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Rent a Car
to Visit
Sonora...
to Visit
Sonora...
So you want to visit Mexico, and
would like to have the freedom and
flexibility that only driving a vehicle
can offer. But, you’re in Arizona on
vacation and don’t have a car, or you
live in Arizona and aren’t so sure
about taking your personal vehicle to
Mexico until you’re more familiar with
the area.
The answer – rent a car to visit
Sonora.
would like to have the freedom and
flexibility that only driving a vehicle
can offer. But, you’re in Arizona on
vacation and don’t have a car, or you
live in Arizona and aren’t so sure
about taking your personal vehicle to
Mexico until you’re more familiar with
the area.
The answer – rent a car to visit
Sonora.
Almost all of the major rental agencies will rent you a car to drive
in the “free-trade” zone of Sonora, not more than 200 miles south
of the border. That means you can drive to popular locales like
Rocky Point, as well as lesser-known gems like Magdalena, Santa
Ana, Caborca and Desemboque.
When arranging a recent car rental for a trip to Phoenix, I asked
the agency about the possibility of taking the vehicle into Mexico.
No problem, I was told – you’ll just need to buy daily Mexican
insurance. Armed with that information I called other agencies to
compare Mexican insurance rates. The following table shows the
rates as of January 2008, as a basis of comparison. Check with
each agency for their current offerings and rates.
in the “free-trade” zone of Sonora, not more than 200 miles south
of the border. That means you can drive to popular locales like
Rocky Point, as well as lesser-known gems like Magdalena, Santa
Ana, Caborca and Desemboque.
When arranging a recent car rental for a trip to Phoenix, I asked
the agency about the possibility of taking the vehicle into Mexico.
No problem, I was told – you’ll just need to buy daily Mexican
insurance. Armed with that information I called other agencies to
compare Mexican insurance rates. The following table shows the
rates as of January 2008, as a basis of comparison. Check with
each agency for their current offerings and rates.
For the trip that would take me to Caborca, Santa Ana, Magdalena
and points north I decided to cross the border at the Lukeville point
of entry, crossing into Sonoyta, Sonora. I’d chosen that route not
only because it’s probably the most convenient from Phoenix, but
also because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to take the car past the 21-
kilometer checkpoint south of Nogales. For commercial reasons, the
Mexican free trade zone in Caborca that was established by Mexican
President Fox a few years back requires some commercial traffic to
pass to Caborca from that port of entry.
As I stopped at the 21-km checkpoint south of Sonoyta, I answered
the routine questions (where I was coming from, where I was going)
and the only document the customs officer asked to see was the
rental contract. I asked about whether rental cars can cross the
Nogales checkpoint, and was told that they pass at any Sonora
border checkpoint.
and points north I decided to cross the border at the Lukeville point
of entry, crossing into Sonoyta, Sonora. I’d chosen that route not
only because it’s probably the most convenient from Phoenix, but
also because I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to take the car past the 21-
kilometer checkpoint south of Nogales. For commercial reasons, the
Mexican free trade zone in Caborca that was established by Mexican
President Fox a few years back requires some commercial traffic to
pass to Caborca from that port of entry.
As I stopped at the 21-km checkpoint south of Sonoyta, I answered
the routine questions (where I was coming from, where I was going)
and the only document the customs officer asked to see was the
rental contract. I asked about whether rental cars can cross the
Nogales checkpoint, and was told that they pass at any Sonora
border checkpoint.
| Approaching the 21km checkpoint south of Sonoyta |
|
Another option is to rent a car inside Mexico, in which case you
wouldn’t be limited to driving in the free trade zone. There is a hotel
in Santa Ana that rents cars, and rental cars are also available at the
Hermosillo airport. Expect to pay more though; rental car rates in
Mexico are about double the price you would pay in the U.S.
For an extra $20-$30 a day on your rental car charges, you may find
that renting a car in Arizona to visit Sonora is not only an economical
travel option (especially for groups, when compared with paying
commercial transportation costs), but one that allows you to explore
on your schedule and terms.
Enjoy your adventure!
wouldn’t be limited to driving in the free trade zone. There is a hotel
in Santa Ana that rents cars, and rental cars are also available at the
Hermosillo airport. Expect to pay more though; rental car rates in
Mexico are about double the price you would pay in the U.S.
For an extra $20-$30 a day on your rental car charges, you may find
that renting a car in Arizona to visit Sonora is not only an economical
travel option (especially for groups, when compared with paying
commercial transportation costs), but one that allows you to explore
on your schedule and terms.
Enjoy your adventure!
Sampling of rental agency Mexico insurance rates from January 2008. Prices don't
include applicable taxes. Check with carrier for current availability.
include applicable taxes. Check with carrier for current availability.
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