Are there car rental companies, say in the San Diego area, or in any of the other border states, that specialize in renting cars for travel in Mexico, with all the risks taken into account?
My father is interested in driving around as a tourist to some out of the way spots in Mexico, but his car is a Prius and I am concerned that there wouldn’t be mechanics able to work on that sort of car if anything happened to it outside of major cities.
What do you folks think about the idea of renting a car instead?
Roddy
Many rental company’s contracts specifically are void if you drive into Mexico.
Hertz does allow some usage in Mexico, check their website FAQ under driving in Mexico for info on how to find additional info. I would note that they have either a 25 mile or 250 mile from the border limit.
I have rented a car in Mexico. The counter staff spoke English. Would he consider doing that? We made all the arrangements via their website. I know that depending on how far into Mexico you are planning on going you have to pay a bond of several hundred dollars adn provide a lot of paperwork.
I’ve heard of businesses here that specialize in renting cars for going to Mexico. So, yes.
As for the specifics, wouldn’t know; haven’t been there yet.
Also, I’ve heard airfare within Mexico is relatively cheap, so pappy might consider parking by the border in San Diego, walking across, hailing a taxi to the Tijuana airport and flying wherever he wants to go from there.
I went to Copper Canyon a few years ago, we rented a truck from a local tourist shop for an overnight excursion. (I had a meltdown on the side of the road because my friend almost drove us off a cliff, but that is another story). So if this is the sort of trip you are talking about then perhaps just search local listings in your Mexico travel guide for these sorts of businesses.
That aside, I think it would work out fine to rent from Hertz within Mexico, just as niblet_head says. I’ve never done it myself but I’ve never read or heard anything that discourages the practice.
Like niblet_head and sugar and spice, I rented a Jeep in Mexico at a very nice dealer. Hertz or Budget or one of the other big names. Very reasonable rates and very nice guy behind the counter.
How long does Pappy plan on being there? It might well be worth it just to buy a car. A cheap one, obviously; an old beater can be had for a few hundred US.
Do NOT neglect getting an insurance policy; there are agencies in the border towns that sell policies valid across the border for several/day covered.
Make sure you get the proper papers as soon as you cross from the whatever-its-called Mexican bureau that will be right there when you enter the country. This will involve getting a hologram sticker on the windshield and a folder’s worth of other stuff.
And when Pappy leaves, he can just give the car to whomever he feels deserves it (Mexican charities are always hard up for vehicles). Pappy should not mention that he had a car with him when he comes back to the States (this is because Mexican Customs will hit him up for unlicensed importation).
You think this is a joke? It’s not. The costs work out.