Cancun Rent a Car reviews

[L.A.]

We're headed back to the Yucatan in August for a week + and are looking for reviews of Cancun Rent a Car. We've been twice before in the last year and a half and rented from Avis and Hertz. Hertz was a disappointment and Avis was spendy. Please share any comments you have of your experience with Cancun Rent a Car. Thanks!

[NEON]

...Hertz was a disappointment...

How so?

[Randy Thornton]

Rented from Hertz in Cancun last year and there were several money surprises when I went to pick up the car that were not expected. Ended up costing me about $300 more than I was planning on.

[L.A.]

Rented from Hertz in Cancun last year and there were several money surprises when I went to pick up the car that were not expected. Ended up costing me about $300 more than I was planning on.

We waited over three hours to pick up our car, they didn't have the car we reserved, the lot boy who brought our car had alcohol on his breath, and they tried to 'surprise charge' us when re returned the car. Never again will I rent from Hertz in Cancun.

[ae3753]

For those renting a car from Hertz Cancun, I took pictures of the cars and classes: Hertz Cancun rental car experience (http://www.deepseasherpa.com/blog/training/hertz-rental-car-in-cancun/).

Last February, I waited in line to return my Dodge Attitude rental to get a larger vehicle. I was switching a compact car to a mid-sized car. One and half hours later, I got a different color Dodge Attitude.

I have rented from Easy Way (http://www.easywayrentacar.com/). And while the cars are not new or in great shape, they were a good price and the wait was much shorter.

[L.A.]

Here's a follow up to my original post asking for reviews of Cancun Rent a Car. We just returned from a trip to the Yucatan and rented a Nissan XTrail from them. Making the online reservation was simple and no CC was required. Their prices are all inclusive, and that includes insurance with a $0 deductible.

A Cancun Rent a Car rep was waiting for us when we exited the airport in Cancun, and minutes later arrived at their office (barely off site of the airport). Paperwork completion took about 15 minutes. The car arrived and was brand new and was exactly what we had rented.

We returned the car three days before the end of our trip for a side trip to Isla Mujeres. After we returned the car, one of the staff members drove us to the passenger ferry terminal at Puerto Juarez for free.

Their service was great and prices reasonable. I'll definitely use them next time we travel to the Yucatan.

[Phil]

We rented there last winter.
Great prices but not much car in the lot.
We rented a jeep liberty and we drove a jeep compas... not the same. It took one day to get the compass, they got us a car in the waiting time.
I immagine this can hapen in any car rental company but it is quite disapointing. We made the reservation in advance on internet.
The rest was good.

Before we rented from Hertz (3 times). The last time, we had to change the vehicule 3 times during the week because of windows problems...

Phil

[Susan Ann]

Rented from Cancun Rentacar, also known as Caribbean Rentacar, and American Rentacar, in December 2009. Good points: They called and confirmed our reservation the day prior, and were at the airport to pick us up at 2 am, even though our flight was 6 hours late arriving. Bad points: Our requested 4x4 wasn't available (in the shop having the transmission repaired). We were told that it would be delivered to us the following day at our hotel. Two days later, we called and were told it would be there in 2 hours. After 4 hours, we left town to drive south, needing to arrive before dark. Another phone call: they would deliver to Majahual (now it needs the brakes done and an oil change). Two days later, I notified them by email that the speedometer/odometer had quit working in the base model Chevy, and we needed our replacement vehicle. Never heard a word from them. When returning the Chevy we were told that it had been documented and we would "probably" receive 5% back on our rental cost. The rep insisted that the rental cost was the same for the Chevy as for the Fiat Panda 4x4 we had requested. You decide. We felt ignored and ultimately ripped off. Will update this post if anything transpires.

[deanme]

Here's a follow up to my original post asking for reviews of Cancun Rent a Car. We just returned from a trip to the Yucatan and rented a Nissan XTrail from them.
I'll definitely use them next time we travel to the Yucatan.


Can I ask, who is "them"? Avis? Thanks in advance for the input.

I have rented from Thrifty twice now. They are ok. Car was in good shape and the wait was minimal.

I got the car we wanted at the advertized price. But the insurance increased the price quite a bit, I think $22 a day for full coverage. If you get insurance outside of Thrifty, then Thrifty will force you to get liability at $11 a day, saying it is a law.

After tax and insurance, I paid about $900 for a mid-size SUV Jeep hard top something or other. Great car, but the $900 is rediculous. I'm renting a smaller car this time. I don't mind winding up the rubber band, and for those frew occasions where I need to drive on a rough road, I'll hire a guide.

For my trip in January, I've rented a Dodge Attitude from Hertz. But after reading the reviews below, I may consider changing to another car company.

Renting a car is the worst part about my Tulum experience. I hate it.

dean

[Me]

Over on LocoGringo, the two recommended rental agencies are Cancun Rentacar and Easy Way. Easy Way seems to get most of the raves. The perk with both is their prices are quoted with full insurance, no surprises.

I've rented from Hertz (never again) and also Cancun. My experience with Cancun was excellent, no problems. Tho, keep in mind a Fiat Panda is listed as a 4x4 SUV.....um, no. It's no more than a slightly larger rubberband car.....still wouldn't make it back to some of the remote sites.

[gearhound]

I have mixed reviews for Cancunrentacar. It's supposed to be all inclusive, with zero deductible. Everything went quite well the first time I rented from them. On my last occasion, everything went well until I got home. When we dropped the car off, they did an inspection and cleared everything. So we left. A couple of weeks after arriving home, I got a second charge of $200 on my credit card. I phoned them and they said there was a chip in the windshield and that the $200 was to cover that. So much for zero deductible. I asked them how that could be, since we inspected the car and there was no damage. I disputed the charge with my credit card company, but there was nothing they could do. Cancun provided all this paperwork that was signed that said I was responsible. According to the credit card company, this is not uncommon. No matter which car company you rent from, they pull this stunt every once in a while. So, if you do rent from them, make sure you grab the blank signed credit card reciept (the one you sign at the beginning) when you leave.

[LCF]

We've rented from Hertz about five times now, and had no bad experiences yet. In fact, on one trip, they didn't have the small car I reserved . . . so they gave me a Dodge Dakota! We were thrilled with that for the ten days we were there, so the next time we went in, I smiled at the clerk and said, "You wouldn't happen to be OUT of the car I reserved, would you, like last time?" He didn't get the humor, got upset that we hadn't gotten what we wanted, and gave us a free upgrade to an SUV for a week.

But they're definitely spendy. My one attempt to go cut-rate resulted in a van with no brakes, a non-working window and a glove compartment that fell open every time the car went over a bump. Not to mention picking it up with the tank on the reserve icon. I'm convinced they siphon out the gas when the car comes back, and give it to the next person empty, because who would be stupid enough to return a rental car with the tank on fumes?

I agree that car rental is the absolute WORST part of a Mexico cave diving trip.

[CaveBuddy95]

Hola,
car rental anywhere in the world is a jungle! Let alone here, in Mexico!!
With time you get to find the right place run by the right people but it takes time and $$$
When we moved to the Mayan Riviera, we decided not to buy a care straight away and use the taxi a dn other collectivo. It turns out to be ok, just around Playa, where we lived.
After a while, we made the decision to buy and were told of the 'Tianguis' or fair that was taking place in Cancun.
So to get there we had to rent...:? I was lucky on the first call..thats real luck but I'm here to share!
The company is called Alabama Car Rental (http://www.alabamacarental.com/) and is run by a guy called David, very friendly and efficient.
He's got the regular yogurt pot or Atos for the connoisseur and Liberty Jeeps.
He's got good prices and if you ask for David and tell him you come from me, maybe, I say, maybe, you get served well..!!:smt081
Again, when high season kicks in, patience run thin with a business like that so take it Mexican style, easy with a smile but firm..:rollguy

Let me know how it goes and remember to contact me if you want to be filmed during your dives!!!



:arrowgreen

[deanme]

You all have scared me into going back to Thrifty for my mid January trip. I have rented a car from them 3 times now, and other then cost I've been very happy. No late trailing fees, no long wait, no issues other then the required $22 a day for complete coverage.

Going to rent a "standard" car this time, and not my Liberty Jeep. Cost difference is $900 (for the Jeep) vs $320 plus insurance (for the standard car).

I apprecaite everyone's input. Always good to learn from the experience of others.

dean

[refinished]

Despite being a quite frequent renter from Hertz and Avis in other parts of the world, I've used the smaller agencies in CUN and saved a pile of money. Easyway has been good to us by providing friendly service, prompt pick-up, and clean cars.

Myself and others have been pressured to pay for damage that we didn't do and was not exquisitely documented on the drive-out sheet. Take a few high-rez pics of the car before you even start it to document the condition or you may find yourself arguing (in Spanish) over the possibility that you may have enlarged a pre-existing scratch. I had just that kind of argument once. When I did not give in, the attendant offered to forget about it for a 'tip'. He got none, but made me feel the heat for boarding time.

[rjack]

I have had good luck with EZ. Not waits, decent prices, and no post rental haggling. I just rent the compacts and they hold 4 sets of doubles for me (riddin' only a bit low)

You really want to spend the relatively small amount extra for insurance down there. Every avenue available to keep you out of jail if you wreck is a good avenue.

[deanme]

Ok, I have now dropped my Thrifty reservation and made a reservation through EasyWay. You all are correct, great rates and nice WEB site. lists all the insurance options for you to decide ahead of time, with minimal confusion.

Thank you for the input.

dean

[deanme]

Ok, I have now dropped my Thrifty reservation and made a reservation through EasyWay.
dean

EasyWay, or AdoCar (which is the real name of the rental car company here in Mexico) is wonderful. Someone was waiting for me at the door of the airport when I arrived, took me 7 minutes to the car rental place on 307, and processed my paperwork in minutes. No hidden fees, and no hassel.

Plus, I got an upgrade because my Jeep was not available. I'm driving some kind of kick ass Dodge SUV that is really nice, and all for $535 US for 8 days including unlimited insurance. (I'll post a picture of the car later). This compairs to $950 for an old Jeep for 8 day from Thrifty. I think the difference is no airport fees.

dean

[Me]

EasyWay, or AdoCar (which is the real name of the rental car company here in Mexico) is wonderful.
dean

I will refrain from telling you "I told you so....." :yawinkle:

[FW]

.... I'm driving some kind of kick ass Dodge SUV that is really nice...
Which Dodge SUV?

[huvr]

2037Does it look like this one?

[Line Squirrel]

ROFL - huvr, I got coffee coming out of my nose now :rollguy

[deanme]

Which Dodge SUV?

Dodge Nitro. Very nice.

Went down to the beach by Tulum yesterday afternoon after my dive for a few beers, and ended up at the Luna Maya Hotel. Sat down at the bar by the beach, ordered a beer, and noticed lots of naked people on the beach. Since I have been in Florida for 5 years now, where I get scolded for wearing a speedo under my wetsuit :yawinkle: , it was quite a shock. :smt100

[MichaelBaranowski]

I would like to thank everyone for the advice. After reading this I used Easyway for last weeks trip. It was great having someone waiting at the door of the airport. When we got to the lot I hear "we have a little problem". My ear perk up and I was sure I was about to get $crewed. But no the a/c was out on the car I was suppose to get. I was offered a full size for 10% of compact. So I ended up with a full size van so I had plenty of room for gear. Might have to try them out next time.

Does rental place have small trucks?