Welcome to our 5 tips you must know before driving in Mexico! As lovers of all kinds of Mexican adventures, especially road trips, we feel these tips are overdue. We are guilty of driving into Baja as college kids without a care in the world. Looking back, these tips would have helped us become more confident and aware drivers in really any foreign country much sooner. Like California, many areas of Mexico are car country. Amazing secluded beaches and rad tiny towns are only accessible by car. The freedom that your own transportation brings will open up a multitude of new options for your trips. As with all time abroad, be aware of the local rules and use big city smarts. We hope these tips help you ease into becoming a comfortable or even confident driver when you cross the border.
Everything in this article will pair perfectly with a road trip to Mexican wine country in the Valle de Guadalupe. Be sure to check out our 15 best places in the VDG article here. You are of course welcome to stay at our ocean view condo Casa Malaga!
1) The Toll Roads
On Mexican highways, two distinct paths await: the toll roads, ‘cuota’, and the free roads, marked as ‘libre’. While toll roads have a fee, they offer a safer journey, with wider lanes that are better maintained. The free roads can be hazardous as they wind through bustling towns and have more frequent potholes and sneaky stop signs. Opting for the toll roads ensures a smoother ride, especially at night when visibility is reduced due to minimally lit roads.
For example, If you don’t use the toll roads while driving to the Valle de Guadalupe, maps will likely take you through the middle of Tijuana. The huge roundabouts in sprawling Tijuana are not bucket list items, we promise. From the border heading to the VDG, you will come across 2 toll roads that are about 3 dollars or 50 pesos each. Having cash in either currency is a great idea.
Another bonus of the toll roads is that the bilingual roadside assistance company Green Angels patrol the highways. Travelers can navigate with confidence, knowing help is likely available in times of need. Call 078 from your phone or reach them on their app ‘Angeles Verdes’ to seek assistance.
*Pro tip ~ Mexican highways can be major transportation hubs for pedestrians and bikers, even when there is little to no shoulder. Be extra alert and always look for people on the roads.
2) Don’t Drive at Night
A good practice in Mexico and maybe the most important of all these tips is, don’t drive at night. Navigating Mexican roads at night entails heightened risks mainly because they can be extremely dark. The reduced visibility amplifies dangers such as hidden potholes and wandering livestock. Having to get a tow or new tires past sundown is an adventure you can save for an episode of Narcos. ¿y tu hablas español? (We may or may not have this story to share with you over the campfire, 😲). Also, exit signs and exits can be minimally marked making them mysterious to a new driver. If you must drive when it’s dark go slow and be extra alert.
Like many places, cops will capitalize on wrong moves such as going the wrong way down a 1-way street. I am guilty of this in Tijuana, but in broad daylight, 😮💨 . The cop did capitalize, haha.
3) Get Insurance
Continuing with our 5 tips you must know before driving in Mexico – get insured! When driving in a foreign country, the risk of accidents increases. If you are taking your own car, it’s not as painless as adding insurance to the rental car tab. However, it is readily available online. While some US policies cover driving in Mexico, many do not. It’s the law for Mexican drivers to at least carry liability insurance, however our Baja car insurance company assured us that most locals do not. If you get into an accident, failure to provide proof of valid insurance could lead to fines or even detention. We like the friendly service of Baja Bound where you can quickly get insured for your exact trip dates.
If you are looking to stay in Mexico longer and want to insure your car or even home, we love the services of Bernie’s Insurance. If you opt for this, splurge for full coverage so your car is protected from uninsured drivers.
*Pro tip ~ we even have Bernie’s pay a few of our bills at Casa Malaga! If you are investing in Baja property, reach out to us for more info.
4) Carry the Proper Visa
Did you know you need to carry the proper visa while driving for extended periods in Mexico? This visa shows you entered the country by car, much like the visa you get while flying proves you entered via plane. This is extremely important as you will likely come across routine checkpoints on longer trips and be asked for documentation. At this point, you can be asked for a driver’s license, passport, car registration, visa and even insurance.
The good news is this visa can be purchased upon arrival in Mexico right after you cross the border for around $50 and they last for 6 months. If you are crossing the San Diego/Tijuana border heading to Baja, be sure to map directly to the border office here (with your passport in hand). It will be hard to back track to this location if you pass it. *A hot tip ~ everyone in the car needs to get this car visa, not just the driver.
5) Travel with a Buddy
Finally as we round out our 5 tips you must know before driving in Mexico, travel with a buddy! Happy to report our list has one tip that is not all business, lol. Truly, who doesn’t want to be in Mexico with a buddy or two? Having a co-pilot on foreign road trips can save lives, tested and true. Make sure your best mate is not just the DJ, put them on a mission to be as alert as you. The sleepy friends can stay in the backseat. I can’t stress enough that more eyeballs on the road can be a game changer. This is especially helpful if you find yourself driving in busy cities where the driving style differs from what you are used to.
Lastly, if you are flying into San Diego and want to rent a car in the US to drive into Mexico, that is possible! Baja Bound offers that service as well. They rent cars and vans that you can easily bundle with their insurance. As you may have guessed, your average car rental agency does not permit you to drive their cars into Mexico.
See You on the Road
We can’t wait to see you on the road! Road tripping is our favorite ways to see the world. I love the childlike curiosity it evokes and the anticipation of the unknown is something I will forever chase. I share these tips with passion not to scare you about driving in Mexico, but to prepare you. These are easy guiding posts that will make your voyage safer while leaving you with more time for tacos and surf. Driving in Mexico will open up a whole new set of endless possibilities and we are eager to hear about where you go (and what you eat). As always please reach out with any questions or tips of your own you want to share with us, 😁.
Adios amigos,
Rach
PS ~ Now that you are a Mexican driving pro, you may just pop over to the Valle de Guadalupe for a quick lunch or dinner. We have our top pics in detail here!
