Is it safe to drive my car thru Mexico ?

Question

Is it safe to drive my car thru Mexico ?

Answer 1

As someone who takes their car into Mexico all the time, and as someone who has driven other people's cars in Mexico (including those owned by Mexican drivers), on both urban and rural roads, I may be able to answer your question.  By your question, I assume that you are concerned about other drivers and perhaps auto theft or accidents, but there is actually more to safe driving in Mexico. Safe driving in Mexico depends upon 1) where do you plan to go, 2) in what condition you car is in,  3) what sort of car do you have, 4) how you drive and your courtesies as a driver, and 5) how Mexican drivers really drive.  Let's discuss all five points but note that  they depend and inter-relate to each other.

1) Where do you plan to go?  Mexican roads vary greatly in their condition and use.  Unlike other Western industrialized countries (e.g. the U.S., Canada), the condition of the highway infrastructure of Mexican roads changes rapidly when one moves from the cities to the countryside.  In the inner cities, especially the downtown areas "el centros" as they are called, the roads can be comparable to those found in the U.S.  But in the poorer areas of many cities, the roads can quickly deteriorate to those having many, many potholes, sinkholes, etc.  *** In order to get drivers to slow down, roads may have speed bumps called "topes" that may appear out of nowhere - and can damage a car's suspension if driven over slowly.  Watch for these, especially when entering and exiting a town or road crossing via a main highway.  The clue: look for businesses at a road crossing, this usually means topes may be coming up soon.  *** Signs can be small or non-existent, and you may drive for miles on an urban street without knowing its name.  Distances, by the way, are in kilometers, not in miles for you Amercians.  In some areas of the city outskirts, and many small towns, only the main roads are paved; the rest are dirt, filled with rocks, holes, gravel and are uneven.  These can severely impact any car's suspension and shocks.  Also, in most of Mexico, even the paved highways have NO shoulders (acotamientos), and so if you are stalled or stuck, you are sitting in the middle of the roadway, and can easily be rear-ended if no one can see you or you are around a turn. Mexico does have special toll roads, called Cuotas ("quotas").  These are the best roads, with little traffic, but you have to stop regularly at the toll booths.  If you are stuck, there are the Green Angels to help you (in some areas).  *** Bring a map.  You can get maps at gas stations on both sides of the border.  My favorite are those by Guia Roji, but these are in Spanish. *** Gas refining and retailing in Mexico is a government-owned monopoly called Pemex (Petroleos de Mexico).  Their green-red-and-white signs are easy to spot, and even the smallest town has at least one Pemex station . . . but some are abandoned, especially in the Baja and in the desert regions due to low volume of customers.  Prices are in pesos per LITRE (generally like a quart), not in gallons.  Currently, there are about 10-12 pesos per dollar, but check with the local currency exchange.  ***  Speaking of money: in the border areas, most Mexican stores will take U.S. dollars (not sure about Canadian dollars), but not so in the rural areas.  So, go to a Cambios de dinero (money changer) store in a border city to get some pesos.  I prefer to do this in the financial district of a large border city, where competition keeps the exchange rate not too exhorbitant.

2) In what condition is your car?  If you are driving anywhere in Mexico, but especially in the rural areas, it helps to have a car in good mechanical shape, especially the engine, brakes, and the suspension/shocks.  Mexico is mostly desert in the north of the country and quickly becomes mountainous along the coasts and in the central plain, and jungle mountains in the southern states.  Overall it is generally hot and/or hilly.  Make sure your can has a good radiator and cooling system, even if it does not have air conditioning.  Check for oil and radiator leaks before you leave home, and bring extra oil and coolant.  Make  sure your spare tire works.  Check your suspension.  The potholes can be jarring, even in the urban areas.  In the rural areas, service stations are few and far between, but even the smallest towns have at least one.  

3) What sort of car do you have?  One worry about driving in Mexico by foreigners are auto theft and damage.  Given the condition of Mexican roads, I would be hesitant to take any new or fancy car into Mexico unless you dont' mind it getting jarred by potholes, dinged by rocks, etc. OR unless you plan to stick to the Cuotas/toll roads -- which may be your best bet.  I have no stats of auto theft, but given that Mexico is poorer than the Canada or the U.S. (some pundits consider it a Third World country, I don't), theft is an issue.  *** Note that your U.S. auto policy is INVALID in Mexico by Mexican authorities.  Before you take your car into Mexico, get a Mexican insurance policy written by a Mexican insurance company or one of its U.S. agents (which is the law in Mexico).  Some American insurers sell through U.S. insurers, e.g. AAA, but you can also try: Ace Seguros, Bajabound.com (which sells for the whole of Mexico, not just Baja), San Xavier, etc.  Be aware that the insurance costs for fancy new cars can be prohibitively expensive for a short trip; consider getting a 6-month policy, which can be cheaper and gives you extra time while in Mexico if something goes wrong.  Note that if you are in an accident, Mexican law runs on the Napoleonic code: guilty until proven innocent, so you car may be impounded.  And, if you are found to the cause of an accident AND you don't have Mexican insurance, you car can be taken away from you legally.  *** If your car has an alarm, use it, or buy a steering wheel club -- many Mexicans use steering wheel clubs instead, or in addition to, alarms.  I always use a club when I drive in Mexico.  And bring both keys for the club, put one key on your keychain, hide the other on your person in addition to a spare car key.  *** Lastly, be aware that the type of car you have can impact getting service: Nissan and VW and American cars are very common in Mexico, less so Toyotas and Hondas and European cars.  Also, the type of car you have can impact car theft: some American cars, e.g. Chevy Suburbans, are coveted by Mexicans, and the rates for taking on into Mexico are exhorbitant.   Interestingly, Chevy Suburbans are also the vehicle of choice for the narcotraficantes (drug smugglers) of Mexico, so be careful if you drive a Suburban -- you don't want to be caught in a drug-related cross-fire between police and drug trafficers or between rival drug cartels because you were mistaken for a rival drug cartel.  A rare occurrence, but I've seen shoot-outs in parking lots and I've heard of cross-fires in shopping malls.

4) How are you as a driver? and 5) How do Mexicans drive? It helps to drive carefully, defensively, and watchfully while in Mexico, given the condition of the roads and the way Mexican drivers drive.  If you are prone to cutting people off, speeding too much, driving too slow, you may be more likely to cause accidents.  In my opinion and from my experiences of driving in Mexico, Mexican drivers tend to impatient, and it pays to watch their driving carefully.  For example, roads often merge from two lanes into one with no warning. ***  If you are at a stop sign or stop light and are neck-and-neck with a Mexican car besides you, and there is only one lane for the both of you, chances are that driver is going to gun their engine and jump out at the first green to cut in front of you; it  has happened to me all too often.

***  Mexican drivers may try to pass on your RIGHT side, even driving on the sidewalk, and then quickly cut in front of you in order to get to the LEFT lane.  All without signalling. *** Mexican truckers may attempt to pass you on your left side on BLIND corners on mountain roads. To do so, they have to cross into the incoming lane (setting themselves up for a head-on collision).  Remember, there are no shoulders on most of these roads, so if the trucker has to suddenly move back into your lane, you may find yourself pushed off the roadway by his or her rig.  Whenever I am near a big rig or large truck, I stay far back or speed up to get ahead of them -- but they are more likely to be speeding than you are.  *** If an accident does occur, don't be surprised if a Mexican driver suddenly speeds off or abandons their vehicle.  Many Mexicans are too poor to afford auto insurance themselves, and not wanting to get arrested, they may take off and abandon the scene.  As a foreign national, you don't want to do this yourself, lest you get arrested and your car impounded.  Again, carry a Mexican insurance policy with adequate coverage for both accidents and theft (if you car is new enough).  *** Animals: in the rural areas, roads may be blocked by animals in the roadway or crossing the roadway.  Farm animals are much more common in smaller towns than you find in the U.S.or Canada.  *** Lastly, if you in Mexico for any long time, consider getting an International Driver's License, available at AAA.  Your province or state license is good for short stays in Mexico, but an international license is better and if you have to surrender it to police you still have your U.S. state or Canadian provincial license.

6) If you do interact with the police (whether by accident or if pulled over), remain calm, and follow their directions, except: don't get suckered in to giving them a bribe.  The police in Mexico are known to be prone to asking for bribes from foreigners and they may confiscate your license until you either see a judge or pay a bribe.  I've never been in  a situation like this, so I can't give you any advice except for: don't pay the bribe.  Ask to see the judge; in some cases, the threat of seeing a judge is simply a ruse to get you to give a bribe.  I would consult with AAA on this matter.

7) Factoid: when you are driving in Mexico, especially near the Frontera (border), you may notice many cars with American plates, especially from California and Texas.  Unless you are at the border cities, typically the driver of these vehicles with American plates are NOT Americans, but Mexicans, so don't assume that they will drive like Americans.  It is legal for Mexicans to drive cars with out-of-country plates, but they are required to register their cars with Mexican border authorities every 6 months.    When I drive in Mexico, I assume that all cars, regardless of their license plates, have Mexican nationals behind the wheel.  Also, you may see very young children drive, especially in the countryside.  

8) Learn a bit of the language.  It helps to know a bit of Spanish for both signs and to ask and understand directions.  Izquierda = left.  Derecho = right. Derecha = Adelante = forward. Atras = back.  A traves de = through = Por.  Alto = stop. Un sentido = one way.  Cuidado = caution or take care.  Ojos (slang) = watch out.  Flojo = soft or unstable.   Tope = speed bump.  Estacionar(se) = park.  Mantener/ mantenga = maintain.  Llantas = tires.  Llantera = tire shop.  Taller de servicio = service shop.  Auto = auto!  Carro = car.  Frenos = brakes.  Refacciones = parts.  Vidrios = glass.  Many signs are in universal symbology (e.g. no U turn, one way).  See the sources, especially the People's Guide for more on roadsigns and language -- this post is long enough as it stands.

9) Buses.  Mexicans use buses to get around far more than in the U.S.  Buses are the mode of transportation of choice for traveling between parts of rural Mexico. There are about 700 bus lines in Mexico, and you can get to just about anywhere on them.  Buses are a great way to see Mexico as the average Mexican experiences it.  Many buses are modern Greyhound-like but others look like (and ride like) school buses back in the states.  But don't be surpised, especially on the rural routes, to find chickens,  pigs, and goats in the back of the bus.  Also, if you are a car driver, watch for these buses.

For more information about driving in Mexico, I recommend the book, The People's Guide to Mexico, or their website www.peoplesguide.com.  While a bit lengthy and rambling, the book is the best guide to seeing the side of Mexico (both culturally and scenically) that the AAA guidebooks never show.

In summary:

* Know where you are going in Mexico and how to get there.

* Get a good map, if you don't have one.  Plan your route.

* Get Mexican auto insurance with sufficient coverage for both accident and theft (if you car is new).

Carry some pesos in addition to dollars.  Do the exhange before you are too far into Mexico.

* Make sure your car is in good condition, especially the engine and suspension.

* Consider Cuotas/ toll roads, expensive but safest of all. If you have to drive regular roads, watch for potholes and topes/speed bumps.

* Consider getting an International Driver's License (via AAA) in addition to using your regular license.

* Drive defensively, but courteously.  Realize that Mexican roads and rules of the road are not like those in the U.S. or Canada, and so Mexican drivers don't drive like us.  Assume all drivers around you are Mexican nationals, even if their cars have American plates (unless you know for sure they are American).

* Learn a bit of the langauge if you don't already, especially as it relates to road signs, gas-related terms, and repair-related terms.

*Watch for animals, buses, and big rig trucks.

* If  you are in an accident, stay with the vehicle unless it is dangerous.

* If you get pulled, over don't give in to a bribe.  But you may be able to expain you way out of a situation.  

Hope this long, long post helps.

Answer 2

yes it is, check too your insurence policy

Answer 3

sometimes it's not, for many reasons.

Answer 4

it depends on your car, it cant be new or super pretty, just a reliable car that doesnt have any problems and you know would be safe to drive for plenty of hours.regular car nothin showing that your from out of town!

Answer 5

This same question in slightly different words was asked yesterday.  It received some good answers , I have put the link to it below...as  I would answer you in eactly the same way.

Answer 6

No

Answer 7

Sure, sans hubcaps !