Renting a Car at Mexico City Airport
Last updated: April 2026
Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX) is Latin America's busiest airport, located within the city limits in the Venustiano Carranza borough. Rental desks are in the arrivals halls of both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 — Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Mexican operators City Car and Americas Rent a Car operate from both terminals. Note: driving in Mexico City itself is extremely challenging — the car is best for escaping to destinations like Puebla, Oaxaca, or the Silver Towns.
🎯 Quick Tip
Mexico City operates 'Hoy No Circula' — a program that bans vehicles from driving on specific days based on their license plate ending number. Foreign-plated rental cars and vehicles with a '0' (zero emissions) hologram are exempt, but confirm with your operator. Violation fines are steep.
Compare Prices at MEX
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Airport Pickup Tips
In Terminal 1, rental counters are near exit doors 4 and 5 on the arrivals level. Terminal 2 desks are in the main arrivals hall. Present your passport, license, and credit card. Mexican liability insurance is mandatory — ensure it's included. Cash deposits (USD 200-300) are accepted by some Mexican operators. Pickup: 15-25 minutes depending on queues.
Mexico City's traffic is legendary — bumper-to-bumper driving leaves cars with contact marks. Check all bumpers, mirrors, and doors. Pay attention to the undercarriage and exhaust — Mexico City's speed bumps (topes) are severe and scrape low-slung cars. Verify the spare tire, jack, and tools — roadside assistance outside the city is limited.
For detailed guidance, see our pre-drive checklist.
Explore Mexico City by Car
Mexico City is vast and its outskirts hide some of the country's greatest treasures. Drive to the pyramids of Teotihuacán, the silver mining town of Taxco, and the magical town of Puebla.
Top drive from Mexico City: Teotihuacán Pyramids — 45 minutes northeast
Full Mexico City Car Hire Guide →
Getting from Mexico City Airport to the City
MEX is in eastern Mexico City — there's no 'drive to the city' as the airport is already in it. For Puebla, take the Autopista México-Puebla east (2 hours). For Taxco, Cuernavaca, and the Silver Towns, take the Autopista del Sol south (90 min to Cuernavaca). For Oaxaca, take the Autopista via Puebla (5 hours). For Teotihuacán pyramids, take the Autopista Ecatepec-Pirámides (45 min).
City Car operates from Boulevard Puerto Aéreo, 1 km from MEX Terminal 1. They offer free shuttle and specialize in budget rentals with full Mexican insurance coverage. Their fleet includes the popular VW Jetta and Nissan Versa — reliable workhorses for Mexican highway driving.
What to Know Before Driving from MEX
Mexico drives on the right. Highway speed limit is 110 km/h on autopistas, 80 km/h on libre roads, 40 km/h in towns. Toll autopistas are the only viable option for intercity travel — libre (free) alternatives pass through dozens of towns with constant topes. Carry small bills (MXN 50-200) for toll booths. Military and police checkpoints are routine — stop, be polite, show documents.
Mexico City sits at 2,240m elevation — some drivers experience mild altitude effects. The Periférico ring road and Viaducto are perpetually gridlocked. If heading to Puebla or Oaxaca, take the Autopista del Sol (toll motorway) east. Download offline maps — cell coverage drops on the mountainous Autopista Oaxaca. Keep all doors locked and windows up in city traffic.
Fuel Stations Near MEX
Pemex stations are throughout Mexico City and on all autopistas. Fuel: Magna (regular) approximately MXN 23/L, Premium MXN 25/L. Always watch the pump reset to zero before fueling. The closest Pemex to MEX is on Boulevard Puerto Aéreo, 500m from Terminal 1. Fill up before long autopista drives — the autopista México-Oaxaca has infrequent stations.
Local Driving Tip
Mexico City's Hoy No Circula program bans certain license plate numbers on specific weekdays — rental plates are not exempt. Check which day your plate is restricted or face a fine of 2,000+ MXN. Uber is often more practical than driving in the centro.