Wondering how to get around in Cabo? Driving your own set of wheels is an excellent way to explore!
Renting a car in Cabo and hitting the highway opens up this part of Mexico, offering up coastal drives and road trips to coves and beaches along the way.
You can head to the mountains, cruise along the oceanfront and make your way to other towns and cities on some easy Cabo day trips.
If you’re already looking forward to a trip to this desert-meets-the-sea destination, don’t miss our travel guide for Cabo. If you’re not yet at that stage, have a look at this article about planning a trip to Cabo.
We’ve visited Cabo many times, usually renting a car for some of the time.
Most recently we embarked on a deep dive into comparing Los Cabos car rentals – coming up with tips to help your trip run as smoothly as possible.
From rental car hazards to how to get the best value-for-money car rental in Cabo San Lucas, let’s get the motor running!
Car rental, Cabo San Lucas: Tips
Do you need a car rental in Cabo?
Is it safe to rent a car in Cabo?
What driver’s license do you need?
Best car rental at the Cabo airport
How much does it cost to rent a car in Los Cabos?
Security deposit on your Cabo rental car
Do you need to rent a car in Los Cabos?
Los Cabos is a big area.
First things first, if you’re confused about the difference between Los Cabos and Cabo, then you’ll want to read this highlighted post first.
And you’ll want to read about Cabo San Lucas vs. San Jose del Cabo too – because these two towns in Los Cabos are quite different.
But other than that, the answer to “Do you need a car in Cabo?” is… It depends on where you stay in Cabo.
For example, if you’re planning on booking an all-inclusive resort and don’t plan on lifting a finger, let alone driving (and why not!), then you won’t need a car.
The same goes if you’re planning on staying in the Cabo San Lucas area (like Medano Beach).
The town is super walkable, fun to explore, and you won’t need your own set of wheels to get around. Having a car may even be an added stress you don’t need, what with figuring out where to park and directions to the best hot spots.
However, if the idea of a day trip to La Paz or Todos Santos intrigues you, then you may want to rent a car in Cabo.
Or if you want to explore the many beaches in the Cabo area (maybe check out some beach clubs too), or go from Cabo San Lucas to the San Jose del Cabo Art Walk, again, a rental car can come in handy.
Basically having a car offers the chance to get out and explore further afield.
So while you may not need a rental car, having one can help you make the most of your time in this part of Mexico.
Tip: Rent a car in Cabo only for the days you need it
The truth is you probably don’t need a car every day. Some days, you’re just going to want to chill by the beach or pool.
There are lots of car rental offices located throughout Los Cabos – in hotels along the Corridor and in both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo towns.
Consider renting a car just for 24 hours when you want to do a day trip. Expect to pay about $100 USD for the rental and insurance combined.
(To get to and from the airport, you can take a shared airport transfer or private airport transfer.)
This is going to be less expensive than renting a car for your whole trip.
Is it safe to rent a car in Cabo San Lucas?
Driving in Cabo San Lucas is quite safe if you’re a decent driver.
While it may not be very enjoyable driving around the town of Cabo San Lucas itself, driving the main roads to see the sights in the local area can be a fun adventure.
If you’re thinking about renting a car in Cabo and wondering how safe it is, check out our article about staying safe in Cabo.
But generally speaking, we’d say yes: It’s safe to rent a car in Cabo and drive. The crime rates are low and you’re not likely to be car-jacked on the main roads.
The road conditions are generally pretty good, too.
There are a few hazards to be aware of, however. Actually, they’re not so much “hazards” but things to look out for.
Look out for one-way streets. Some are more clearly signed than others. But you could end up going the wrong way on others before you realize it!
Also, the locals (include those on motor bikes) drive crazy fast on the Tourist Corridor between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Be especially conscious of this when merging to get onto the Corridor Highway.
We also try to avoid driving after dark.
After the sun goes down, we don’t drive on the highways outside of town because of the risk of cows on the road. Yes, cows. They’re a genuine hazard, wandering out into the highways and sometimes causing serious accidents.
Drunk drivers are another night-time hazard.
Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and even New Year’s Day (still!) are notorious for this. In short, driving at night in Cabo isn’t all that fun, and best avoided if you can.
Can you drive in Cabo with a U.S. license?
If you’re coming from the United States, Canada, the U.K. or the EU, your country’s driving license will allow you to drive in Mexico. A valid driver’s license from most countries is legal in Mexico.
However, if your license isn’t printed in English, you may need to get an International Driving Permit.
Major companies offering car rentals in Los Cabos
All the major car rental companies offer car rentals in Cabo, including:
- Hertz
- Budget
- Sixt
- Alamo
- Enterprise
- Avis
- Dollar
- National
Best car rental in Cabo San Lucas airport
You might find that a Cabo airport car rental is more expensive than, say, renting a car from a location in downtown Cabo San Lucas.
That wasn’t the case on our last trip, though. We found when checking online ahead of time that the rates were the same no matter the rental location, so long as the pick-up and drop-off location was the same.
After checking into various car rentals in Cabo, we settled on renting a car online from Avis through Discover Cars, with pick-up from the Avis Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) location.
Discover Cars offered the best combination of good rates, reputable car rental agencies and affordable car insurance.
They’re an award-winning car rental platform operating in over 150 countries.
They compare various Cabo car rentals to come up with the best rates. You’ll find rates from lesser-known companies as well as big-name agencies like Avis and Enterprise.
Tip: If you book through Discover Cars, pick a car rental company that has a rating of 8.0 or higher. (Avis had an 8.6 rating when we checked. There were some car rental companies in Cabo that we’d never heard of that were cheaper, but their ratings were very low.)
Avis, Enterprise, National and Hertz pop up on various Cabo car rental review sites as some of the best companies.
Our wait time at the Avis car rental office at the Cabo airport was about 30 minutes (same for dropping off the car).
The Avis customer service was good. The representative was factual and helpful in answering our insurance questions and didn’t push us to pay for the most expensive insurance coverage. (See more on insurance below.)
Cactus Rent-A-Car also gets good reviews. They have an office at the airport too.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Cabo San Lucas?
The cost of renting a car in Los Cabos will vary, depending on a host of factors.
This includes the time of year you’re traveling, the vehicle you want and the company you’re renting it from.
To start with, as with hotels and other prices in Cabo, the high season is more expensive than quieter times of the year.
If you’re concerned about the rental price, smaller cars also tend to be cheaper than their larger counterparts.
But don’t necessarily go for what seems to be the cheapest rental!
Sometime rates are just too good to be true.
For one thing, you may get bad service. Or you end up paying more in hidden extra fees at the rental counter. Good research (and reading plenty of reviews) ahead of time will help in your search.
Many companies offer rental cars at the Cabo San Lucas airport. You may not always get the best price here. But certainly renting from the airport is convenient if you’d like a car for your whole trip.
As mentioned, it’s best to book in advance for cheaper rates.
To give you an idea of how much it might be, on our last trip to Cabo in late December, the rental rate ranged from $52 to $55 USD a day from big-name rental agencies.
At that time, Avis was quoting $418 USD for an 8-day rental of a Nissan Versa, and Hertz was quoting $440.83 USD for the same period and vehicle. That excluded insurance.
You also pay extra for additional drivers, baby seats and the like.
Cabo San Lucas car rental insurance
The cost to rent a car in Cabo San Lucas is one thing.
Car insurance is another. Expect to pay extra for car insurance – quite a bit more. And this is true no matter which company you rent from.
In fact, the insurance can sometimes double the cost of renting a car, depending on the insurance coverages you get.
Note: We found it very difficult to get complete insurance information online in advance before renting a car in Los Cabos. Just be prepared to pay more than you budgeted for various insurances when you get to the rental counter in Cabo – and you’ll be less peeved.
There are different types of Mexican car insurance.
Basic third-party liability insurance
Mexican law requires basic third-party liability insurance.
This insurance is intended to help pay for injuries suffered by another driver and passengers (plus damage to their vehicle) arising from an accident that you cause.
Your U.S. or Canadian car insurance policy isn’t accepted in Mexico for this.
It seems that this mandatory Mexico insurance is included in the rental cost (but it’s best if you confirm this when renting).
The kicker, though, is that this basic mandatory liability insurance is very limited. We’ve read that the minimum is 50,000 pesos (about $2,600 USD) for property damage and 100,000 pesos (about $5,150 USD) for bodily injury. (Of course, this could go up in future.)
The point is that this basic insurance won’t go much beyond covering a fender bender – and it certainly won’t cover claims for any serious injuries or damage you cause in an accident.
Supplemental third-party liability insurance
Because the basic insurance coverage is so limited, it’s recommended that you buy additional third-party liability insurance to the tune of at least $300,000 USD. (We always buy it.)
We understand that in Mexico, if you cause an accident resulting in death, your insurance has to pay the minimum wage multiplied by 5,000 (plus funeral expenses) per person. And the state can multiply this amount again by up to five times.
You’re at risk of being held by police and tossed in jail if you can’t prove that you have enough insurance to pay for any damage or injury you cause in an accident.
Coverage of $300,000 USD should be the minimum you get, but you might want to consider buying up to $500,000.
When you get to the car rental counter at the Los Cabos airport (or elsewhere), you’ll be offered this additional liability insurance. It’s not mandatory, though many rental agencies will tell you it is (or let you assume it is).
The cost?
For our most recent trip to Cabo, Avis was quoting $16 USD a day for additional liability insurance to a maximum of $1 million USD of coverage.
With Hertz, basic third-part liability insurance was included in the car rental rate, to a maximum of $46,000 USD per accident.
To top up this basic third-party liability insurance, Hertz was offering what they call a liability insurance supplement (LIS) to a maximum of $450,000 USD per accident.
But we couldn’t get information about the cost online in advance (presumably, it would be calculated at the counter).
Take note: If you don’t buy the additional third-party liability insurance from the car rental company, they may not rent you the vehicle.
Collision damage waiver (CDW)
This insurance is also called Loss Damage Waiver (LDW).
It partially covers damage to the rental vehicle. You’re responsible for paying the rental company for such damage – no matter who is at fault for an accident.
Again, you could be jailed until you pay the full amount.
The car rental company’s CDW or LDW usually has a large deductible.
Note: Theft is usually not covered under the CDW offered by rental car companies. Also, damage to windshields, tires and mirrors isn’t usually covered. And these kinds of minor damage can add up.
For our Avis car rental through Discover Cars, we paid a total insurance package price of about $50 USD a day.
This included additional third-party liability insurance. It also included CDW to 80% (i.e., a deductible of 20%). So if we had damaged the car, we’d have been responsible for 20% of the repair cost.
Additional loss damage waiver (LDW)
We’re not finished yet!
There’s additional “gap” insurance offered by Cabo car rental companies.
Take Hertz. For renting a car at the Cabo San Lucas airport from them, the CDW deductible (for our last trip to Cabo) would have been $900 USD for a Chevrolet Beat Sedan and $1,400 USD for a Chevrolet Aveo.
But we could have opted for their “Super CDW” for $35 USD day to “further reduce” our CDW liability.
Or we could buy their full loss damage waiver coverage for $45 USD day. This way, had we rented from Hertz, we would have had full insurance for the vehicle, i.e., no liability for loss or damage to the car (including theft).
For full CDW or LDW coverage with Avis, the cost would have been about $65 USD a day. For this package price, we would have been fully protected – full protection for any damage to the car, along with the additional third-party liability insurance.
When picking up our Avis car rental at the airport, we asked the representative which insurance package most customers go with. The answer: The “standard” 80% CDW insurance (so a 20% deductible) plus additional third-party liability insurance (the package we went with).
“Full coverage” insurance offered by Discover Cars
For the Nissan Versa car rental in Cabo that we booked through Discover Cars recently, we opted to get their so-called “Full Coverage” insurance.
The cost was a little under $7 USD a day.
Discover Cars’ full coverage insurance in Cabo covers up to $3,000 USD in damages and expenses, including:
- Damage to wheels, tires, mirrors (not covered by ordinary CDW)
- Towing charges
- Lost keys and lock-out fees
- Theft deductible
Note: For the coverage to work, you need to have CDW or LDW insurance. Discover Cars’ insurance is supplemental insurance that requires having CDW or LDW insurance.
Basically, it tops up or completes the CDW or LDW insurance.
So, for example, if you accidentally scrape the wheels along a curb in Cabo, this insurance would kick in. (Remember, wheel damage isn’t usually covered in typical CDW insurance offered by the rental car.)
To recover, you’d pay the car rental company for the damage, and then submit your claim to Discover Cars. They aim to process claims and issue refunds within 48 hours.
Using your credit card for CDW
Now, if you use your credit card to pay for your car rental, it may include CDW.
You’d still have to pay the car rental company up front for the damage, and then claim from your credit card’s insurer for reimbursement when you get home.
To recover under your credit card’s CDW insurance, you have to decline the CDW or LDW offered by the car rental company.
Many people prefer to avoid headaches and just buy CDW from the car rental company (even if they have CDW coverage through their credit card) – so they don’t have to go through the hassle of paying up front (often more than they think they should be paying) and possibly having to argue with their credit card insurer later about getting reimbursement.
Personal accident insurance (PAI)
None of the types of insurance outlined above would cover you for medical or hospital expenses if you’re hurt in a car accident in Cabo.
This optional insurance should be unnecessary, however, if you have your own travel medical insurance.
Security deposit on your credit card
Despite having valid CDW or LDW insurance coverage, chances are the rental company will put a sizeable charge or hold on your credit card as a security deposit.
Hertz would have placed a security deposit or hold of $1,600 USD on our credit card if we had gone with them for our recent car rental in Los Cabos and declined their CDW.
Avis placed a $3,000 USD hold on our credit card – and we had bought CDW insurance from them to the tune of 80% of any damage to their rental vehicle.
Best car rental company in Cabo San Lucas town
So what is the best place to rent a car right in the town of Cabo?
That’s difficult to answer. It depends on your criteria.
On our most recent trip to Cabo, a family member also rented an economy car cheaply from Ten Car Rental for a day to visit Todos Santos.
The Ten Car Rental has an office conveniently located behind Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas, just a few minutes’ walk from Medano Beach resorts.
Their vehicles are a few years old, so the rental price is cheaper than that offered by the big name car rental agencies.
The rental car was definitely not new looking and had a crack in the windshield – it blended in well with the local vehicles! And it got us all to Todos Santos and back just fine.
The rental cost for 24 hours was about $70 USD, which included all insurance. See their no-worries protection program.
Tier 1 car rental companies like Avis, Hertz and Thrifty also have offices in Cabo San Lucas. For a newer vehicle and perhaps a greater comfort level, you may prefer one of these more familiar rental companies.
Tips for driving in Los Cabos
Still wondering “Should I rent a car in Cabo San Lucas?” Here are some additional things to know:
Gas stations
You’ll want to know where to fill up your Cabo San Lucas rental car with fuel.
It’s always a good idea to fill up when you see a gas station, especially if you’re heading out on a day trip.
Most gas stations in the country are operated by Pemex, which is owned by the Mexican government.
These gas stations can be found all over, both in Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo and the Tourist Corridor. There are a few gas stations run by other companies as well.
When you pull up to a Pemex gas station, the attendants will fill the car up for you. Knowing how to get the fuel cap open (and what side of the car it’s on) is something you should figure out beforehand.
Attendants may also perform other checks on the car or even wash your windshield. You should give them a tip (a dollar or 20 pesos is good).
Also make sure you have cash on you, as they don’t always take credit cards. It’s also best to pay with cash to avoid the risk of your card being compromised.
Speed limits
Be very aware of the speed limits on the roads around Cabo. If you’re caught speeding, you’ll have to pay a fine at the local police station. And if nothing else, speeding is dangerous.
Speed limits are usually 55 mph (90 kph) on highways and up to 37 mph (60 kph) elsewhere. Always watch for posted speed limits.
Toll roads
There’s a new(-ish) toll road that connects Cabo San Lucas with San Jose del Cabo and the airport nearby. You’ll have to pay in cash; pesos and dollars are acceptable.
Other toll roads also exist on highways further afield.
Road signs
Signage can be hit or miss in Mexico. It’s not always easy to locate.
Because of this, it’s best not to rely entirely on road signs to get you to where you want to go. Google Maps or some other GPS can help guide you to your destination.
However, Baja California Sur generally has up-to-date road signs, particularly if you stay on the highways.
In the cities and towns, it’s another story. (Remember what we said about one-way streets earlier?) This can make missing your turn, or finding where you want to go, a bit of a nightmare without good GPS.
Speed bumps
Another hazard to keep in mind are frequent speed bumps (sometimes marked as topes).
These large speed bumps turn up in the strangest of places. Although they’re meant to keep us all safe by slowing down traffic, they sometimes seem more dangerous than what they’re trying to prevent.
Just keep an eye out for speed bumps and you should be fine.
Unlimited mileage
Make sure when you’re renting a car in Cabo that you have “unlimited mileage” included in the rental rate.
Otherwise, there’s a limit on the amount of miles you can drive, meaning you will to have to pay extra for any miles you drive over this cap.
That wraps up our guide to renting a car in Cabo, Mexico!
It’s a great idea to rent a car to explore places like Todos Santos and La Paz on day trips.
Every time we visit Cabo, we usually rent a car for at least a day. It’s safe, so long as you use common sense and avoid night driving in the countryside. Driving defensively is a good idea too.
Don’t be surprised if the insurance is about the same cost as the car rental, however.
In the high winter season, expect to pay about $100 USD total a day for a vehicle from the big-name car rental agencies. This will cover both the car rental cost and the insurance. When it’s less busy, you should be able to rent for less.
To avoid unhappy surprises, we suggest that you only rent direct from reputable agencies like Avis, Hertz, Enterprise and so on, or via a platform like Discover Cars (where you may get a lower rental rate for the same vehicle from one of these companies).
We hope this helps. But make sure you also do your own research and get up-to-date information before going on your trip!
Planning your trip to Cabo?
Here are our favorite travel resources:
- Resorts: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel in Cabo – or at least a decent one. (We especially like their flexible cancellation policy!)
- Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
- Tours: For the best local guided tours in Cabo, see Viator and GetYourGuide.
- Car rental: Renting a car in Los Cabos is one of the best ways to explore. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
- Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation and travel security.
Need more help planning your trip?
- See our Start here page. It lists everything we’ve written on Cabo.
- Also check our Ultimate Cabo travel guide and our article on Planning a trip to Cabo: Essential tips.
Pssst! If you make a booking or purchase through our site, we may earn a small commission (at no cost to you). Thanks!
Photos: 2, 4, 5, 6 © Janice and George Mucalov, Cabo Visitor
About the authors
Award-winning travel writers Janice and George Mucalov are frequent visitors to Los Cabos. Here on Cabo Visitor, they share their essential tips for discovering the best of Cabo!
Wesley L.
Monday 11th of December 2023
I've experienced the bill switching scam too. You hand the attendant a 200 peso bill, he does a slight of hand and quickly returns you a 20, saying that's not enough.
Janice and George
Monday 11th of December 2023
Ugh... Well, it's worth paying attention when getting gas...
Rich
Tuesday 17th of January 2023
Your tips about filling the car with gas omitted one important tip - that being to make sure the attendant resets the pump to zero before they pump gas into your car. The ploy is not prevalent, but occasionally some unscrupulous attendant will start the amount at the prior point, so unless you verify it is reset, your fuel bill may be double or more.
Also, PEMEX is not the only game in town in BCS. Mobil and a few others have stations as well. Maybe they are "owned" by PEMEX? Just FYI.
Janice and George
Tuesday 17th of January 2023
Hi Rich,
Thanks for the tip about making sure the pump is reset to zero! Sounds like you may have had a bad experience with this :-).
As for PEMEX, you're right. They're not the only gas station in the country any more. But they are the biggest. They're government-owned and until 2016, they had a complete monopoly, owned all the gas stations in Mexico and controlled the prices.
Other brands have since moved in, but most gas stations in Mexico are still PEMEX ones.