Mexican Driving Recommendations

If you have never been to Mexico or have never experienced driving through the streets of the country then you don’t know what you are missing out on! Driving through Mexico is a different experience from driving in the States. Although the road rules are similar, the way people choose to follow them is not! Mexican driving recommendations are below to help you if you are a first time driver or are just looking for a few helpful hints to get you through the sometimes difficult situations!

• Don’t drive at night! If at all possible try to stay off the roads in Mexico at night. Sure, you’ll want to do a little bit of night driving, and you may have to do some night driving, but try to travel as little as possible during the dark hours. Why? Roads signs are incredibly difficult to see in Mexico at night and in many places road signs just cease to exist. When there aren’t road signs and your driving treacherous roads at night there is a much better chance of an accident or a problem. Plan your trips in advance to keep night driving at a minimum. Take toll roads in Mexico where possible.
• Get quality Mexico insurance! This is an absolute must if you are traveling to Mexico for vacation or just for a trip. If you don’t have quality insurance then you could easily run into problems. In Mexico there aren’t tight restrictions against drinking and driving, so you could easily get hit by a drunk driver. Also, with livestock wandering around even the major highways it creates a serious problem for drivers all around. Mexican auto insurance will protect you and your vehicle in case something happens. Check with your current insurance company in the States to see if they can have any transferable protections. It will usually cost a small fee but in the end it will be worth it!
• Get a vehicle check up before your trip! If you are driving into Mexico from the United States then you should make sure you have gotten your car checked over before you start the trip. Make sure you go to a mechanic who you trust and who will let you know of any upcoming problems you may have. It becomes a lot more difficult if you wait until Mexico to solve car problems because if you do this you will have a miserable vacation trying to track down a quality car mechanic!
• Look out for TOPE! Tope means “speed bump” in Spanish and is something that most Americans don’t know. Many of the Mexican speed bumps are pretty intense and could damage your car even if you are going at a somewhat moderate speed. If you see a sign that screams, “Tote” then slow down quickly!

These are just some of the basic Mexican driving recommendations for you as you head off on your journey. Mexico can be a great and fun place to visit but just make sure you do it in the best way possible.

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