car rental in Mexico

[samng]

hi!!!

Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and rent
a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.

Thanks for the input

sam

[mrtravel]

samng wrote:
> hi!!!
>
> Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and rent
> a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.
>

You should compare rates on both sides of the border.
However, it would usually be quicker NOT to drive back across the border.

[James Robinson]

samng wrote:
>
> Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and rent
> a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.

The car rental rates in Mexico will take your breath away. I've rented
at anywhere from $75 to $110 per day for a VW Golf in places like
Monterrey and Mexico City.

I've never tried to rent a car in the US to take to Mexico, but whenever
I've rented in places like El Paso, the contract typically has a note in
big red letters that states the car cannot be taken into Mexico. I
don't know if they have cars that you can, you'd have to ask.

[mrtravel]

James Robinson wrote:
> samng wrote:
>
>>Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and rent
>>a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.
>
>
> The car rental rates in Mexico will take your breath away. I've rented
> at anywhere from $75 to $110 per day for a VW Golf in places like
> Monterrey and Mexico City.

I got a VW Jetta for $35 from Avis in Mex City a couple of weeks ago.
4 day rental from the airport. I booked a economy manual and got
upgraded due to non availability. There was a Tsuru special going for
about $45 which was not bad for an automatic.

I also got upgraded to a suite at the Marquis Reforma sinced the
regular rooms were sold out. I only paid the negotiated convention rate
of $135.

>
> I've never tried to rent a car in the US to take to Mexico, but whenever
> I've rented in places like El Paso, the contract typically has a note in
> big red letters that states the car cannot be taken into Mexico. I
> don't know if they have cars that you can, you'd have to ask.

I believe the majors in San Diego do permit taking the car across the
border. I checked on this last year, then decided not to go.

[@X.]

On Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:40:12 -0400, James Robinson >
wrote:
>samng wrote:
>>
>> Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and rent
>> a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.
>
>The car rental rates in Mexico will take your breath away. I've rented
>at anywhere from $75 to $110 per day for a VW Golf in places like
>Monterrey and Mexico City.
>
>I've never tried to rent a car in the US to take to Mexico, but whenever
>I've rented in places like El Paso, the contract typically has a note in
>big red letters that states the car cannot be taken into Mexico. I
>don't know if they have cars that you can, you'd have to ask.

In Tijuana cars are not terribly expensive to rent. You can get a
decent mid or full sized car for $35 a day no problem, maybe even
cheaper if you shop around. Pretty much similar to what you pay in
San Diego. I think all of the major big name American auto rental
companies rent cars near the airport in Tijuana. Many, but not all
San Diego car rental companies will also let you take a car rented in
San Diego, into Mexico for ~$10 a day extra for Mexican insurance.
Either way is not expensive or hard to do. I would guess you could
save a few bucks renting in Mexico but not a huge amount. Me, I would
probably rent in US just for the slight added convenience.

[Reef Fish]

James Robinson > wrote in message >...
> samng wrote:
> >
> > Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and
> > rent a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.

Did that years ago -- rented a car in San Diego and drove over the boarder
to Tijuana. Don't know how things work today. But I've learned a few
things about Mexican law and insurance that makes me shudder to drive
in Mexico (anywhere). (No, I was never involved in any accident
while driving in Mexico; but I've heard enough horror stories though.)

It's the Mexian Law (the Napoleonic Code??) that you're GUILTY until
proven innocent. So, if you drive and get into any kind of an accident,
you COULD be spending days in a Mexican jail for your vacation. :-)

Do the lawyers in this ng have anything to say about that? Whether
that's true or just urban legend heresay.

>
> The car rental rates in Mexico will take your breath away. I've rented
> at anywhere from $75 to $110 per day for a VW Golf in places like
> Monterrey and Mexico City.

That's surprising! In the Zona Rosa and other "safe" sections of
Mexico City, it's cheaper and more convenient to take the bus or cab
than driving anyway.

I used to rent a car for a day or two every time I go to Cozumel, for
the first 30 times or so, and haven't done it since. There, I know
enough local car rental places such as Budget whose manager told me
that I CANNOT book it at a discount while I am in the US, but once
in Mexico (Cozumel in this case), they can discount it as much as
they are willing. Thus, I seldom rented a car at their "rack rate",
and whatever they charged seemed about the same as many cities in
the USA.


I think much of car rental rates and standard practices differ from
city to city (same as in the US I suppose) so that the original
poster may do well to listen primarily to the advice of those who
know about the current rates and rules regarding rental cars in San
Diego vs Tijuana.

-- BOb.

[Gregory Morrow]

Reef "BOob" Fish told us:

> James Robinson > wrote in message
>...
> > samng wrote:
> > >
> > > Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana
and
> > > rent a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.
>
> Did that years ago -- rented a car in San Diego and drove over the boarder
> to Tijuana. Don't know how things work today. But I've learned a few
> things about Mexican law and insurance that makes me shudder to drive
> in Mexico (anywhere). (No, I was never involved in any accident
> while driving in Mexico; but I've heard enough horror stories though.)
>
> It's the Mexian Law (the Napoleonic Code??) that you're GUILTY until
> proven innocent. So, if you drive and get into any kind of an accident,
> you COULD be spending days in a Mexican jail for your vacation. :-)
>
> Do the lawyers in this ng have anything to say about that? Whether
> that's true or just urban legend heresay.



Since you were there, why don't *you* tell *us*...???



> > The car rental rates in Mexico will take your breath away. I've rented
> > at anywhere from $75 to $110 per day for a VW Golf in places like
> > Monterrey and Mexico City.
>
> That's surprising! In the Zona Rosa and other "safe" sections of
> Mexico City, it's cheaper and more convenient to take the bus or cab
> than driving anyway.
>
> I used to rent a car for a day or two every time I go to Cozumel, for
> the first 30 times or so, and haven't done it since. There, I know
> enough local car rental places such as Budget whose manager told me
> that I CANNOT book it at a discount while I am in the US, but once
> in Mexico (Cozumel in this case), they can discount it as much as
> they are willing. Thus, I seldom rented a car at their "rack rate",
> and whatever they charged seemed about the same as many cities in
> the USA.
>
>
> I think much of car rental rates and standard practices differ from
> city to city (same as in the US I suppose) so that the original
> poster may do well to listen primarily to the advice of those who
> know about the current rates and rules regarding rental cars in San
> Diego vs Tijuana.


Well BOob, if they listen to *you* they are *sure* to end up in some gawd -
forsaken Mexi hoosegow.

--
Best
Greg

[Jaybee727]

I just got back from SAN where I wanted to drive my own car into Mexico for a
few days. I was quoted an on-line rate of about $45.00 for three days of full
coverage on my 2003 Corolla. It wasn't the price that held me back but the
Napoleonic code on which Meican law is based. Even with full insurance coverage
you can count on spending a few days as a guest of the government (jail) if you
are involved in any auto acccident where there is significant property
damage/injury/or death.

I haven't had an accident or traffic ticket in decades but it just wasn't worth
the risk for me.

We took a tour bus and had a great time. Probably saved me a couple of hours at
the border crossing returning since they have an express line for buses.

If your just going to Tijuana, Rosarita Beach or Ensenada, Don't bother
driving.

Jerry in LAS

[DALing]

no, he's right - the Mexicans have a "2 part" insurance system there (which
I've had sort of explained to me but the nuances sort of escape me) in that
"civil" insurance like you hit someone - something is different from "you
hit someone-something GOVERNMENT".

IF they stop you and they fancy your car, you go to jail and your car goes
where ever (unless you pay the bribe). No urban legend, just pure old
fashioned police corruption. There is virtually no where in TJ that you
can't get to by bus/cab (just takes a bit longer)

"Gregory Morrow" > wrote in
message ...
>
> Reef "BOob" Fish told us:
>
> > James Robinson > wrote in message
> >...
> > > samng wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana
> and
> > > > rent a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance
anyway.
> >
> > Did that years ago -- rented a car in San Diego and drove over the
boarder
> > to Tijuana. Don't know how things work today. But I've learned a few
> > things about Mexican law and insurance that makes me shudder to drive
> > in Mexico (anywhere). (No, I was never involved in any accident
> > while driving in Mexico; but I've heard enough horror stories though.)
> >
> > It's the Mexian Law (the Napoleonic Code??) that you're GUILTY until
> > proven innocent. So, if you drive and get into any kind of an accident,
> > you COULD be spending days in a Mexican jail for your vacation. :-)
> >
> > Do the lawyers in this ng have anything to say about that? Whether
> > that's true or just urban legend heresay.
>
>
>
> Since you were there, why don't *you* tell *us*...???
>
>
>
> > > The car rental rates in Mexico will take your breath away. I've
rented
> > > at anywhere from $75 to $110 per day for a VW Golf in places like
> > > Monterrey and Mexico City.
> >
> > That's surprising! In the Zona Rosa and other "safe" sections of
> > Mexico City, it's cheaper and more convenient to take the bus or cab
> > than driving anyway.
> >
> > I used to rent a car for a day or two every time I go to Cozumel, for
> > the first 30 times or so, and haven't done it since. There, I know
> > enough local car rental places such as Budget whose manager told me
> > that I CANNOT book it at a discount while I am in the US, but once
> > in Mexico (Cozumel in this case), they can discount it as much as
> > they are willing. Thus, I seldom rented a car at their "rack rate",
> > and whatever they charged seemed about the same as many cities in
> > the USA.
> >
> >
> > I think much of car rental rates and standard practices differ from
> > city to city (same as in the US I suppose) so that the original
> > poster may do well to listen primarily to the advice of those who
> > know about the current rates and rules regarding rental cars in San
> > Diego vs Tijuana.
>
>
> Well BOob, if they listen to *you* they are *sure* to end up in some
gawd -
> forsaken Mexi hoosegow.
>
> --
> Best
> Greg
>
>
>

[mrtravel]

DALing wrote:
> no, he's right - the Mexicans have a "2 part" insurance system there (which
> I've had sort of explained to me but the nuances sort of escape me) in that
> "civil" insurance like you hit someone - something is different from "you
> hit someone-something GOVERNMENT".
>
> IF they stop you and they fancy your car, you go to jail and your car goes
> where ever (unless you pay the bribe). No urban legend, just pure old
> fashioned police corruption. There is virtually no where in TJ that you
> can't get to by bus/cab (just takes a bit longer)

He only said he was thinking about renting the car TJ, not staying in
TJ. I took it to mean that he was going to drive somewhere else.

[samng]

Yes I was thinking of driving to Loreto, but the insurance thing is scaring
me a little and I figure you have to buy insurance for theft or others,
would it better to take the bus??

sam, thanks all for the info!!


"mrtravel" > wrote in message
m...
>
>
> DALing wrote:
> > no, he's right - the Mexicans have a "2 part" insurance system there
(which
> > I've had sort of explained to me but the nuances sort of escape me) in
that
> > "civil" insurance like you hit someone - something is different from
"you
> > hit someone-something GOVERNMENT".
> >
> > IF they stop you and they fancy your car, you go to jail and your car
goes
> > where ever (unless you pay the bribe). No urban legend, just pure old
> > fashioned police corruption. There is virtually no where in TJ that you
> > can't get to by bus/cab (just takes a bit longer)
>
> He only said he was thinking about renting the car TJ, not staying in
> TJ. I took it to mean that he was going to drive somewhere else.
>

[The Bill Mattocks]

"samng" > wrote in message gers.com>...
> Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and rent
> a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.

My opinion is that it is not a good idea to drive a car in Mexico,
especially in TJ. If you have been there, you have some idea how they
drive. The roads are not good, the traffic downtown can be awful.
Stoplights are often treated as optional. Sadly, corruption and
bribery are open and obvious among the police, and tourists are
targets of both criminals and police.

TJ is just across the border. During the day, you can easily walk
into the downtown area, at night take a taxi. You can go and have a
good time and be reasonably safe, but you must use common sense.
Don't get drunk, don't urinate in public (a big no-no, and one which
will get you a few days in a Mexican jail), don't get into a fight,
especially with a local. Stick to the tourist places, take a taxi
from one to the next if you are bar-hopping (yes, even if it is a few
blocks away). Muggers in TJ seldom have guns, but they all have one
big guy with them, who comes up behind you and applies a choke hold.
When you slump down unconscious, they pick your pockets and leave you
laying there. You wake up with a hell of a headache, no money, no ID
to get back into the US, and you can bet your personal information is
now in LA and your identity is about to be hijacked. Remember - walk
in daylight, walk in public, take a taxi at night. Going with friends
is better than going solo.

No, it never happened to me - but as a former Marine MP, I picked up
plenty of hung-over Jarheads from the Federales or Border Patrol and
drove them back to Camp Pendleton. I heard all their stories, I know
what happens, and it has not changed in 20 years since I used to go to
TJ.

Unless you have some important reason why you must drive in Mexico, I
advise against it.

Watch your six.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

[DALing]

I stopped one of those muggings in the Zona a few years ago - grabbed the
guy from behind while he was picking the mark's pockets. His buddy came
back and started throwing punches which hit (ta-da) the guy I was holding in
front of me. All the time I'm yelling "POLICIA" as loud as I can. Finally
a moto cop came over (after I body slammed the little ******* bandito to the
ground he was a BIT more cooperative) and was going to arrest us BOTH (but
then the Chinese guy he was trying to rob came to and claimed his wallet -
still in the bad guy's hands) Helps a lot hablar espanol. even poquito.
"The Bill Mattocks" > wrote in message
om...
> "samng" > wrote in message
gers.com>...
> > Is it a good idea to fly to San Diego and take a trolley to Tijuana and
rent
> > a car there. I figured you have to buy Mexican insurance anyway.
>
> My opinion is that it is not a good idea to drive a car in Mexico,
> especially in TJ. If you have been there, you have some idea how they
> drive. The roads are not good, the traffic downtown can be awful.
> Stoplights are often treated as optional. Sadly, corruption and
> bribery are open and obvious among the police, and tourists are
> targets of both criminals and police.
>
> TJ is just across the border. During the day, you can easily walk
> into the downtown area, at night take a taxi. You can go and have a
> good time and be reasonably safe, but you must use common sense.
> Don't get drunk, don't urinate in public (a big no-no, and one which
> will get you a few days in a Mexican jail), don't get into a fight,
> especially with a local. Stick to the tourist places, take a taxi
> from one to the next if you are bar-hopping (yes, even if it is a few
> blocks away). Muggers in TJ seldom have guns, but they all have one
> big guy with them, who comes up behind you and applies a choke hold.
> When you slump down unconscious, they pick your pockets and leave you
> laying there. You wake up with a hell of a headache, no money, no ID
> to get back into the US, and you can bet your personal information is
> now in LA and your identity is about to be hijacked. Remember - walk
> in daylight, walk in public, take a taxi at night. Going with friends
> is better than going solo.
>
> No, it never happened to me - but as a former Marine MP, I picked up
> plenty of hung-over Jarheads from the Federales or Border Patrol and
> drove them back to Camp Pendleton. I heard all their stories, I know
> what happens, and it has not changed in 20 years since I used to go to
> TJ.
>
> Unless you have some important reason why you must drive in Mexico, I
> advise against it.
>
> Watch your six.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Bill Mattocks

[mrtravel]

DALing wrote:
> I stopped one of those muggings in the Zona a few years ago - grabbed the
> guy from behind while he was picking the mark's pockets.

Was it a mugging or a pick pocket attempt?

[@X.]

On Mon, 29 Sep 2003 13:57:06 GMT, "DALing"
<daling43[delete]-at-hotmail.com> wrote:

>I stopped one of those muggings in the Zona a few years ago

And what "Zona" would that be? ;) (wink wink) And what do you do
there? :D

>- grabbed the
>guy from behind while he was picking the mark's pockets. His buddy came
>back and started throwing punches which hit (ta-da) the guy I was holding in
>front of me. All the time I'm yelling "POLICIA" as loud as I can. Finally
>a moto cop came over (after I body slammed the little ******* bandito to the
>ground he was a BIT more cooperative) and was going to arrest us BOTH (but
>then the Chinese guy he was trying to rob came to and claimed his wallet -
>still in the bad guy's hands) Helps a lot hablar espanol. even poquito.

I go down there about twice a week, have been for years and walk all
the streets they say not to. Personally I have only been robbed by
the cops a couple of times. Never had any trouble with the rateros
myself but the description of the big guy puts the victim in a choke
hold from behind and chokes him unconscious while the little guy
empties his pockets is exactly how it happens. Solution is to always
be aware of who is behind you. They generally wont confront you
directly. As for driving, I usually walk these days but I wouldn't
hesitate to take a well insured rental car down there (after all it's
not mine LOL). Usually traffic infractions can be handled by a small
mordita. Hell, I was totally **** faced drunk once and after failing
the Mexican Breathalyzer test (cop motions for you to breath in his
face) the cops resolved it by taking all of my money (about $40) and
even checked my socks to be sure I had no money hidden. Then they
sent me on my way, open beer in hand. The same offence in San Diego
later cost me about $4,000 so being robbed for $40 is not so bad. But
another time I was walking down the street in the tourist area totally
sober and minding my own business when a couple of cops pulled me
aside, searched me, made me get in a cop car without explanation, and
drove me around alleys and ghetto neighborhoods for 30 minutes or so
before stopping in an alley and saying (in perfect English) that they
think I was fighting is some bar (a rediculous charge) and I would
have to see the judge, but that wouldn't be until tomorrow so I would
probably have to spend the night in jail except........... (wait for
me to offer mordita). I called there bluff and said bring on the
judge tomorrow so I can argue my innocence in a Mexican court. They
discussed it in Spanish. Drove around some more and finally just told
me to get out in some ghetto neighborhood I had no idea where it was.
I figured they had a superior somewhere that they didn't want hearing
my side of the story. I got off for the cost of cab ride back to the
border but I bet most real tourist crack under that kind of pressure
and offer whatever cash they have to avoid Mexican jail. No
way is Mexico as safe as America but risk is all relative. I do love
Tijuana though.