irwin_taranto

Using the travel sites, Expedia, etc. you can buy insurance for car rental from Allianz for $9 per day. Is that acceptable at the counter in Cancun? Anyone have experience? Thanks.

irwin

doug_stallings

I cannot speak from personal experience, but I can say that travelers have reported problems getting car-rental agencies to accept third-party plans.

So while it certainly will cost more than similar insurance would cost from a third-party insurer, I recommend buying the CDW from the rental agency at the counter rather than arranging it in advance. This is what my writers all recommend, so it's what we say in our guidebook to Cancun.

But regardless of which type of insurance you purchase, you definitely must have insurance and written proof of it in case you are stopped by the police.

But I'm very interested to hear of other traveler experiences. Has anyone else been able to use a cheaper third-party insurer in Cancun or some other part of Mexico?

jamie99

I'd book the insurance directly with the rental car provider. Most of the bad stories I have read are with people who rent from Orbitz , Expedia, etc. And you need liability and it will cost about $12-15 per day. I always get full insurance and zero deductible and do not try to rely on my credit card. It pays off, my friend got hit by a local truck in Tulum, and she turned the car in with no problems.

colokid

Please listen to the folks who post in this topic. You do not want to go to jail until the police sort out who was in the wrong. Just not worth it.

irwin_taranto

Thanks. I'm convinced that full coverage is the way to go.

irwin

zootsi

Just fyi, the local rental agencies like Easyway, America, etc usually offer a complete insurance package much cheaper than the big chains. Their offices are also a few miles away from the airport (they will shuttle you there), so you also save a bundle on airport rental surcharges.

IsabelaS

Easyway's full insurance for us last year came to U$18/day.

SandraPromain

Would recommend on personal experience to book in one of the mentioned companies ad zootsi says.. really save a lot on airport rental surcharges! And of course, full travel insurance is they way to go.. Mexican drivers may be rude drivers!! Nothing as worth as driving calmly to enjoy the ride!

TC

Most U.S. insurance of any kind is not recognized in Mexico. Buy it from the rental company.

irwin_taranto

Thank you zootsi, et al. Reserved a car with America Car Rent, with full coverage. Their web site, policies, pick up details, etc. appear so friendly, I'm almost afraid it's too good to be true.

irwin

zootsi

You should be fine with America, we've used them several times. Although their cars are not showroom perfect, they look and run fine. The meeting spot at the airport for the car rental shuttle drivers is a little tricky - as you leave the terminal, look to the left. There is a designated meeting spot there along the wall of the building, not out front where all the taxi and limo drivers are standing.

Odin

We booked our car thru Autoeurope and took out all available insurances. The car provided was from Europcar. Check your rental car very carefully, down to the spare tyre, windows should roll up and down etc and mark any damages on the paperwork before driving off.

We had no issues driving around Q Roo and Yucatan, but when filling up with gas on one occasion, we gave the attendant 500 peso note (cost of gas was 300 pesos) and he put the note in his pocket and said we only gave him 50 pesos. So that was unpleasant as he also said the station didn't take credit cards (we had previously paid by credit card at other Pemex stations). We argued with him and in the end he gave us the correct change.

Car rental return is not signposted at all at Cancun airport, at least we could not see any. But we did a trial run back the previous day and it was in fact quite easy.

colokid

That is a common scam at the gas stations. I only ask for a specific amount and have that specific amount. Plus a tip.