Sorry you had a bad experience. Extra insurance, as far as I know is still optional but no one with any sense at all would NOT take it. Tourists in that area have spent a day in jail if they were in an accident and could not provide proof of full coverage, true story.

If you read any of the other posts here or elsewhere about taking the "extra" insurance offered in Mexico, almost everyone will tell you the same thing. Cover your a$$. It's not stealing. I'm sorry you did not fully understand this.

Just in case anyone else sees this, here are several recent threads on just this issue.


http://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-central-america/do-we-need-special-insurance-or-drivers-license-for-rental-car-in-mexico.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-central-america/do-i-really-need-the-extra-insurance-coverage-on-a-car-rental-in-mexico.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-central-america/do-i-really-need-the-extra-insurance-coverage-on-a-car-rental-in-mexico.cfm


http://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-central-america/car-rental-insurance-in-mexico.cfm

I'm sorry that you weren't satisfied with the cost of the rental, but you really do have to get the insurance in Mexico. It's only "optional" in the broadest sense of the word. Dollar/Thrifty is by no means "stealing" your money. You are obviously inexperienced in the ins and outs of renting a car in Mexico.

If you have any problems at all---such as an accident---you sit in jail until the responsibility for the accident is determined unless you have local insurance.

I feel your pain about the cost, but you really have to do your research before renting a car in Mexico, and you have to figure the cost of insurance into the basic cost of a car rental.

Many threads on this forum about being sure the mexican car rental includes the insurance which you REALLY do need to get, and which at least where we frequently rent, is not optional. There are several good car rental places at Cancun airport area that do not charge $500 for a wk of insurance.

Mexico car rental is not a dela where you want the absolute lowest price. You need to be sure the insurance is included in your quote. Again, this has been covered here mutliple times in many threads. Be advised to do your homework for foreign country car rentals.

I know of several online reservation sites for car rentals at Cancun airport area that show you the TOTAL price including all insurances and taxes when you search for the rental online. We use Cancun Car Rental (first choice)or Europcar. Both of them have the full insurance included in the cost of rental right in the quote online, you can't not take the insurance w/them if you are a foreigner. And the insurance is never $500 a wk! But yes, insurance costs more than the car rental price. For a midsize 4 door automatic car we pay about $240-260 a wk total w/full insurance, and all fees.

Buyer beware, always w/car rentals, make sure all fees are included in the quote. If I had been preswnted w/this problem, I would have walked right out of that place and not rented from them (assume they did not have any deposit money from you yet, correct? they shouldn't have), and gone to another car rental place. Even if I had to go to back to the airport in a taxi (which can be flagged down on the hwy. where the car rental places are) to find another car rental deal.

Have you talked to Expedia? I dont use them, I book directly w/hotels and car rentals myself, but they might be interested in what happened to you.

I would recommend National Car Rental in Mexico, having used them several times. Their on-line site is very detailed about ALL the actual costs; for example I just checked for 9 days in Cancun starting next week and a small car was about $89 without insurance, but $466 if you select each of the three insurance options, each of which is explained in detail (in the past we've been able to skip at least one of these by charging with the right credit card).

I've probably used them at least four times in Cabo and Vallarta and each time the final tab was exactly, to the penny, what the on-line site quoted in advance, no games with exchange rate etc.

Lot of places giving low-ball quotes don't mention things like airport fees ($64 on my sample quote mentioned above) or taxes (11%), and then there's the thorny insurance issue.

I'm sure there are other companies that do it like National, but there are also rip-off places that give low-ball quotes without mentioning the 'options', even if they are mandatory.

We rent from a small local company in Cozumel. The going rate WITH needed insurance is $30 per day total.

So many of the on-line quoted prices are misleading. Its a bit like the airlines who would quote a one-way price, but you HAD to purchase a round-trip ticket. So...they are actually quoting a price for something that one can not purchase. Its the same with Mexican rental cars. You have to have the insurance. Your US coverage is no good in Mexico and the laws are so different than in the States. I say.....use taxis. You are on vacation.....who needs the hassle?