I arrived and was told that I would be "upgraded" because my pre-paid reservation was rented. Indeed, the car that was given to me was of a higher tier, but it was a piece of crap.
It was dented and scratched all over and even had a large gauge on the back seat. It had a broken tail light and the front fascia was pushed to the right from an evident minor accident. It had a crack in the back bumper that had been marked with a yellow crayon.
The guy who did my contract was the driver of the shuttle and he noted this and also told me, "this car is beat up, we are getting ready to sell it."
I made sure he notated every damage (which were many) so that they wouldn't have an excuse to harass me upon return since I don't use LDW because I pay with my American Express.
They put a $2,500 dollar pre-authorization hold on your card with a signed open voucher, so be warned, this is the way if you decline LDW in Mexico.
And no, you don't need insurance TPL because by law in Mexico, all car rentals must have TPL included.
The car overheated twice to a point where I had to find a place to pull over and let it cool off. I've never seen the heat warning light come up in a rental before in my life.
When I finally returned this sad car, the woman in charge of my return said that I had an accident and they needed to wait for an appraisal to see the cost of the repair.
I was not really in a hurry but I had no time to wait for an "appraisal." The guy who checked the car had some rubber boots for washing cars, I can only imagine he is their house "mechanic" repair "expert" and he said that the car was damaged.
Well, no shit Sherlock! The car was delivered to me by the shuttle driver/rental expert guy already damaged. Who incidentally was there and in my face told everyone that the car was not like that when I rented it.
They said that some tabs were broken or what have you, but the car was parked inside a house all the time I had it, and I was in no accident whatsoever. Yes, the bumper might have shifted a little further but it was because it was already damaged when I got it.
The woman insisted that I caused the damage and wanted to charge me. Being that they hold ransom your credit card with that open voucher, I demanded an official quote for the repair to take it to my credit card renter insurance.
All the while, a man that I suppose is some sort of manager, got involved and looked at the preexisting damage and had a conversation with everyone there and from afar told the woman to not charge me for the preexisting damage but charge me for the gas.
The man not once talked to me or asked me about my grievance or anything, he just barked orders from afar.
At that point, I believe the woman was just trying to find a reason to "get me."
I had filled up the tank at the gas station right next to the rental places, and yes, the digital indicator indicated one tiny strip less than full, but if you own any modern car you know that the digital indicator not always goes all the way to the top. Or at least my cars do this.
I have both a Volvo and a Kia Optima Hybrid and sometimes when you fill until it clicks it shows all the little bars, and sometimes it doesn't
The attendant at the gas station filled the thing until it clicked and a little more to make it an even $300 pesos.
Well, Sixt charge me $298 pesos for that one little bar and did me the "favor" of not charging me for the preexisting damage to the car. No big deal about the money, its $13 bucks, but it is aggravating non the less.
Look, it is very complicated to rent cars in Mexico, all the car rental places, even the name brands are corrupt crooks.
There is one car rental that offers full price, meaning it includes the LDW and unlimited mileage, but even them try to sell you some supplemental insurance.
If you must rent, know this and take ample time to check the car on every corner inside and out because they will find excuses to stiff you. read more
