Rental car in Tulum: why you should rent one and how to avoid scams
Renting a car in Tulum, even only for one day, can be challenging. But hey, don’t despair! We are here to share with you our tricks on how to rent a vehicle in Tulum and avoid scams. Mexico is a beautiful country, but it’s really huge: so what’s better than traveling by car during your vacation to be able to visit as many city as possible?
From our experience this is one of the best deals to enjoy your vacation without any problems. There are many locations of car rentals in Tulum or Cancun, both of companies from Mexico and America, in town as at the airport where you will be able to hire a car and pick it up immediately at your arrival.
In this guide you will find our reviews on the best car rentals in Tulum and Cancun, which rental is mediocre and which has the best prices if you are on a budget, in which one you can make a reservation by credit card and which has the largest choice of cars, from the economy and compact to the most fancy suv – but always automatic. Ready to drive? Vamos!
If you’re searching for some extra help organizing your trip to Tulum – consider contacting Kelly and Virginia for their incredible FREE concierge service: they really saved our nights and made our time in Mexico unforgettable!
The Best Car Rental in Tulum: which one has the best price?
We once rented a car in Merida, one of the biggest city in the South of Mexico with Cancun, to reach Tulum. On that occasion we chose Alamo Rent a Car, one of the most popular car rental companies, and we really had a decent experience. Why? Because of the price most international car rental companies apply – way more expensive than Mexican car rental companies.
Once in Tulum, we decided to explore some rentals from Mexico and we discovered BGH Car Rental – a great small company with incredible prices and brand new cars: we had an amazing experience renting a car with them! Keep on reading to discover why their location price is really good, which kind of vehicle they have for rent and which insurance – included in the price – they offer to their customers.
Watch This Video Before Renting a Car in Tulum
BGH Car Rental Tulum
Price : 40 USD per day with insurance included, or 30 USD per day if your rental period is higher than 3 days
Opening Hours : 8 AM – 8 PM
Location : BGH Car Rental
BGH Car Rental was a total discovery. We usually rent cars with big rental car companies, but we have to admit that sometimes they are not so convenient. Moreover, we heard a lot about cars overbooking in Tulum, so we preferred renting a car with a local business.
That’s when we first contacted Virginia, that with her kindness made renting a car easy and effortless. We rented a new Nissan Versa with all the comforts you can think of – moreover it’s automatic and has the perfect space in the trunk so that we could fit all our stuff in it without problems. We visited Coba and many other city between Tulum and Cancun. At the moment of the booking, they don’t ask you for a credit card to rent one of their cars and moreover, you have great insurance included in the price. Free mileage is included in the cost too – so that you will be simply free to leave for an adventurous day trip from Tulum!
Feel free to contact Virginia on Whatsapp at +529842558049 to check their car’s availability – you will not regret it!
No need to have a credit card, insurance included, new cars, kind staff
Nothing: we loved our experience with them and Virginia!
Alamo Rent A Car
Price : 70 USD per day with insurance included
Opening Hours : 8 AM – 6PM
Location : Alamo Rent a Car
Our review on Alamo Rent a Car company is good – but it could have been better. Why? Their prices per day are high compared to a Mexican rental car company, so if you are traveling on a budget maybe they are not the right choice for you. A positive note is that their employees are really kind, at least they were with us.
We decided to rent a car to reach Tulum from Yucatan and then we decided to extend the rental for a few more days. The guy, even though there wasn’t any available car in Tulum, made a call to their other locations in Playa del Carmen and Cancun, and he finally got us a car for the afternoon of the same day. So even if they are more expensive, we would recommend you to rent a car with them if you have to pick it up in one city and leave it in another, at Cancun Airport for example. Moreover, if you know a few words in Spanish, everything will be way easier and you will even be able to get a discount on the price while you make your reservation. This implies that you book a car directly at their location paying by cash, not booking it on their website with a credit card.
Differently from BGH Car Rental, they will need to take a deposit on your credit card at the moment of the reservation – so this can be a disadvantage if you are on a budget. At their basic price you already get basic insurance which is cool, but on the other hand you will have to consider paying more to add a full coverage, which will definitely save you time in case of an accident.
Basic insurance included, cleanliness, kind staff
Maybe the choice of cars if you are searching for a suv or a pick up
“Scooters Are Life-Saving In Tulum”
“Walking To The Car Rental”
Take Advantage Of Free Concierge Service
As excellent to explore Tulum and its surroundings alone, you may need help figuring out where to start. To make the most of your money and time, contact Virginia and Kelly - two incredible Mexican girls living in Tulum for more than 15 years. They're familiar with the ins & outs of the Tulum town and hotel zone like the back of their hand!
Since we arrived in Tulum 2 years ago, many adventures wouldn’t have been possible without their help - they know literally everybody in Tulum and can perfectly organize every moment of your stay. Get the best tables, skip queues and get on the guest list of the coolest places in Tulum - this’s only the beginning!
They are ready to offer you guys FREE concierge service in Tulum for the time of your stay: take advantage of it, contact them on Whatsapp and live the best experience!
“Virginia Will Transform You In A Tulum Insider”
The Best Car Rental in Cancun: find out the best deals from the airport
In Cancun you have for sure a lot of concurrence between car rentals, but City Car Rental seems not to be scared of it! We can recommend this company to pick up a car in Cancun Airport and leave in the Tulum center. We don’t recommend you to keep on renting a car with them during your trip to Tulum because, as you saw above, you can find better prices for your budget. They have good reviews, they offer competitive prices and they are close to the airport. Let’s discover more about this company!
City Car Rental
City Car Rental is a company from Mexico which has different locations all around the country. Their reviews are anything but mediocre! In fact they offer really good deals: their location is in Cancun airport, which most probably you will land in, so you can pick up your car immediately at your arrival, the price they offer for the vehicle includes insurance without any additional price and they accept credit car. They will soon open many locations in America as well, so they are really doing a great job. Be careful to check their availability because since they are one of the most popular car rentals, they can run out of cars pretty fast!
City Car Rental is a car rental company that has locations both in Mexico and in America. Their reviews are anything but mediocre! In fact they offer good deals even if they’re in Cancun Airport. In fact, if you don’t decide to reach Tulum with a private or shared shuttle, you will be able to pick up your car immediately at your arrival at the airport. The price they offer for the vehicle includes basic insurance, without any hidden price and they accept credit cards. Be careful and check in time their availability during high seasons, since they are one of the most popular car rentals, they can run out of cars pretty fast!
Reliable, great deals and prices, good opening time
They will need your credit card to book a car, so if you are in Mexico on a budget think about the deposit they will have to take
The Best Car Rental in Playa del Carmen: pick up the best offer
Playa del Carmen is a great spot in Mexico to travel in Yucatan and Riviera Maya. For sure there are many international car rental companies operating here, but check out our pick for Playa del Carmen: 100% Mexican, very reliable and with the possibility to rent one of the most popular cars in Mexico.
Rentadora Isis
Price : 40 USD per day in Playa del Carmen / 35 UDS in Cozumel
Opening Hours : 8 AM – 6 PM
Location : Rentadora Isis
Rentadora Isis is a rental car company from Mexico, so it’s really cool because in this way you can sustain local business. Even though they don’t have any locations in America, they have two locations in Playa del Carmen and one location in Cozumel. It’s perfect if you plan to visit the beautiful island to snorkel or dive.
Their reviews are great and they have really good deals. Moreover, in Cozumel they offer a really typical car in Mexico: the Vocho! We love it, the classic Beetle always has its charm. You will be able to rent it for only 35 USD per day in Cozumel island. Imagine yourself at the beach with this old beauty after a day swimming in the ocean! We never found any rentals offering Vocho, so this company is really not an average one, believe us.
You can rent a Vocho, they have really good prices and you will have no surprises
They have more compact and economy cars
“Cars Are Much More Comfortable Than Taxis”
“But They Can Be Funny As Well”
Which vehicle should I rent for my trip?
This is the best option if you are traveling from city to city, like Cancun and Tulum, and you are not going to the jungle or to remote cenotes. It’s cheap and it will definitely make you save some money during your trip in Mexico. But, if you have to travel more than 3 hours, better book an upgrade model: Mexican roads aren’t the best, so favor your comfort.
If you decide to book this kind of car you will be sure to get basically everywhere. Not the best if you are planning to stay in the city (Tulum can get really crowded), but definitely the best option if you want to travel without problems.
Scooters and motorbikes are really cheap in Mexico and one of the best ways to move in Tulum. As we said, Tulum and especially its beach get really crowded, so you will thank us when you will save even half an hour on your arrival time. Pay attention: you can not travel in a scooter on the highway or the main carretera, for example from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, so prefer public transport if you rented a scooter for the center. Another point to think about is that sometimes in Tulum it can rain very easily, so having a car – even to carry things – is still the best option in our opinion.
Our Q&A of things you should know before renting a car in Tulum, Mexico
After having shared with you the best car rentals in Tulum, Cancun and Playa del Carmen, below you will find all the answers to your questions. Check out our Q&A of things you should know before renting a car in Tulum, Mexico, to make your trip even smoother. Ready to upgrade your rental experience and not get scammed?
Now that you had a wide view on car rentals in Mexico, you most probably noticed that a credit card is almost essential. In fact, most rental companies block you a certain amount of money for the deposit on your credit card. After all, everything depends on the car rental company – for example with BGH Car Rental you will not need to leave them a deposit from your credit card and this will definitely give you more freedom during your trip. In any case, we recommend you to call the car rental agency beforehand so that you know if it’s better to pay the rental by credit card or by cash.
In many cases, you already get basic insurance at the price you are paying per day. In that insurance you usually have all you need during your trip. But, if you are traveling to other regions in Mexico or you are planning many day trips, I advise you to pay for an additional and more extended insurance. It’s never more than 20 USD per day and you never know what can happen along the road.
Renting a car in Tulum is pretty safe, depending basically with which company you rent it. If you want to know more about it, we wrote a full article about safety and car rentals in Tulum – so make sure to check it out. As in every Country, if you respect the rules and the law, you shouldn’t have any problems.
The best car rental in Tulum and the one we would definitely recommend you is BGH Car Rental. We had the best experience ever with them, their flexibility and their customer care. So if you are planning your trip to Tulum, don’t hesitate and book a car with them!
We would recommend you to rent a car with BGH Car Rental Tulum if you want a company without hidden costs, a clear policy and – especially – advantageous! In the price per day you will have free mileage, full coverage insurance and no need to leave them a deposit from your credit card.
BGH Car Rental Tulum’s main location is in downtown Tulum. You will be able to organize the pick ups there and you will be able to reach it by foot from your hotel. As soon as Tulum’s airport will open in 2023, you will be able to arrange the pick up even directly at the airport!
You need to be 21 years old and you will have to present valid documents, such as a driving license and a document like your passport or your ID.
“We Love Riding Motorbikes”
“Pick Ups Are The Best If You Will Travel A Lot”
How to avoid scams when renting a car in Mexico
Mexico can be really full of scammers, but if you carefully read every point of your rental contract, we are pretty sure you will not have any surprises. You can even contact the company before to make sure what you read online is true and to double confirm what you want to reserve. Typical scams for rental cars in Mexico are hidden prices and the fact that at the delivery of the car, they can pretend you made some scratches on the vehicle and ask you for extra money in the case you only had the basic insurance. That’s also a good point to have a full coverage one!
We hope our article on renting a car in Tulum helped you! If you have any questions or you want to share your experience with other travelers, write us a comment below. See you in Mexico!
FAQ about Tulum Rental Cars
BGH Car Rental is the best company in Tulum. In terms of safety, price, and trustability, you will have an incredible experience with them, just like we did!
Yes, you need to be at least 21 and you can rent a car in Tulum, and you need to present valid documents such as a driver’s license and your ID or passport.
Yes! It is definitely worth renting a car in Tulum, because it will give you the freedom to explore nearby and more further destinations, as some cenotes, at your own times! At the end, you will also save money, as renting a car is often cheaper than paying for multiple taxi rides.
On average, renting a car in Tulum may cost between 40 to 70 USD per day, for trustable and reliable car rental companies.
In Tulum, as in the rest of Mexico, driving is on the right-hand side of the road. It’s the same side as the US, so if you’re used to driving in the US, you won’t have any problem!
Whether to rent a car or scooter in Tulum really depends on your plans. A car is great for comfort and longer trips, while a scooter is fun and economical for short distances during the day.
Yes, driving in Tulum is safe, the roads are great and generally in good conditions. However, you can find some bumpy roads on your way, just pay attention to them and you will be fine!
Yes, you can drive from Tulum to Cancun. It’s about a 1.5 to 2 hour trip along Highway 307. It’s perfect for a day trip if you want to see new landscapes or meet with someone in Cancun!
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0Updated on: December 6, 2023
