So you reserved and paid for a rental car in Mexico and your credit card offers car rental insurance so you think you’re covered right? Wrong. Car rental companies in Mexico (even large reputable companies) will not let you drive away without paying a TPL insurance (Third Party Liability) which costs anywhere from $15 to $19 per day. This can be a deal breaker if you are renting for more than a few days.

And don’t bother trying to pay for this when you book online. The only insurance you can get before actually picking up your car is collision protection (that’s what your credit card offers). And unless you enjoy arguing with the guy at the rental desk the sooner you accept this the happier your vacation will be. After some research I learned that some US auto insurance companies offer TPL in Mexico but you better be ready with a translated copy of your policy to present there… and make sure you speak Spanish because the guy at the desk might suddenly forget all his English.