Best Car Rental in Playa del Carmen 2023: Important Info + Tips

Are you planning a trip to Playa del Carmen and wondering what the best car rental options are?

As a travel blogger that lives in Playa del Carmen, I’m here to help!

To be completely honest, renting a car in Playa del Carmen can be a bit of a hassle.

Rental car scams are common in Mexico and it’s easy to get ripped off. But at the same time, renting a car gives you so much more freedom to explore all the best attractions in Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya.

So if secluded beaches, incredible cenotes, and ancient Mayan ruins are on the top of your must-see list, renting a car is the best way to check them all off!

In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know about renting a car in Playa del Carmen, including how to book the best car rental in Playa del Carmen, safety tips, costs and insurance info, common scams to watch out for, and loads of helpful advice.

From my experience, I’ve found that Discover Cars is the best place to rent a car in Playa del Carmen and in this article I’ll explain why!

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Car rentals in Playa del Carmen Mexico can either be booked online in advance, in person at the car rental location, or upon arrival at the Cancun Airport.

I’ve found that the best option for Playa del Carmen car rentals is to book online in advance through Discover Cars. Here’s why:

Book Online through Discover Cars

Booking a car rental online in advance gives you the best selection of cars and the best prices, as well as detailed ratings and reviews from other customers.

I recommend Discover Cars as the best car rental in Playa del Carmen because they offer:

• A wide selection of cars from both Mexican and international rental car companies
• Extremely detailed ratings and reviews
• No hidden costs
• Full coverage insurance
• 24/7 customer service
• Free cancellation up to 48 hours in advance

When searching for car rentals on Discover Cars, you can easily see all of the information you need including the insurance coverage, pickup locations, and deposit amounts.

And you can search and filter for the exact type of vehicle you’re looking for including the number of seats, transmission type, and specifications.

But what I love the most is the detailed ratings and reviews you can see for each rental car company. Some of the ratings you can see include:

• Overall value for money of your rental car
• Ease of finding rental desk or representative
• Efficiency of the car rental agents
• Time spent picking up the car
• Time spent dropping off the car
• Car cleanliness
• Overall condition of the car

Because you have access to so much information and reviews, you can make a much more informed decision when selecting the best Playa del Carmen car rental for you.

👉 Search for Playa del Carmen car rentals on Discover Cars by clicking here!

Yes, it is safe to rent a car in Playa del Carmen but it’s important to take certain precautions.

Rental car scams are common in Mexico so it’s best to book your rental car online in advance (I recommend Discover Cars).

This will ensure you get the best availability and best selection of cars, while giving you detailed ratings and reviews to compare.

When booking, always read the fine print of your rental agreement before signing anything.

This will ensure you know exactly what is covered in the agreement and how much you will be paying.

And before setting out, always take pictures, make sure your car has a full tank of gas, and be sure to download offline maps in case you lose cell service.

Finally, make sure to follow all local laws, drive defensively, and never leave any valuables in the vehicle.

It’s also best to avoid driving at night in Mexico as roads can be more dangerous and visibility is limited.

When deciding whether or not to rent a car in Playa del Carmen, it really depends on your travel plans.

If you are planning to stay within the city limits and spend all your time at the pool or beach, then renting a car may not be necessary.

In that case, the easiest way to get around is to book a private airport transfer from Cancun Airport Transportation and then use taxis and public transportation options like colectivos or the ADO bus to get around.

However, if you want to explore the Yucatan Peninsula or visit nearby cities in Quintana Roo, secluded beaches, sacred cenotes, and hidden attractions, then renting a car may be the best option.

In addition, renting a car can save you money in the long run since long-distance taxi fares in the Riviera Maya are not cheap and can add up quickly.

Some nearby towns worth visiting on a Yucatan road trip are Puerto Morelos, Bacalar Lagoon, Mahahual, Valladolid, Merida, and El Cuyo.

So, if you are planning to explore more of Mexico and get off the beaten path, then renting a car in Playa del Carmen is definitely worth considering.

Rental car costs vary depending on the type of car, the rental company you choose, the pickup location, and the rental duration.

Generally, economy cars start at around $25 USD/day, mid-size cars start at around $30 USD/day, and larger vehicles (SUVs) start at around $40 USD/day with car insurance included.

Additionally, full-coverage insurance from Discover Cars can be purchased for around $6-$12/day which is highly recommended as it will protect you from excess damages or liabilities.

Parking in Playa del Carmen varies from location to location, but generally speaking there is plenty of roadside parking throughout the city.

In many areas, this is metered parking during the day so you’ll need to pay at a nearby kiosk. Make sure to have pesos (coins) on hand for this.

If you are visiting grocery stores like Walmart, Chedraui, or Mega, free parking is available on-site.

For overnight parking, it’s best to check with your hotel or vacation rental if they offer on-site parking. Many of the larger condo buildings in Playa del Carmen have free underground parking garages.

And if you are planning to visit beaches or cenotes outside of Playa del Carmen, free parking is typically available.

Yes, it is generally safe to drive in Playa del Carmen, although you should always be aware of your surroundings, follow all traffic laws, and practice defensive driving.

In general, drivers in Playa del Carmen (taxi drivers especially) can be a bit unpredictable and aggressive at times, so be aware and drive cautiously.

The roads and highways in Playa del Carmen are mostly well-maintained but there are some occasional potholes and other road hazards, so be sure to keep an eye out.

You’ll also want to watch out for speed bumps (“topes”) which are extremely common in Mexico and can easily sneak up on you.

It’s also common to come across traffic checkpoints, which are typically staffed by Mexican police and military personnel.

You typically just have to drive slowly through them so don’t be alarmed if you come across one. As long as you are not doing anything illegal, you most likely won’t be asked to stop.

It’s best to avoid driving at night as well, as roads can be more dangerous and there are more inherent safety risks.

🚨 Do you need travel insurance for Mexico? Yes! Most insurance plans in your home country will not cover incidents abroad. I recommend using Travel Insurance Master, which is a handy travel insurance marketplace where you can compare policies. Get a FREE quote by clicking here!

Yes, it’s possible to rent a car from Cancun International Airport and they typically have a wider selection of vehicles at lower prices.

However, it’s important to be aware that rental car scams are extremely common at the Cancun Airport and many travelers have reported being charged insanely high fees or not getting the car they reserved.

In general, the Cancun Airport can be chaotic and stressful and unfortunately, it’s a place where many people get taken advantage of.

To avoid added stress, I recommend booking your car online in advance through Discover Cars, since you can compare prices and reviews from different providers and make the most informed decision.

The road conditions in Playa del Carmen are generally in very good shape. The main highway 307 is well-maintained, although you may face occasional traffic delays and road construction areas from the Maya Train.

If you are planning to drive within the main tourist destinations, you should be able to get by with an economy or mid-size sedan without any issues.

However, if you’re planning to drive on any backroads (like to El Cuyo for instance), you may want to consider renting a four-wheel drive vehicle or SUV as some of these roads can be quite rough, especially after heavy rains.

Additionally, if you’re planning to drive to further destinations like Chichen Itza or Valladolid, you’ll likely come across the toll roads (“cuotas”).

Always take toll roads when possible as they are much safer, faster, and well-maintained.

Third Party Liability Insurance is the most common type of insurance for car rentals in Mexico and it covers any damage or injury that may occur to another person or property as a result of an accident.

Liability insurance is mandatory in Mexico and is included in the price of most rentals. Be sure to check the Rental Conditions agreement to verify that this is included.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver insurance coverage reduces your liability for any damage to the rental car in the event of an accident.

Collision Damage Waiver is included in the price of many rentals as well but is usually pretty basic and may only cover certain parts of the rental vehicle.

If you chose the Full-Coverage insurance plan from Discover Cars, they will reimburse any expenses that are not covered (up to $3000 EUR).

Purchasing this plan is a nice added safety net in case anything happens to your rental car.

💳 Note: Many credit card companies in the US also offer CDW coverage as part of their reward programs. Some rental companies in Mexico may accept this but the majority most likely will not. Do not count on using this benefit in Mexico.

This optional insurance coverage protects you from any theft that may happen to the rental car during your trip.

This will likely be an upsell from the rental agency and is often not worth the extra cost as long as you don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle.

My recommendation is to purchase the Full-Coverage insurance plan from Discover Cars and decline any additional add-ons.

The Full-Coverage insurance plan from Discover Cars costs about $6-$12 USD per day depending on the vehicle type and can save you a lot of pain and headache at the counter.

When you get to the car rental counter, they are probably going to try and upsell you on insurance coverage in order to reduce the deposit amount.

However, if you’re okay with placing a larger hold on your credit card, the Full-Coverage plan from Discover Cars will cover any excess charges (up to $3000 EUR) in the event of theft or damage.

First and foremost, you typically must be at least 25 years old in order to rent a car in Playa del Carmen.

Some companies may allow drivers under the age of 25 but they may require an additional “Young drivers” fee.

A valid driver’s license is also required. If you are from the United States or Canada (or any country that uses the Roman alphabet), you can use your standard driver’s license from your country.

If you are from another country that does not use the Roman alphabet (e.g. China, Japan, etc.), you will need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to rent a car.

A credit or debit card is also required for the car rental deposit, which may be around $1,000-$2,000 USD depending on the type of vehicle.

It’s always best to use a credit card instead of a debit card if possible as they offer more protections and will take significantly less time to process the refund.

Some rental companies may accept cash payments but this can be more costly and will likely require a huge sum of money.

It is a requirement to purchase liability insurance that is valid in Mexico when renting a car in Playa del Carmen.

Your credit card coverage will likely not cover you in Mexico so you’ll need to purchase the mandatory liability insurance that is included in most rentals.

You might come across some rental agencies that offer cheap cars for a low price of only $1/day and while this may sound too good to be true, it probably is.

In most cases, these “deals” include an incredibly high deposit fee or mandatory insurance that you won’t be aware of until you show up to the rental counter.

One common rental car scam is charging much more than agreed upon in the online reservation.

This can be for the car rental, additional insurance fees, extra drivers, GPS systems, local taxes, or whatever other fees they may think of.

It’s best to check all the paperwork and receipts carefully to make sure you’re not being overcharged.

Rental car companies may try to upsell you on additional insurance, liability waivers, or other “add-on” services.

It’s best to do your research to make sure you’re familiar with the different types of insurance and what’s already covered in your reservation.

Another common rental car scam is the classic bait and switch for the vehicle type.

This means that they will bait you with a low rate for a particular type of vehicle online, but when you get to the rental location, they’ll switch it for a different type of car or a much more expensive one.

It’s best to make sure that you read your reservation confirmation and get a full list of what’s included before you book.

Most companies will require credit card deposits for rentals, but some companies will try and charge something crazy like $10,000 USD for a deposit.

It’s best to always use a credit card instead of a debit card and make sure you have enough credit limit available for the deposit.

Another common scam is for car rental companies to try and charge you for damages to the vehicles.

Be sure to inspect the car for any damages thoroughly before you rent it, take plenty of pictures, and make sure it’s noted in the paperwork.

This will help to avoid extra fees for damages that may have been present when you rented it.

This type of scam happens most commonly when filling up at a gas station. Gas stations in Mexico are not self-serve, which means that there are attendants that will pump the gas for you.

If paying in cash, it’s a common scam for them to try and swap a $500 peso bill with a $20 peso bill because they are both blue in color.

For instance, if you give them $500 pesos, they’ll do a quick swap while you’re not looking and say that you only gave them $20 pesos.

Another common scam is when the gas attendant doesn’t reset the pump to zero before filling up your car.

This means that you could be charged for more gas than you actually used. Always check that the meter is at zero before filling up your car.

This is not really a scam but it’s important to know that while stopped at a traffic light, it’s very common for window washers to approach your vehicle and offer a quick windshield cleaning service.

If you don’t shake your head no or tell them to go away, they’ll quickly start washing your windows and then will expect a fee for the service.

When booking your Playa del Carmen car rental, it’s best to book online in advance through Discover Cars.

This will help to avoid any scams and get the best rate, as well as give you plenty of time to compare prices, check reviews, thoroughly read the rental agreement, and check for any hidden fees.

Cancun Airport car rentals are convenient but there is a much greater chance of being scammed.

I recommend booking in advance through Discover Cars so you can compare prices and policies ahead of time.

Before booking, make sure to check reviews and ratings of the car rental company carefully.

On Discover Cars, you can see very detailed ratings and reviews for car rental companies in Playa del Carmen.

Before you rent, make sure to take pictures of the car both inside and outside.

If there are any noticeable damages, bring them to the attention of the attendant and make sure they are noted in writing.

At dropoff, do the same and make sure all damages are recorded in writing.

This will help you avoid any extra fees or charges for damages that may have already been present when you rented the car.

It’s best to use a credit card instead of a debit card for your car rental deposit as refunds take significantly less time and there are typically more protections from your credit card company.

You’ll also want to make sure you have enough credit limit available on your credit card for the entire amount of the deposit.

Before arriving at the car rental pickup location, make sure you’ve read the rental agreement carefully so you are aware of the insurance requirements.

If you’ve purchased full coverage insurance via Discover Cars, make sure to have that documentation ready and available.

Be sure to read the rental agreement in detail and do not sign anything that you don’t completely understand.

Make sure to look out for hidden fees and check for any extra insurance or charges that may be added to the rental agreement.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the attendant.

Most rental companies will charge you a premium for returning the car with less gas than when you started.

Typically your rental agreement will say “Full to Full” or “Same to Same”, indicating the level of gas that is should be returned with.

If it’s “Full to Full”, make sure to fill up the tank before you return the car. It also doesn’t hurt to take a picture of the gas gauge in case they try and charge you after the fact.

The best thing to do in the event of a breakdown is to contact your rental car company and let them know what happened.

They will be able to provide you with assistance or advice.

If you get into an accident, it’s best to call 911 to request assistance from the local emergency services.

They will dispatch police, fire, or medical units depending on the severity of the accident.

As of 2023, a recent law has been passed to allow Uber to operate in Playa del Carmen.

However, the taxi unions are strongly protesting this law by creating barricades on the highway and there have been reports of recent violence against Uber drivers.

At this time, it is not safe to use Uber in Playa del Carmen, at the Cancun Airport, or anywhere in the Riviera Maya region.

It’s best to arrange a rental car, take a taxi, or use public transportation options to get around Playa del Carmen.

The entire downtown area of Playa del Carmen is almost completely walkable, which makes it very easy to get around on foot.

The town is centered around the lively 5th Avenue (“La Quinta Avenida”), which is a pedestrian-only street than spans for over 20 blocks and where you’ll find the majority of restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.

You can easily walk within a few blocks from 5th Avenue to the beach, restaurants, shopping malls, and grocery stores.

Biking is extremely popular in Playa del Carmen for both tourists and locals, and you’ll find bike parking racks all around town.

The best street to bike down is 10th Avenue, which is one of the main roads and has a dedicated bike lane for a good distance of the downtown area. 

Additionally, Biciplaya is a pick-up and drop-off app-based bike rental service that can be used for short rides around town. You can download the Bicplaya app to start riding today.

You can take a taxi to get just about anywhere in Playa del Carmen. They are so abundant that you can find them all over the city and easily hail them from the street. 

Taxis in Playa del Carmen are generally safe but there are bad taxi drivers out there which give them a bad name.

It’s best to use a taxi service like Radio Taxi, where you can arrange a ride on WhatsApp.

A colectivo is the most popular form of public transportation in Playa del Carmen and is basically a taxi-style van that runs continuously up and down the main highway. 

From Playa del Carmen, colectivos can be taken north to Cancun, south to Tulum, or even to Chiquila if you’re planning to visit Holbox Island.

Once you get the hang of it, colectivos are an easy and inexpensive way to get to beautiful beaches, cenotes, and towns just outside of the city of Playa del Carmen. 

The ADO bus line is one of the largest bus lines in Mexico and serves the southern part of Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula.

In Playa del Carmen, the ADO buses are most commonly known as the airport bus, as it’s the cheapest way to get from Cancun Airport to Playa del Carmen. 

The Playa del Carmen ADO bus station also serves as a Riviera Maya transportation hub to reach other nearby destinations like Tulum, Cancun, Bacalar, Holbox, Merida, and Valladolid. 

Mexico’s Caribbean coast is home to some of the best beaches in the world with turquoise waters and powder white sand.

And many of these are hidden gems or secret beaches that can only be reached by car.

Some of the best secret beaches near Playa del Carmen are Xcacel Beach, Playa Xpu-Há, and Punta Maroma.

The Yucatan peninsula is home to hundreds of stunning cenotes. These natural sinkholes are filled with fresh water and are perfect for swimming, snorkeling, or just hanging out in a beautiful natural setting.

Some of the best Playa del Carmen cenotes to visit are Cenote Eden, Cenote Azul, Cenote Cristalino, Dos Ojos Cenote, Gran Cenote, Cenote Calavera, and Cenote Tak Be Ha.

And if you want to see some really incredible cenotes, then head to Valladolid and check out Ik Kil Cenote, Cenote Suytun, Cenote Oxman, or Cenote Zaci.

The Mayan civilization left behind some of the most impressive ruins in the world. With a rental car, you have the freedom to travel anywhere and check out some of these amazing sites.

Near Playa del Carmen, some of the best Mayan ruins to visit are the Tulum Ruins, Cobá, and Chichen Itza.

And if you have time, be sure to check out less well-known ruins like Uxmal, Ek Balam, or Chacchoben.

The Yucatan peninsula is full of adventure parks and eco-parks that offer different experiences like zip-lining, ATV tours, underground rivers, snorkeling, and much more!

The most popular adventure parks near Playa del Carmen are the Xcaret adventure parks including Xcaret, Xplor, Xel-Ha, Xenses, Xavage, and Xoximilco.

Transportation to these parks can be expensive, so a rental car is a great way to save money when visiting the parks. Plus, free parking is available at all the parks.

The Ruta de los Cenotes (“Route of the Cenotes”) is a route near Puerto Morelos that is lined with incredible cenotes and eco-parks like Cenote Zapote.

Having a rental car is the best way to visit Ruta de los Cenotes as this area is a ways off the main highway and can’t be reached easily with public transportation.

Plus, with a rental car, you have the freedom to explore and find some of the best and most secluded cenotes on your own.

Akumal Bay is a stunning beach just south of Playa del Carmen that is known for its abundance of sea turtles.

There are so many sea turtles in Akumal that turtle sightings are almost guaranteed and you can snorkel with them right off the beach.

With a rental car, you can get to Akumal early in the morning, before it gets crowded, and have an amazing experience with the turtles.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about renting car rentals in Playa del Carmen MX:

I hope this rental car Playa del Carmen guide has been helpful in learning about what to expect when renting a car in Playa del Carmen.

I wish I could tell you it’s going to be a pain-free process but unfortunately renting a car anywhere in Mexico can be a bit of a headache and scams are common.

But at least now you know what to expect, what to watch out for, and what tips to follow so you have a clear idea of how things work when booking a car rental in Playa del Carmen.

I recommend using Discover Cars to find the best car rental in Playa del Carmen for you because you can compare prices and see detailed reviews of many different rental car companies in Playa del Carmen.

And it’s the best choice to purchase their full-coverage insurance to make sure you’re covered in case of any unexpected events while driving.

Having a car in Playa del Carmen isn’t an absolute necessity but it does come with a lot of benefits, especially for those who are looking to explore more of the Yucatan peninsula.

Be sure to follow the tips outlined in this guide when renting and while driving to have a less stressful experience with your Playa del Carmen car rental.

Safe travels!