Rental Cars in Puerto Vallarta

Mexico manufactures Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan, and Volkswagen vehicles. With the exception of Volkswagen, you can get the same kind of midsize and luxury cars in Mexico that you can rent in the United States and Canada. Economy usually refers to a Volkswagen Beetle or a Chevy Aveo or Joy, which may or may not come with air-conditioning or automatic transmission.

It can really pay to shop around: in Puerto Vallarta, rates for a compact car with air-conditioning, manual transmission, and unlimited mileage range from $18 a day and $120 a week to $50 or even $60 a day and $300-$400 a week. Full-coverage insurance varies greatly depending on whether it includes a deductible, but averages $25 a day. As a rule, stick with the major companies because they tend to be more reliable.

You can also hire a car with a driver (who generally doubles as a tour guide) through your hotel. The going rate is about $22-$25 an hour within town. Limousine service runs about $65 an hour and up, with a three- to five-hour minimum.

In Mexico the minimum driving age is 18, but most rental-car agencies have a surcharge for drivers under 25. Your own country's driver's license is perfectly acceptable.

Surcharges for additional drivers are around $5 per day plus tax. Children's car seats run about the same, but not all companies have them.

Car-Rental Insurance

You must carry Mexican auto insurance, at the very least liability as well coverage against physical damage to the vehicle and theft at your discretion, depending on what, if anything, your own auto insurance (or credit card, if you use it to rent a car) includes. For rental cars, all insurance will all be dealt with through the rental company.

Major Rental Agencies

Alamo (800/522-9696. www.alamo.com). Avis (800/331-1084. www.avis.com). Budget (800/472-3325. www.budget.com). Hertz (800/654-3001. www.hertz.com). National Car Rental (800/227-7368. www.nationalcar.com).