BajaNomad

car rental in Cabo

tunaeater - 6-6-2005 at 09:17 PM

I'll need to rent a car at the airport in San Jose del Cabo next week. How is the best way to do it? I've heard that some car rentals make you buy their insurance. Does the drivers license insurance coverage work for rental vehicles ? I will need to rent the car for a week. Thanks Paul

turtleandtoad - 6-7-2005 at 05:27 AM

The insurance rules are the same as if you were driving your own car in Mexico.

You will probably need liability insurance. No U.S. or Canadain insurance covers liability in Mexico.

Some do cover you for the rest though, so you shouldn't need to buy anything except liability (and legal). Check with your insurance agent. Some require you to notify them prior to crossing the border to make the extended coverage active.

bajaloco - 6-7-2005 at 08:20 AM

We just got back from a week in Cabo last Monday. The lowest rates were thru Dollar when you book it on-line. The rate was $10.50 per day unlimited mileage. And you do need to purchase the additional insurance, which is around $25.00 per day. The way they drive down there you would be crazy not to get the insurance. The desk agent at Dollar, hit us up for the famous timeshare presentation for a discount of $150.00 on our rental bill. The two hours spent one morning at the timeshare promo was an easy $150.00. Have a good trip...Gary

[Edited on 6-7-2005 by bajaloco]

osoflojo - 6-7-2005 at 08:28 AM

Insurance packages available from the rental companys in Cabo are usually more than the daily rate for the car. When I had to rent it was easier for me to find a good, quick body man in town than pay their rates.

Tip: In Cabo this time of year dont make a reservation in advance. You will be locked into that rate. When you arrive at SJD approach the string of rental booths which are all strung together and announce that you want the "tarifa mas barrato". They will all have their calculators out and you may be surprised at the rates you can get when they are all competing with each other. Buenas Suerte.

Arthur - 6-7-2005 at 04:48 PM

That $25 a day for insurance is the same we paid for our $18.50-a-day Camry from Avis in San Diego a couple of months ago.

We had some unbelievable deal lined up with Advantage the last time we came through Cabo, but it quickly evaporated when we were there sweating in their little office and only wanted to get on the road. I've dealt with a line of rental-car salesmen before, though and wish I'd done it then. They're all good-humored, and we quickly got an idea of what the best deal was. We think.

tunaeater - 6-7-2005 at 05:19 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions from everyone.
Bajaloco what kind of car did you get at what was your total. I've done the timeshare deals before for fishing trips and other goodies. I could sacrafice a few hours.get brekfast and a few drinks. I know it's hard to get out of there without a knock out drag out but for a $150 discount could be worth it. I wonder if I could get your same deal. Thanks Paul