Discover Cars Mexico Reviews [2023] + 4 Great Tips That you Must Read

Check out the top Discover Cars Mexico Reviews before renting a car in Mexico!

If you’re thinking about renting a car in Mexico, you’ve probably come across Discover Cars. Lots of sites recommend this automobile rental platform, including mine.

But is Discover Cars legit? Is it the best option when it comes to a Mexican car rental? Avoiding scams? Finding cheap rates?

The short answer is YES to all. But let’s break it down and learn more about this car rental platform.

In this post, you will find the answers to all those questions and more in this post about Discover Cars Mexico Reviews.

What is Discover Cars?

Discover Cars is a car rental platform that has been around since 2013. Discover Cars partners with over 500 local car rental firms and international rental companies around the world. They offer rentals in over 150 countries.

Basically, they help you find a rental that matches your specifications. They try to eliminate hidden fees, and they offer reasonable rates with good coverage.

Discover Cars was created to take a lot of the guesswork out of renting a car so that you know exactly what you’re getting and what it will cost.

I have used the Discover Cars platform several times and I found the site itself is very user-friendly, allowing you to search based on your country of residence, your age, and the region, add-ons, and amenities you need in a rental.

Discover Cars has consistently high reviews for its industry, but there are some pros and cons you should be aware of.

Discover Cars Mexico Pros

In my 12-plus years of living in Mexico, I’ve rented cars on many occasions. I’ve rented directly from some companies and also rented through Discover Cars.

I’ve learned a lot through my experiences, so I’m here to share that knowledge with you.

Here are what I consider the top advantages of renting a car in Mexico through DiscoverCars.com.

Great Comparison Tool

One of the things I like the most about Discover Cars is that it is easy to compare rates across a bunch of different companies.

I recommend only renting from a company that has an 8/10 customer review rating or higher.

Featured Discover Cars Mexico Reviews

“Easy to navigate interface that looked through a lot of rental options. Very useful tags for navigating some options too.” – from Review Centre

“Easy Quick and cheap I would use it again.” – from Trust Pilot

“Everything was just wonderful. Cool company. We were very pleased to use the services of this company. I recommend it to everyone who is planning a trip to Spain. We will always use this company. Discover Cars – thank you very much for the wonderful holidays 🙏🙏🙏🙏” – from Google Reviews

Discover Cars Top Feature: Helps you Find Cheaper Car Rentals

The best thing about Discover Cars is that it helps you find cheap Mexican rental cars.

One note here: the rates may not look as cheap as what you find in other places. The reason for this is that many companies publish the base rate only, then when you go to pick up the car, you realize you have to pay for taxes, required insurance, and other hidden costs.

Always check the rental agreement to see what is included. Read my posts on renting a car in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun for more specific tips.

The average car rental prices you can expect to find in Mexico:

↳ Small & Medium Cars: approx. $60 – 75 a day

↳ Large cars: approx. $75- 90 a day

↳ Premium cars: approx. $90 – 110 a day

↳ SUVs: approx. $100-120 a day

↳ Vans: approx. $220 – 300 per day

Keep in mind that prices vary depending on the season as well.

❗️You can find high season prices from December through January, around Holy Week, and July – August. So in those months expect much higher rates.

Clear information

Another nice thing about Discover Cars is the amount of information they offer before you make the booking.

While I was reading the reviews I was checking on the negative ones and some of them were mentioning that they were not told that the debit card was not accepted.

Well, in this case, just like in many others I found, the customer didn’t do the job to read the information that was clearly included on Discover Car rental page.

I am going to show it here below. Something that I have learned with experience is that once you see a negative review of any service you need to double-check whether it was the customer who didn’t read the information before booking.

I found that Discover Car’s information is very clear and accessible and I am showing you why in the screenshot below.

As you can see from the example above, when you find in the Discover Car rental reviews that the information was missing, it’s not accurate. They just haven’t read it.

I know I keep repeating myself but it’s very important that you read all the information before booking the car. And Discover Cars website has it right there very easy to find.

Great User-Friendly Search Tools

As I was mentioning before, Discover Cars website is incredibly user-friendly.

You can easily change the search criteria to match your preferences. It’s also easy to find rental car company ratings, rental costs, and information about security deposits, deductibles, insurance coverage, and more.

How do you do this? First, choose a car you like. On the bottom left-hand corner of the banner, you can see the name of the rental company and their rating, underneath is a button called “Rental Conditions.”

In the pop-up window, you can clearly see what is included. More details will come to light during the booking process when you will be given a voucher.

But I would recommend reading the rental conditions before making your booking.

Less hidden fees

After booking, Discover Cars will issue you a Car Rental Agreement Voucher. The voucher will list the full price of your rental car. That way, when you go to pick up your rental, there should be no unexpected surprises.

Tip: If there are unexpected surprises, contact Discover Cars customer support.

Featured Discover Cars Mexico Review:

“When I was planning my rental car purchase for my trip to Mexico I was horrified by all the bad reviews. I thought I would be scammed and have to pay hundreds of dollars when I went to pick up my car. This was far from the truth! As a traveler, it was my responsibility to do research. There is clear information online on what car insurance is required and optional. The lowest-priced car doesn’t always have this required insurance included which then leaves you paying money at the counter. I paid for a “medium-priced car” but it was completely covered by insurance and I didn’t have to pay a single penny more… Discover Car’s customer service was helpful and patient in answering my multiple questions (although they took a day or 2 to get back to me). DC has FAQ information and “rental conditions” on the vehicle that clearly states what insurance is included and what is not.” on Trustpilot

Free 48-Hour Cancellations

Another thing to consider when looking at Discover Cars Mexico reviews is the company’s cancellation policy.

Discover Cars has a free 48-hour cancellation policy, which is awesome. You can book a great deal without worry.

❗️Tip: Keep in mind, if you book a car for pickup in 48 hours or less, the free cancellation doesn’t apply.

Good Customer Service

If you book through Discover Cars and have a problem, it’s important to contact the company directly. Many reviewers were happy about how Discover Cars customer service agents went to bat for them.

Featured Discover Cars Mexico Review:

We had an incident in Mexico. The car rental company was charging additional insurance for us although it was already paid with the reservation. We paid twice for insurance because otherwise, they refused to give a car paid in advance. We contacted the DiscoverCars and thanks to Emil Z we got this amount back. Really good work and a very nice attitude and communication style demonstrated by Emil, strongly recommend using if you have problems with local companies renting a car via the DiscoverCars website. Thank you very much, Emil!

Full-Coverage Insurance

Another thing I love about Discover Cars is their full-coverage insurance. Their insurance rates in Mexico are very convenient. You could pay $10 a day or less for their full-coverage insurance.

Personally, I always book with full coverage.

Discover Cars full-coverage insurance covers up to $3000 in damages and/or expenses and includes:

• Damage to the exterior including mirrors, wheels, tires, undercarriage, roof, & bodywork
• A refundable theft/damage deductible
• Lost keys and lockout fees
• Taxi expenses
• Towing charges
• Administrative fees

Most claims are processed within 48 hours and your money could be refunded in as little as one business day after approval.

Featured Discover Cars Mexico Review

“I only had a problem sending the documents related to a damage claim, but despite this, I contacted them easily and they resolved the problem quickly. As for the cost of the rental with full insurance they are very competitive, there was a lot of difference with other agencies. I really think I will keep them in consideration for a next trip! “- from Review Centre

Easy & Quick Full Coverage Compensation

If something does happen to your fully insured Mexico car rental, the compensation process is pretty straightforward.

You should submit the following information to Discover Cars for review:

• Your rental agreement
• The Rental company’s assessment of the car’s condition at pickup and at dropoff
• The invoice charging you fees and/or damages
• Receipts or a statement showing you paid for the damages or fees
• Your bank info (name, address, account number, etc)
• A detailed description of what happened including photos and videos if you have them
• The police report if there is one

Featured Discover Cars Mexico Review

Responsive straightforward process. Would use again. The only slight hiccup filling out the form was working out the international code for bank but got that sorted. – on Review Center

Discover Cars Mexico Cons

Now that we’ve covered all the great things about Discover Cars Mexico, there are some cons to consider as well.

Read on to learn more.

Insurance Confusion for Some Clients

Although Discover Cars claim that it has no hidden fees, some reviewers still got hit with extra charges when they went to pick up their rental car. This was the top complaint in bad reviews.

Car rental companies are notorious for these kinds of scammy dealings, and although Discover Cars do its best to prevent and mediate these incidences, they do still happen.

How to Avoid Scammy Insurance Situations

If you have any questions or are confused about some of the wording in your rental agreement, check with Discover Cars before booking.

One important thing to check before renting is whether or not your car rental includes Mexico’s required third-party liability insurance.

Another way to avoid problems is to only rent from companies that have an 8 out of 10 ratings or higher on Discover Cars.

If you encounter a problem, contact Discover Cars customer service and ask them to mediate for you.

A Helpful Clarification from Discover Cars

“…our Full Coverage does not reduce the deposit amount. Thus, at the rental desk, the car rental provider may offer you their additional optional insurance in order to reduce the deposit amount. However, if you have no problem with blocking a deposit as per the rental conditions, you are free to refuse this. The rental provider may also offer you additional optional insurance in order to decrease your liability. However, it is not necessary because our Full Coverage compensates you for the amount of the excess (up to 3000 EUR) deducted by the vehicle provider in the event of damage or theft.” 

– Taken from a discover cars reply to a customer on Trustpilot

Expensive Rates for Short Rental Periods

When you’re looking for a car rental in Mexico, you’ll notice that the rates are much better for longer periods of time. If you only want to rent a car for a day or two, the rates on Discover Cars may not be very good.

For example, an 8-day rental with an 8/10 rated company cost 36 USD a day, but a one-day rental with the same criteria cost 70 USD a day. Ouch!

This is a pretty common thing across the board, but the rates on Discover Cars may be worse than booking directly with a company.

If you do rent directly, remember to ask about all the hidden fees. Check some of my car rental posts for extra tips and things to watch out for.

Fewer Special Deals

Another potential con when it comes to getting a Discover Cars Mexico rental is that there could be fewer special promotions.

For example, if you rent often, you might want to join a membership rewards program with an international car rental company.

If you are renting less frequently, then Discover Cars could be a fantastic option. They add special discounts depending on when you search for and book your car rental. 

Some car rentals offer special deals to walk-in customers, so if it’s a last-minute booking and you are already on-site, it would be more convenient for you to check in with the car rental company directly if you are close to it.

However, if you are sure you want a car rental for several days waiting for last-minute deals may be too risky because you may end up without a car for lack of availability or spending much more because all the cheapest cars have already gone.

Young Drivers Pay Premium

As with most car rental companies, Discover Cars offers optimum rates for people who are ages 30 to 65. If you are younger than 30, expect to pay additional fees.

The fees get higher the younger you are.

That said, even if you are a young driver, Discover Cars is a great tool to use. Some car rental companies don’t even allow anyone under 25 to rent. On Discover Cars, however, you can easily find a rental company that will accept you, whether you are 18, 21, or in the optimum age range.

Play around with the search functions until you find a deal you can live with.

No Car Available

Another common complaint amongst reviewers who left poor ratings was that there was no car to be had when they went for pickup.

According to Discover Cars, this only occurs during 1% of bookings.

Although this isn’t a common problem, it does happen sometimes, especially during very busy seasons. It’s likely this problem isn’t exclusive to Discover Car partners but could happen anywhere, especially if your flight is running late.

Fortunately, Discover Cars does resolve things favorably for most clients, based on their replies to reviews.

Pro Tip: If possible, try to get in touch with Discover Cars if you experience flight delays.

Discover Cars Mexico Review

“Booked a car three weeks in advance for pick up in Merida, Mexico. The company was Firefly. Arrived at the desk and they told us they had no car and that we should contact DiscoverCars.com since we had done the booking through them. We called them and they could do nothing to help us. Basically, Firefly was blaming DiscoverCars, and DiscoverCars was blaming Firefly. We were left with four kids and no car at the airport. In the end, we found another company there that had a car, twice as expensive, but we had no other options at that point. We were also told that we had not paid anything in advance, which I later realized we did by checking my bank account. Contacting DiscoverCars after the vacation we got the deposit back and they also reimbursed the difference between the car we had booked and the one we ended up with. So in sum: poor experience with booking, pick-up and Firefly, but really good with DiscoverCars, our complaint, and reimbursement afterward. – fromTrustpilot

How to find a great car rental deal

Now that we’ve covered what to keep in mind with Discover Car Mexico reviews, it’s time to talk about how to find the best rental deal on the platform.

1. Book Early

The first tip is to book your rental well ahead of time. This way you’ll find better prices and more options than if you’re desperately trying to find a last-minute car rental.

With Discover Cars, you can cancel anytime up to 48 hours before pickup with zero cancellation fees.

That takes the nail-biting out of the scenario for sure!

2. Pay Attention To Reviews

Another top tip is to check out customer reviews. You might find cheaper rates with companies that have a 5-7 out of ten ratings, but is it worth the risk?

Instead, look for companies that have an 8 out of 10 ratings or higher. It’s better to pay more and have a great Mexico car rental experience.

3. Keep the Deposit in Mind

Remember that you will need to leave a security deposit when you pick up your rental car. Check your Discover Car Voucher during the booking process to make sure you have enough credit on your credit card to cover it.

4. Know the Fuel and Mileage Policies

Another important thing to know is the fuel and mileage policy. Check the rent details before booking to see what is included.

The best thing to go for is “full to full” and unlimited mileage. That means you’ll need to drop the car off with a full tank, so be sure to plan for that.

Unlimited mileage means you can drive the car for as many miles as you’d like while you have it.

Mexico Car Rental Mistakes to Avoid

There’s definitely a learning curve when it comes to renting a car, especially in Mexico.

Keep these things in mind when you’re renting.

↳ Check the Car During Pickup

Check the car over before accepting it and driving off. If it smells bad inside or is dirty, don’t accept it. You want to enjoy your time in Mexico, not be gagging every time you’re driving somewhere.

Pro tip: take pictures of any damages the car has at pick up, and make sure those damages are listed on the rental company’s “car condition assessment.”

↳ Check Customer Reviews

Pay attention to customer reviews! Rent with a company that has good ratings (8/10 or more is the best choice.

Pro tip: If you want to go the extra mile, check the google reviews of the car rental company you’re considering.

↳ Do Your Research

Notice the fuel policy, drop-off times and grace periods, the security deposit, and all the nitty gritty details.

Pro tip: Choose full to full for your fuel policy and stop by a gas station to fill up right before dropping off the rental.

↳ Be Honest

Don’t fake any of your information. Depending on what country you are a resident of, you may pay higher rates. It can be tempting to put down a false country but trust me, this is not a good idea. Don’t do it!

↳ Use the Car Responsibly

Use the car as it is meant to be used. Don’t go on crazy roads that your rental car isn’t built for. You’ll end up paying for damages. Full coverage doesn’t apply if you’re using your rental in ways not included in the rental agreement.

↳ Make Sure You Have Coverage

Get full coverage insurance. Peace of mind is worth the extra cost.

Even if you don’t opt for this, know exactly what insurance is required and what is covered before you get to the counter.

Discover Cars Mexico Reviews: Final thoughts

Based on my own experience with Discover Cars, and the company’s overall ratings on Trustpilot, I recommend booking through Discover Cars.

Renting a car has the potential to be a great experience or a terrible one. Fortunately, Discover Cars makes it easier and more straightforward for people to do their research. You still have to be proactive, but there is more information available to people booking through this company.

Another good reason to choose Discover Cars is that they can serve as an advocate for you. It’s great to have someone on your side when things go wrong. Discover Cars offers 24/7 customer service, which is a great thing.

Although there are never 100% guarantees, I’ve had good experiences booking Mexican car rentals through Discover Cars, and I hope that you will too!