Auto Europe
Car hire in Cancun – The Best of Mexico
A thriving coastal city, Cancun is both the natural gateway and glittering centrepiece of the Riviera Maya region, Mexico's most popular beach destination. Famous for its powdery white sands, legendary night-life and luxurious tourist resorts, the city offers its many annual visitors the opportunity to travel right back in time by exploring its well-preserved ancient Mayan ruins, particularly Chichén Itzá, the most iconic of all Mexico's stunning historic sites.
Being one of Mexico's most popular tourist cities, you can expect to find a plethora of interesting attractions, such as the Maya Museum (Museo Maya de Cancún) located in the heart of the city centre. Here visitors can learn about the region's long history and the ancient roots of the Mayan culture. The museum's highlights include more than 350 fascinating exhibits (most of which were unearthed locally in Cancun), including the 14,000-year-old skeletal remains found in Tulum and the famous Woman of the Palms dating back more than 10,000 years.
Some of the world's loveliest beaches and most historic sites are within easy reach of the city, and with a car hire in Cancun you'll be able to see and do eveything during your stay. You can also discover places like Coba, a once-thriving Maya village deep in the rain forest, as well as the world-famous Tulum ruins which are easily identified by their iconic stone tower perched high on a cliff overlooking the translucent waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Founded in 1954, Auto Europe is one of the world's leading car hire companies with more than 28,000 pick-up and drop-off locations in over 190 different destinations. We work with all the top car rental suppliers in Cancun and other popular places in Mexico and this enables us to offer the cheapest daily rates and widest selection of cars on the market. For help with your reservation, please contact our rental specialists for assistance and they will be happy to find you the best deal.
For added peace of mind, why not take a few minutes to read what other Auto Europe thought about their recent car rental in Cancun by visiting our Cancun car hire reviews page.
For more information on renting a vehicle in Cancun, click on the car hire related topics listed below:
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Where to pick up a car hire in Cancun
By working with all the world's top car hire providers, Auto Europe can offer you a wide choice of locations in and around Cancun, meaning that you can pick up your vehicle in the city centre and be on your way in a few minutes. Besides the many car hire companies operating at Cancun Airport, there are several conveniently-located suppliers' offices in other parts of the city, most of which are in close proximity to Cancun's top tourist attractions. To help you make the right choice, our state-of-the-art booking engine allows you to do an extensive search to find the best vehicle and the most suitable pick-up point for your trip to Cancun. All you need to do is key in your dates and an interactive map will appear indicating all the available locations for your car rental in Cancun.
Cancun Airport
Cancun Airport (CUN) is the main gateway to the Riviera Maya and the closest airport to Playa Del Carmen, one of Mexico's top tourist resorts. It is the second-busiest airport in Mexico after Mexico City and one of the most popular in the whole of the Caribbean region with more than 30 million passengers a year. All the leading car hire companies are represented at the airport and their desks can be found in the Rental Car Centre which is every day of the year.
Cancun Airport (CUN)
Website: cancunairport.com
Address: Carretera Cancún-Chetumal KM 22, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Telephone: +52 (998) 848 7200
Book with the best car hire suppliers in Cancun
Auto Europe is a leading international car hire company currently offering a vast selection of convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in 190 different destinations around the world. Thanks to our many years of experience dealing with all the global and local car rental companies, we can offer you the best standard of service and cheapest prices on the market.
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Should you require additional information about the car hire companies we work with or their policies, for example out of office pick up or questions regarding age restrictions, our car rental specialists are just a phone call or e-mail away and happy to assist you.
Frequently asked questions about renting a car in Cancun
This section features the most frequent questions asked by people booking a car hire in Cancun. Scroll down for important tips relating to a wide range of essential car hire topics, such as credit cards, coverage, tolls, traffic and much more. If you need any more information, please ask our reservations team for assistance and they will be happy to help you with your reservation and assist you with your travel itinerary.
Do I need a credit card to rent a car in Cancun?
Yes. To rent a car in Cancun you will always be required to present a major credit card such as Visa, Mastercard, Diners or American Express because the local vehicle supplier will want to place a hold on the value of the deductible for the vehicle they rent you whilst driving around the city and other parts of the Yucatán Peninsula. However, this amount is promptly refunded once the vehicle has been dropped off undamaged at the end of the rental period. Some drivers express surprise when they try to pick up their vehicle with just a debit or pre-paid card instead of a credit card, so to avoid disappointment it's essential that you travel with a major credit card charged with enough funds to cover the deposit. Please note that a second major credit card (also in the main driver's name) might be required when booking a premium- or luxury-category car. Follow the link to find out the six most important things to know about credit cards and deposits whilst planning your trip to Cancun. To find out how much the deposit will be (along with all the other respective credit card information relevant to your trip), all you need to do is make a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine and the details will appear when you click on the blue and white info icon ('i') in the search results. Please note that when booking a car hire online, Auto Europe accepts credit cards only as a payment method for the pre-paid reservation rate. Click here for more useful information on credit cards.
What insurance do I need for my car rental in Cancun?
All the rates for car rental in Cancun that appear in the Auto Europe search results include the minimum amount of legally-required liability insurance, TP (Theft Protection) and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), either with or without excess depending on the local car rental company. It's important to note that CDW doesn't cover all parts of the vehicle, which is why it's always best to spend a little bit more for Auto Europe’s excellent Full Damage & Theft Protection cover which covers damage to most parts of the car, including glass, wheels, roof, under-carriage, etc, the price of which may vary depending on your chosen location, rental duration, car category and supplier.
You can find all the relevant information concerning car hire coverage on the Auto Europe website by clicking the blue and white info icon 'i' after searching for a car hire in Cancunthrough the Auto Europe booking engine. This info includes the amount of the CDW Deductible, Theft Insurance Deductible and Liability Insurance for the duration of your rental period, and the same info is also included in the Terms and Conditions when making an enquiry or after having confirmed your booking.
Another thing to be aware of is the fact that sometimes the local car hire employees might try to offer you additional coverage, including (but not restricted to) PAI (Personal Accident Insurance), PEC (Personal Effects Coverage), Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance, Road Assistance etc. Auto Europe will not be able to refund the cost of any such locally-purchased insurance, even if the policy is deemed unnecessary once the rental car has been returned undamaged. You can find more tips and handy advice in our complete car hire coverage blog post.
How is the traffic in Cancun?
Unlike the driving conditions often encountered in some other parts of the country (such as Mexico City, for instance), Cancun and the Riviera Maya region is relatively easy to navigate with good sig-posting and roads that are in pretty decent condition. Try to avoid driving your car hire in Cancun through the evening traffic if possible, which can get quite heavy when everyone leaves either the office or the beach and heads for their restaurants or hotels. In Cancun, the rules of the road are a little more relaxed compared with many other tourist regions. The terrain of the Yucatan Peninsula region is mainly flat with the roads mostly straight, so you'll that the routes between Cancun and the top tourist sites like Chichen Itza, for example, are quite quick and direct. Remember that the local speed limits in Cancun are in kilometres per hour, so be sure to pay attention to your speedometer when touring the area. On motorways, the top speed limit is normally 100kph (equivalent to 62mph) and 60kph in built-up areas, although the speed limit might change on the motorway so be aware of that and adjust accordingly. Not only is drinking and driving against the law in Cancun (the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.40), but your insurance coverage will become null and void if you are found to have been drinking and are involved in an accident of any sort. If you do have an accident or encounter a problem on the roads, you can contact Mexico's emergency assistance by dialing 911, or if you're on a toll road you can contact the roadside assistance group Green Angels on 078. Please visit our Mexico Driving Guide for lots of useful information relating to getting around Cancun and the rest of the country by car.
Where can I park my car hire in Cancun?
Parking is not too much of an issue in downtown Cancun. Many of the hotels offer free parking, plus parking is mostly free at many of the archaeological sites, although it is advisable to tip the car park attendants who look after the cars. Whenever possible, it's always best to park in a proper car park with on-site security because rental vehicles are often targeted for break-ins in Cancun and other parts of Mexico. And NEVER leave anything of value visible in the vehicle when parked because it will very often attract thieves.
Do I need to pay tolls when driving my car hire in Cancun?
Yes. There is a tolled motorway in the Yucatan Peninsula that runs between Cancun and Mérida, a major tourist city about a three-hour drive to the west. Toll roads in the Cancun area are called 'cuotas' and can be expensive if you drive on them for long distances. Many toll booths accept cash only (US dollars mostly) and the local Mexican currency. Please be aware of the fact ATMs are difficult to find on motorways in Mexico, so when you are driving your car rental in Cancun it's important a sufficient amount of pesos ready to pay the tolls. In most cases, it is better to take the toll roads because they are in much better condition than the other roads in and around Cancun, plus you will reach your destination much more quickly.
Cancun Travel Guide
Whether you want to dine on the best local food money can buy, go snorkelling in the pristine waters of Cozumel or explore Mayan ruins and cenotes in Tulum, Cancun is one of the most complete destinations for a wide-ranging Mexican adventure. It is a city for young and old alike with some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean with some of the world's most historic sites an easy drive away.
Best day trips with my car rental in Cancun
Besides all the incredible things you can do in Cancun city centre, it's the day-trips that will really make your trip memorable, with dozens of places to visit in this part of Mexico's idyllic Caribbean coast. No one can resist the lure of Chichen Itza (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) or Xcaret Park, one of the best theme parks in Mexico and a must for families with young children. You can go further down Cancun shoreline with a one-way car hire and/or share the driving with one of Auto Europe's popular Free Additional Driver offers.
Riviera Maya
With its dazzling white sands and glittering blue waters, Mexico's famed Riviera Maya region is one of Cancun's star attractions. Besides enjoying its beautiful beaches, you can enjoy an extended day-trip by visiting some of the other sights, such as the ruins of Tulum and the pyramids of Cobá, as well as numerous family-orientated theme parks.
Mérida
Capital of Yucatán State, Mérida is very much the cultural hub of the Cancun area, a city famous for its festivals and first-rate museums, including the excellent MACAY (Museo de Arte Contempoáneo Ateneo de Yucatán) featuring a permanent collection of sculptures and paintings by the best local artists and the Museo de Arte Popular de Yucatán housed in an impressive 20th-century mansion.
Chichen Itza
200 kilometres to the west of Cancun lies Chichén Itzá, one of the largest and best-restored archaeological sites in all of Mexico. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this amazing place features numerous Chacmool statues and the iconic 30-metre-high El Castillo, one of the world's most photographed tourist attractions. Don't miss the Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros), a magnificent structure comprising a series of large columned halls that cast eerie shadows at sunset.
Xcaret Park
Xcaret is a major theme park and ecotourism resort located in the Riviera Maya region about an hour's drive south of Cancun. The complex comprises a number of nature-based attractions as well as a replica of a Mayan village (with real artisans at work), a Mexican cemetery, museum and a regular equestrian show. Along with a coral reef aquarium, the park also features bird and butterfly pavilions, a bat cave, deer shelter and an island of jaguars
What to do in Cancun
A vibrant coastal resort city, Cancun has it all when it comes to first-choice travel destinations. Arguably Mexico's most popular beach paradise, it has an abundance of attractions, including several first-rate museums and galleries. Don't miss the Cancun Interactive Aquarium (one of the Caribbean's best) and the El Rey Archaeological Site, one of the most important places of its kind in Mexico.
- Cancun Interactive Aquarium: The only attraction of its kind in the city, the excellent Cancun Interactive Aquarium offers visitors the chance to observe the characteristics of the fish, understand how an ecosystem works and foster a sense of belonging through direct contact with certain organisms. A vast assortment of marine creature inhabit the aquarium, including the globe fish, hermit crab, red ear turtle and the notorious piranha red belly. Besides swimming with dolphins, visitors can also enjoy the Aquarium Trek experience, an underwater walk in which you can interact with many of the attraction's inhabitants.
- El Rey Archaeological Site: Located in the heart of the city's hotel zone, El Rey reached its heyday around the Early Classical period (from 250-600 AD) with the first settlers building their houses on raised platforms. Consiting of almost fifty structures of varying purposes, El Rey today ranks as one of the most important archaeological sites in Mexico. Archaeologists have recently unearthed important fragments of mural paintings and drawings dating from the post-classical period, as well as well as a copper axe, bracelet and ornaments of shell and bone presumed to have belonged to a high-ranking individual.
- Urbano Kabah Park: Conveniently situated in the heart of Cancun, Urbano Kabah Park (known locally as Parque Kabah) is popular with tourists and residents alike for its 2-kilometre trail through tall palm trees and verdant subtropical gardens. The park is particularly popular for families traveling with kids due to its playground and petting zoo. There's plenty of wildlife to watch out for, too, including iguanas, the raccoon-like coatis, deer, a type of small wild pig called a peccary, and even the occasional spider monkey. Don't miss the on-site Casa Maya Museum which portrays the history of the city's development.
- Delfines Beach: Despite the fact that Mexico has over 8,000 kilometres of coastline, some of its best beaches can be found along the Cancun shoreline. The city is part of the Mexican Caribbean, an area renowned for its white sands and crystalling waters. Playa Delfines is considered one of the best (and largest) in Cancun and is popular for its pure white sand, shallow waters, umbrellas for shade, good-value restaurants and regular dolphin spotting opportunities.
- Underwater Museum of Art: One of the region's most unique attractions is the Underwater Museum of Art where divers can visit four different underwater galleries housing incredible life-size statues that somehow seem to bring the coral reefs to life. Opened in November 2010, the museum has a total of 500 different sculptures created by a number of different international and local sculptors. All the exhibits are made with coral, saweed, pH-neutral cement and algae which ensures that they are able to grow and develop more naturally than an old sunken ship.
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