TalkBaja.com » Baja Mexico Forums » Driving in Baja

If this question has been answered elsewhere I apologise.

Does anyone have any experience with picking up a rental car at the airport in San Diego and being able to drive it into Baja? We have to be in San Diego for a few days, and I want to make a quick run south to look at some properties.

If you've done it, what company dod you use? Should I expect a higher rental rate?

I know that I"ll have to get Mexican Insurance, any other issues?

Thank you.

I can only speak for Avis, as they are the only rental company I have used for years, but I would imagine most major rental companies will offer the same or similar.

When you make the reservation for San Diego, make sure they know you are going to take the car into Mexico.

With Avis, they will add the insurance coverage required by both Avis and Mexico to your daily rate.

We have done it.... check out this place...

Atwest Rent A Car - Discount Car Hire, Auto Rental, Car Rental in Los Angeles, Rental Cars in San Diego California

Thank you for your help.

I called Avis, but the cost for 5 days ($475) seemed a bit high, I called Dollar and reserved the same car that Avis quoted me for $255.

They both offer Mexican Insurance at their counters, $33/day at Avis and $27/day with Dollar.

I had been trying to make reservations on line, and there was no way to make sure that I could take the car into Baja. Once I used the phone it was easy.

Any potential pitfalls I need to watch out for?

Budget used to rent cars to Mexico a few years back and at a pretty decent rate. Worth checking...

can you take the rentals past Ensenadsa?

It's up to the individual companies. But the quick answer is yes. For instance, Atwest that was linked by Bob H will only let you drive more than 200 miles South if you rent one of their SUVs, owing to the idea that they don't want their sedans driven on dirt roads.

I wonder if that would a total of 200 miles or 200 hunderd down south and back and then be able to visit BajaGringo.

ooooooo...I love a good mystery!

BTW, I checked AtWest for their prices, and Dollar beat them by about $20 for the week.

[QUOTE=bob r;21256]can you take the rentals past Ensenadsa?[/Q

I would think once you are in Mexcio........... not a problem

Several years back, one of the rental companies had placed the GPS locaters in the vehicles! They had actually used them when they had the rentals for in state only! So am very curious.

Originally Posted by bob r

Several years back, one of the rental companies had placed the GPS locaters in the vehicles! They had actually used them when they had the rentals for in state only! So am very curious.

I asked both companies I called about taking the car into Baja. The lady at Avis asked me in Baja was a country! I didn't ask her where she was, but I assume not in San Diego.

No one suggested that there was a limit on how far south we could go, and I'm not going to offer more details unless asked.

I'm not crazy about being tracked, but we're just an EMP away from getting rid of that, so I can put up with it until then......

Originally Posted by Islander

I asked both companies I called about taking the car into Baja. The lady at Avis asked me in Baja was a country! I didn't ask her where she was, but I assume not in San Diego.

No one suggested that there was a limit on how far south we could go, and I'm not going to offer more details unless asked.

I'm not crazy about being tracked, but we're just an EMP away from getting rid of that, so I can put up with it until then......

Let me know by u2 and that would sure change my thoughts on how to visit !!

Bob R, we just returned from a 2-night stay in San Quintin, and we had no problems. We rented an SUV at Dollar in San Diego, told them where we were going, and there were no questions asked! The only extra charge was for Mexican Auto Insurance. We rented a mid-sized SUV, but they didn't have one on the lot so they gave is a full sized one for the same price. (which was a bummer because I wanted to drive the small Ford).

I filled the car with gas in Chula Vista, and then put 300 pesos in once we headed north. I prepaid the gas, so the lower the gauge when we turned it in the better I made out.

I had planned on stopping for a tourist pass, but was in the wrong lane and couldn't get over and into the parking lot. No one ever asked for one.

There were two military check points going each way. We got waved through them going south, and had cursory searches heading north.

There were no problems finding the toll road from the border heading south, but I got lost in a detour in TJ north bound. There is some confusing signage that got me into the Sentry pass lane, and no way to move from it into the regular lanes, so I had to wander a little before getting into the correct line. It was then a 1 1/2 hour wait to get across.

I'm thinking about crossing in Tecate and taking Hwy 3 into Ensenada next trip. Anyone ever done that?

Thank you for the information!!!!! Did you enjoy your trip to San Quintin? Where did you stay?

If I may ask, how much was the total cost of the rental?
San Quintin is where I usually go and a rental would be a little more conveient at times.

Met Mr. and Mrs. Islander and got to see some beautiful property they are looking at. Very nice couple and hope to see them again soon.

A lot of folks like to cross at Tecate and come down Mex3 to Ensenada. I haven´t done that route in awhile and last I heard there was some construction going on. Anybody here know what the current status is?

Did they get past the dogs?

Originally Posted by bob r

Thank you for the information!!!!! Did you enjoy your trip to San Quintin? Where did you stay?

If I may ask, how much was the total cost of the rental?
San Quintin is where I usually go and a rental would be a little more conveient at times.

We stayed at the Hotel Jardines, a nice double room for $35/night. The folks there speak English. We ate a lunch and a dinner at the resturant next to the hotel, and had excellent food. We also had dinner at the Old Mill (with BajaGringo and wife!) and the food was great there as well. Both places a good meal was about $10.
The car was something like $35/day, with unlimited mileage. The MexInsure was another $23 or so. Different rental agencies have different insurance costs, Dollar was among the lowest, same with the cost of the car.
We had an excellent time, and are planning a return trip in 4 or 5 weeks, this time for longer, and with friends. We loved the total lack of tourist infrastructure! No shirt shops, no cute pottery stores, no place to window shop for tennis bracelets. The town has everything you need for daily living, but nothing that you don't, which is a welcome change from Cabo or Puerto Vallarta.
BG made several recommendations for other places to eat in town, that I'm sure are even more affordable that the places we ate, but we ran out of meal times to try them! Next trip!!
There are several areas where road construction is going on, several bridges are being replaced, and the road through the mountains south of Ensenada is being straightened and widened. Most of these projects looked to be pretty close to finished.
Have a great trip!!

Originally Posted by bob r

Did they get past the dogs?

The only danger from the dogs was the possibility of tendonitis from throwing a stick!

Originally Posted by Islander

The only danger from the dogs was the possibility of tendonitis from throwing a stick!

I warned you...