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Driving Requirements in Mexico
Mexico is a truly unique and endlessly exciting holiday destination, offering varying climates and landscapes across its almost two million square kilometres. Northern Mexico is renowned for extreme weather and distinguished by its rugged mountains, nature reserves and breathtaking deserts. Central Mexico really comes alive, with picturesque towns and beautiful cities which are full of colour all year round. Those looking for a unique outdoor adventure should visit Southern Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico, where forests, mangrove swamps and marshes can be found. The Yucatan Peninsula is full of captivating Mayan heritage, as well as beautiful white sandy beaches and immaculate Caribbean waters. The region is popular for scuba diving and exploring underwater caverns, or cenotes. Many of the world`s best destinations for fishing and surfing can be found on the Pacific Coast, which is also full of interesting culture. Yet more can be experienced on the Baja California Peninsula, where you can witness the spectacular Gray Whale`s migration. With so much to see and experience, the country of Mexico is often underestimated. Spectacular coastlines, a captivating history and world-famous, vibrant nightlife really make it a unique and memorable destination.
A great way to experience the country is by driving. Although driving here is often considered hazardous, it is in fact no more dangerous than driving elsewhere, as long as you are aware of the rules and regulations and what to look out for. It is important to be aware of road conditions in Mexico. A lot of the roads in the country are worse for wear, with ruts and pot holes to avoid. Where possible, avoid driving at night, as crime is not uncommon in the country. Additionally, do not stop for hitchhikers as these are likely to in fact be robbers. You will also need to be especially aware of livestock, which may be roaming on the roads because of the absence of fencing surrounding the highways. It is common for other drivers not to signal or even have functioning lights. Therefore, be particularly alert, keep your distance and make sure that you always signal. Be aware that other drivers may also ignore rules concerning who has right of way, so slow down and look both ways at every junction.
If you are renting a car, be sure to book in advance, as this will turn out much cheaper than doing it on the day. Most Mexican car rental companies will require the minimum age of the driver to be 25 and sometimes that they must have had a full driving licence for a specific time period. You will also need a credit card in order to rent a car, as agencies may want to pre-authorise a certain amount from your card. Debit cards will not normally be accepted for this procedure. A current, full driving licence will need to be presented, along with another form of photo identification if your national driving licence does not feature your photograph. Documents that do not use "Western characters" may not suffice; it may be necessary for you to provide an international driving licence in this case.
However, these requirements are quite general; in order to determine the specific terms of a car rental agency, phone Mexico`s rental companies directly.
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