Tips for Driving to and in Mexico | Mexpro

Tips for Driving to and in Mexico

Mexico is a laid-back place to vacation, but when driving there are a few things that could cause your trip to be stressful, delayed, or even not fun. And though the general population is welcoming and generous, interactions with Mexican government officials and law enforcement may be more challenging. They are generally not as lenient as one might expect.

It's important to keep in mind that despite its close proximity, Mexico is a different country, with different laws and requirements than the U.S. or Canada. When driving in Mexico use these tips to make sure you enjoy the wonderful people and experience of Mexico, rather than having to fly through legal hoops in order to get on with your trip.

Before You Drive to Mexico

Before you begin driving to Mexico, you want to be sure you know the following important information that you must prepare for ahead of your trip to Mexico.

Things to Know When Driving in Mexico

Once you get in Mexico, you need to know these things to keep you off the police radar.

Know What the Road Signs Mean

Below is a table of simple road signs you will need to know when you drive to Mexico.

SPANISH
ENGLISH
ALTO
STOP
CAMIONES
TRUCKS
CEDA EL PASO
YIELD
CIRCULACIÓN
ONE WAY
CONSERVA SU DERECHA
KEEP RIGHT
CRUCE DE FERROCARRIL
RAILROAD CROSSING
CRUCE DE PEATONES
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
CUIDADO
BE CAREFUL
CURVA PELIGROSA
DANGEROUS CURVE
DESPACIO
SLOW
DOBLE CIRCULACIÓN
TWO WAY
NO ESTACIONAR
NO PARKING
NO HAY PASO
ROAD CLOSED
NO PASE
DO NOT ENTER
NO REBASE
NO PASSING
PARADA DE AUTOBUSES
BUS STOP
PELIGRO
DANGER
PRECAUCIZÓN
SLOW DOWN
PROHIBIDO EL PASO
PASSING IS PROHIBITED
PROPIEDAD PRIVADA
PRIVATE PROPERTY
REDUCIR VELOCIDAD
REDUCE SPEED
SOLO IZQ
LEFT TURN ONLY
SPEED BUMPS
UNA VIA
ONE WAY
ZONA ESCOLAR
SCHOOL ZONE

Watch Your Speed

Speed limit signs in Mexico are white with a red circle. And the speed limit is indicated in black, inside the circle. The speed limit is in km/h, even if the "km/h" is missing from underneath the number. You can halve the number shown on the speed limit sign in km/h and be close to how fast you should be going in mph (1 km/h = 0.6 mph). For example, 50 km/h = 31 mph. Some vehicle speedometers also display km/h.

Passing

Passing vehicles can be a little hair raising in Mexico, as there is seldom much of a shoulder, roads are narrow, cars drive fast, and turn signals are used to assist faster vehicles in passing. For instance, a slower driver may pull into the right-hand shoulder with their left turn signal on. This means they are allowing the faster vehicles behind them to pass. Sometimes, in the event of a small or non-existent shoulder, they will just turn on the left turn signal. But be careful, because sometimes they are actually turning left.

You might also see a driver turn on their right turn signal as they are pulling onto the right-hand shoulder of the road. This would normally mean they are making a right turn. However, in Mexico, it is not uncommon for drivers to pull onto the shoulder, wait for an opening in traffic, and then make a sweeping left hand turn across all of the lanes. Even though you will likely be able to tell when one of these scenarios is happening, it's best to proceed with extra caution whenever passing any vehicles in Mexico.

Avoid driving under the influence

Besides putting yourself, your passengers, and others in danger, driving under the influence will void a Mexican insurance policy. And in Mexico a BAC of 0.04 is considered legally drunk (0.08 in the U.S.).

Returning Home to the U.S.

Mexico is an incredible country with friendly people, gorgeous countrysides, beaches, and loads of activities. Don't spoil a good vacation by forgetting these valuable tips. And have a wonderful time in Mexico!

MexVisit® Travel, Legal, Roadside Assistance

All Mexpro Mexico auto policies include our exclusive MexVisit® travel assistance, in addition to the coverage provided by your insurer. MexVisit® offers extra legal assistance in the event you do have an accident and need legal representation (available 24/7 from bilingual representatives), and it provides bail bond assistance, among other benefits (roadside, medical, and traditional travel assistance). Learn more about MexVisit® on our website.