local car rental services. I’ll briefly outline the relative advantages each provides.

👍 Discover Cars (Pros and Cons)

If you’ve looked around online forums for car rentals in Merida, the name Discover Cars often shows up. This is not without good reason.

Discover Cars Pros

Discover Cars is an online car rental recommendation platform where you can compare many rental services. 

Here are some reasons why I’d suggest using Discover Cars to book your rental: 

✔️ User-driven reviews: As a recommendation platform, Discover Cars gives users the ability to review the services of the rental company. I recommend at least an 8/10 review for the service you choose.

✔️ Transparency: Discover Cars makes everything from the hidden fees to the car rental services’  terms and conditions easily visible through the easy-to-use UI. No hidden surprises! If there are any, customer support can easily sort it out for you.

✔️ Convenience: Since it’s all online, you don’t have to do the legwork of going to different places and comparing rental prices. From choosing your options to making the booking, everything is centralized on the platform. 

✔️ Free cancellation policy: If you want to cancel your booking at least 48 hours before the starting date, Discover Cars will do it for free!

✔️ Convenient full insurance: For as low as USD 10 per day, you can receive extra coverage of up to $3000 USD for any damages to the car or theft.

Discover cars cons

There are some things to keep in mind when booking through Discover Cars, however.

Sometimes, the car rental service you book may not honor the booking price you get online, so that’s something to look out for.

You can either cancel the booking or call up the customer service, which will iron it out.

For shorter rentals (1-2 days), Discover Cars might be more expensive, so I’d suggest opting for ride-sharing apps for such excursions instead.

👍 Merida Rental Companies

There are lots of local providers offering car rentals as well. If you’re planning your car rental between your trip or just need it for a few days, I’d suggest checking the local companies out. 

There are two major options to select from: US-based car rental chains and local Mexican providers.

With the US-based providers, you can expect the rental prices to be higher than those of local providers, and they have a higher security deposit.

If you’re traveling from the US, using these would mean easier integration with your banks and insurance company. 

If you’re looking for more legroom in negotiating the price or a cheaper quote for shorter rentals, going with local Mexican providers can be a good option. I often use Mex Car Rental because they offer full coverage, and they take a very low security deposit.

However, you need to proceed with caution to avoid getting scammed.

I’ll discuss avoiding scams further, but it is essential to always read the service’s reviews before contacting it.

Where is the best place to collect your Car Rental?

It depends, but the majority of car rentals in Merida have their offices near the airport, which is not far from the city center.

Some local companies also offer an office in the heart of the city. But I wouldn’t make the location my top priority. Find the best car rental for price and service, and get an Uber to get to wherever the car rental has its office.

If you want to pick up your car as soon as you land, you are in luck because all the car rental companies have an office at the airport or just outside.

Things To Know Before Renting a Car in Merida, Mexico

💡 Car Rental Insurance

Car rental insurance is probably the trickiest part of renting a car here, with many unexpected ‘hidden fee’ traps that travelers can fall into while selecting their car rental.

I’ll write about what to look out for when selecting this. 

Car rental companies have to include basic liability insurance in the day rate by law in Mexico, but car rental companies also insist on getting supplemental liability insurance so that you don’t have to pay damages out of your own pocket. 

In the unfortunate case that you don’t have any insurance covering you and you get into an accident, the bill can quickly rack up to unmanageable amounts.

Suppose you don’t get supplemental liability insurance because you rely on the car insurance offered by your Credit Card Provider.

In that case, rental companies will increase the security deposit you have to pay and grant a Collision Damage Waiver, which you can put on your credit card only if it is accepted.

If you decide to go this route, it is highly recommended that you confirm with both your bank and the rental service that the card works.

However, I’d like to get extra coverage, just to be on the safe side. And Discover Cars provides a full insurance service that is accepted by the vendors for as low as $10 USD per day, which is one option.

Another option is to go with the rental company’s in-house insurance service, which can vary in price from provider to provider. 

INSIDER TIP: After renting a car frequently in Mexico, I’ve noticed that they often fail to clearly define what full insurance includes. Things like such as tires, keys, or screens are always left out for some reason. So, ensure you are very specific when asking what the insurance DOESN’T include.

💡 Driving License

Foreign driving licenses are accepted in Mexico as long as it’s printed with the Latin alphabet.

For example, if your driving license is in Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic or another foreign script, it will not be recognized by the Mexican authorities. 

In case it’s not accepted, you’ll need to have an international driver’s license, which is valid in Mexico for up to 2 years after it’s issued.

However, if you’re coming from a Western country such as the USA or a European country, you should be perfectly fine with the driving license that you already have.

💡 “Scams”/Hidden Fees

The most common trap travelers fall into while looking for rentals is insurance fees. I’ll briefly talk about the main ways this happens so that you can be aware of what to look out for: 

❌ Look out for hidden fees in the fine print: Rental services might sneak in additional fees, claiming it’s mandatory.

For example, some companies may inform you after your online booking is completed that a mandatory insurance fee is also required.

Keep an eye out for such hidden fees in the bill, and always check online for reviews for any company you’re exploring beforehand.

❌ Avoid rates that seem too good to be true: some rental companies claim to sell extremely cheap rental services (even as low as USD 5) but these are usually without hidden fees.

Do not book with them only to find out that the price after insurance is much higher than the competition. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.

To side-step this painful process completely, I’d recommend using Discover Cars to find rental services.

Not only do you have the option to compare services with insurance included, but you can also buy Discover Cars’ full insurance package at a relatively low price.

In the case of any issues, you can contact their customer support.

Practical Driving Tips in Merida, Mexico

Tips For Car Rentals: 

📌 Always check online for reviews of whatever service you’re using. Reviews can be a great way to find out additional information that is not on display otherwise, such as specific insurance issues or credit card issues.

📌 Be sure to ask the rental service what is included in the full insurance package. For example, minor damages can sometimes be excluded even from the full package. Reading the fine print of the bills and documents is going to be worth it. 

📌 Check the car during pick-up. Some companies might overcharge you for damage to the car that was already present at the time of booking.

📌 Spend extra money for full coverage for peace of mind.

Tips For Driving Safely in Merida:

📌 Stay aware of your surroundings and the traffic flow. Driving cultures in different places come with their own nuances that you have to adapt to.

In Merida, it helps to pay special attention to the roundabouts and one-way roads, especially in the city center. 

📌 Look out for speed bumps inside the city and on the highways. The speed-breakers can often be unmarked and built near settlements by locals, so it helps to focus on the roads. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid driving fast at night.

📌 Respect local driving laws. You’ll find that driving laws here are pretty similar to those in the US, so if you’re used to driving there, you won’t have much trouble driving in Merida.

📌 If someone flashes their lights at you on the highway, it means that they expect you to switch lanes to make way for their car. This is just part of the driving culture here.

📌 Try to use toll roads because they’re usually better maintained with correct signage and cleaner roads.

Frequently Asked Questions About Renting a Car in Merida, Mexico

Is It Difficult To Drive in Merida?

Some expats and Mexican visitors would argue that it is because, they say, “locals don’t know how to drive”. I had to laugh because I didn’t find it particularly difficult. The only issue can be that some crossroads are quite narrow, and sometimes there are no traffic lights, and you can’t see who’s coming, but if you pay attention, there isn’t any particular difficulty.

Roundabouts and one-way streets are tricky, but you’ll find these more in the city center than any other part of Merida. 

Generally, if you’re following the best practices of safe driving, such as driving within the speed limit and looking out for pedestrians and motorists, it is perfectly safe to drive in Merida.

Is There Uber in Merida?

Yes, although there are other ride-sharing apps such as DiDi, which also operate in Merida. DiDi is the most popular one in Mexico, so drivers sign up for both Uber and DiDi. 

Is It Safe To Travel Alone in Merida?

Although Merida is popularly considered in lists you might come across online as the safest city in Mexico, it is important to practice caution if you’re traveling alone.

In more crowded areas, protect yourself against pick-pockets and other petty criminals by staying vigilant. 

Generally, Merida is a safe location for traveling alone.

However, if you’re traveling to other parts of Mexico, it is recommended to travel in a group due to security concerns. 

How Safe Is It To Drive From Merida to Cancun?

Yes! The highways connecting Merida to Cancun are generally considered safe to drive on.

You don’t need to be worried about bandits, despite what you might read about Mexican highways online.

The highways in the Yucatan are specifically built with tourism-friendliness in mind.

The major highway connecting Merida to Cancun (Highway 180) is perfectly safe to drive on, and once you’re on the highway, you shouldn’t have any problems.

It is faster and more secure than the alternative route, which slows down in the cities along the way. Until recently, they didn’t accept card payments, but now they do, so you don’t have to worry about carrying Mexican Pesos in cash.

Final Thoughts: Renting a Car in Merida, Mexico

In conclusion, renting a car in Merida, Mexico, can be a smooth experience if you do your research and plan. Be sure to consider factors such as insurance coverage, driving license requirements, and hidden fees. 

I’d suggest using Discover Cars to make the experience a lot smoother. With a little preparation, you can enjoy the freedom and convenience of exploring the Yucatan Peninsula at your own pace.