Is it dangerous for an American to drive a car from Houston, TX to Cancun, Mexico?

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Charlie

It is a veeeeery long drive. As far as saftey, Iam an American woman and I drove alone from the states to Veracruz and know several others who have done the same...perfectly safely. Be prepared, have a Guia Roji ( Mexican road atlas). But remember there is often construction on the roads, signs are often MISSING, roads are often poor. Drive only in the daytime...not because of dangers from PEOPLE at nite, but because there is often livestock on the road, or holes the size of VW vans in the road. I have found people to be very helpful in driving in Mexico. I hope you speak at least passable Spanish. You will need to get Mexican car ins. There are many places to buy it , but my favorite ( very cheap and nice folks) is San Xavier...in Tucson...1-888-327-1255. You will need to get a car permit in the 1st town after you cross the border. It costs about $100.00U.S. You will need a credit card for them to take an imprint of. If you were to try to leave the country without your vehicle you would be fined $400.00 as it is illegal to sell an American car in Mexico. You must have the current registration and the TITLE to the car with you. if the car is financed, you must have a letter from the lender giving you permission to take it out of the country...you will be asked for this letter. See the websites below. All gas stations in Mexico are alike...Pemex...price is same everywhere. Always look to be sure the pump is at zero when they start to pump the gas...always watch while it is pumped...I never have a problem where I live, but when travelling, you could. If you are driving in the summer...you will suffer...it is very hot in the areas you will be driving through. if you are driving there to go on vqacation, i believe it is actually cheaper to fly. if you are driving to stay there a while and want your car with you...well, you can do it, just be prepared. As to police...i have never had a problem or paid a bribe. Always SMILE, thank them for their great work, act a little bewildered ( i just do my dumb blonde act and it works0. Never act nervous or like it bothers you to be stopped. Most places in towns you CAN turn R on red...when in doubt, just wait. IF you are ever in a position where you are gonna get a ticket and have to go into the town to pay at the city hall...just ask if you can pay right now...act real puzled...and ask how many pesos. NEVER admit to having more than 500 pesos with you. If you absolutely must, you can pay the "fine" on the spot. I was with a friend who had to do this once cause the cop said she ran a red light...and she may have as we were lost and looking for a hotel. She was able to pay the "fine" on the spot.

Sonora2004

Good luck driven thru Mexico. I could say that Mexico is safe for any person. Just try to avoid drive thru Mexico city by night, that is a huge city and you can easily. A map willbe very usefull and if you can read spanish will be the best.

Have fun in that beatiful city.

carla l

We drove from Houston to Mexico, and beyond (currently in Brasil). Basicly all you need is an insurance and a drivers license. There is always the possibility that cops stop you and want a bribe, but that is not always the case when they stop you, so be carefull offering them! Better yet don't!! You'll notice soon enough if they want one (They hassle around not really writing a ticket, merely mentioning it will cost some...).
We had copies of our Texas tags on the car as the real ones to be stolen for souvenir is a real possibility.
If you go, also color copie and plastify all your important documents (owner papers of your car, pasport, drivers license). If avoidable don't hand over your original ones. In all the countries we passed (all of central america but Belize, and most of South America, including Colombia) they settled for it. (One note: We also had an International License, don't know if you can get one? We are Dutch and optained it in the Netherlands. We also copied our Dutch license which they are not familiar with. Think is differently for American license as there are lots and lots of Americans going to Cancun. Some tend to call it : An American settlement)
Dangers as far as to be talking about danger: Watch the TOPEZ, they are killing your car. Furthermore just be carefull driving like you would anywhere else you are not familiar.
For the rest: HAVE FUN

Alicia in Cancun

I live in Cancun and drive a car with Tennessee plates. My husband and I drove down. We had no problems.

We took all toll roads because they tend to be in the best shape however there is much road construction, everywhere.

It is best that you don't drive at night because there may be "topas" (speed bumps the size of Texas) and you really don't want to hit them at high speeds...unless you really want to purchase a new oil pan...

Have a great trip the scenery is really beautiful!

marazul

I had to have this question in my questions because I'm planning to go from CO to Tulum by car too. Thanks

Datsa

See my answer posted to "Is it safe to drive my car thru Mexico?" posted on July 21, 2007.

Doug S

I agree with most of the previous answers, although I don't usually worry so much about the dangers and bad cops.

I usually take the toll roads if I'm in a hurry or the back roads if I'm not too rushed.

To add to what the others said:

- Here is a mileage and tolls calculator for the toll roads
http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta

- Here's a true story about getting hit up for a bribe. Don't pay bribes, you'll just get in deeper.
http://www.dougsinc.com/LifeInMex/Trip.html

Mimis

My uncle drives every year for Texas to Puebla in Mexico, is completely safe if you have all the papers in order and you go by higways not old roads, however is a ******* long way!!! Fro texas to Puebla I think is like 24 hours and from Puebla to Cancun another 21 hrs. In the way you can stop in many cool places like Queretaro, Mexico City, Tabasco, Chiapas, Veracruz, YucatÃ¡n etc, etc, but it's going to be long very long and I think expensive, high ways in Mexico are not cheap.
Just do not drive at night.

hklo

Yes it is, and even more than the police stops because its very long trip......unless you really like risks

SmartBobMx

it is a long way, and dive so many miles is always dangerous, be careful about the road polices probably they will want you to give money, it is sad to say but it is true, my recommendation would be fly and rent a car over there if you want to drive in Cancul, beside it will even cheaper, Godd Luck!!!

AvantExec

From what I've heard, you'll need several 10 dollar bills so you can bribe the police when they pull you over for random stuff.

You need to contact your insurance company as some do not insure vehicles once they are in Mexico. Either way, get insurance for your car when you do go.

Be very cautious about the laws. We're one of the few countries that allow right turns on red lights, for example. Watch out for passing vehicles it might be unsafe.

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