How much are the mandatory undisclosed fees for car rentals in Mexico?
I've booked a car from Avis in Cabo which looked suspiciously cheap at $41 for 3 days:
Looking for information online it seems that it's a common bait-and-switch scheme where you're shown a low price online, but then forced to buy extra insurance later:
Just like in the U.S., car rental insurance in Mexico is mainly divided into two types of coverage: collision damage and liability. But Mexico has a mandatory insurance requirement that makes declining coverage a potential minefield. The dirt-cheap Mexican car rental rates don't include insurance, which can triple the cost of the rental.
If you don't have liability coverage, you can opt for a Third-Party Liability plan for $15 per day. This insurance covers claims for injury or damage you cause to another driver, car or other property damaged in an accident. This per-day rate for liability insurance is often the equivalent of the weekly rate for the car.
However that $15/day is quoted for Alamo and I cannot find anything about it on the Avis website. Likewise I'm worried that there might be additional hidden fees for car rentals in Mexico. How much should I really expect to pay on a $14/day rental?
Best Answer
In the end I wasn't required to pay anything extra when renting with Avis, but voluntarily chose to take the liability insurance for $15/day. Your credit card would be charged with the following deposit:
- Rental amount, if you take both CDW and liability insurance
- $1000, if you only take the liability insurance
- $2500, if you refuse all insurance
Therefore I can confirm that Avis in Cabo doesn't have any hidden fees. Here's a copy of my final receipt:
Pictures about "How much are the mandatory undisclosed fees for car rentals in Mexico?"
How much do they charge to rent a car in Mexico?
Cheap car rentals in MexicoEconomy$5/dayFull-size SUV$54/dayMini$22/dayPremium$52/dayPassenger van$76/day10 more rowsHow can I avoid extra fees when renting a car?
How to Avoid Rental Car FeesIs third party liability mandatory in Mexico?
The Third Party Liability (TPL) is mandatory in all rentals NO EXCEPTIONS. In Mexico, the Protection of Third Party Damages (Civil Liability) is required by law in all vehicles.Do you have to pay excess when renting a car?
If something happens to the rental car while you have it, the rental company will repair or replace it and charge you an 'excess'. Find out how an excess works and how to avoid paying one. If a hire car is damaged or stolen, there's a limit to how much the renter will have to pay to repair or replace it.Is The Car Rental Insurance In Mexico A Scam?
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