Driving in Mexico
Mexico
Where a bathroom door with "M" is Woman's,
a water tap with "C" is hot, 
and an vehicle with left turn signal blinking, means,  
"pass me now." 


Highway Green Angels  
Dial 078
To help motorists on major highways, the Mexican Tourism Ministry operates a fleet green pickup trucks, known as the Angeles Verdes, or Green Angels. The green Angels are similar to the AAA in the U.S. The Green Angels are a government paid bilingual crew that patrol the toll roads throughout Mexico every day in green trucks, carrying tools and spare parts, looking for motorists in trouble. The Angeles Verdes will provide mechanical assistance, first aid, basic supplies, and towing. In addition They also have a communication network with different government offices and offer basic tourist information. The services they provide are FREE of charge unless your vehicle needs parts or fuel. Even though the services are free tipping is extremely appreciated, however don’t be offended if they do not except it. Dial 078 from any cell phone from 8am to 6pm, 365 days a year. 
For more info: www.sectur.gob.mx/wb/sectur/sect_9453_angeles_verdes
Auto Insurance
Adventure Mexican Insurance
ph# 800-485-4075 
http://www.mexadventure.com/
This is the company I use to buy MAPFRE insurance.  I had a small fender-bender and they called the police. When they call, you call.  Locals told me MAPFRE had offices all over Mexico and were the best. Within 10 minutes they were there. 
​I  signed papers and left. 
On-line application was easy. 

Lewis and Lewis Insurance
is the most popular and highly recommended
http://www.mexicanautoinsurance.com/

Sanborns Insurance 
http://www.sanbornsinsurance.com/

You should have one in each hand:  
Guia Roji road map of Mexico in one hand and LONELY PLANET, MEXICO in the other.
Some Pemex gas stations in Mexico accept credit cards, but most only accept cash.  Change your large peso bills at the Casita de Cobro on the cuota toll roads. At the Pemex, have a 200 peso note in you hand as you open the door. Close door and stand in that area. Show them the bill and say, "dos cientos, Magna" (regular gas)(pronouned MAG - NA) If tank is empty, get M$300 or M$400 in gas, but always have exact change.
They love to show you the zeroing of the meters.  
Ask attendant to clean windshield, "Limpia parabrisas, por favor" and tip 5 or 10 pesos.  
Drive to the restroom after you have paid.  Do not leave your vehicle at the pump.   
More hotels are accepting credit cards.  
Immediately upon crossing the border, get pesos at exchange booth. 
If using credit or ATM cards in Mexico, tell your banks.
Caution when Driving in Mexico City
Restrictions have changed.
Check for current updates. 
In an effort of fight air pollution, Mexico City has severe driving restrictions from 5am to 10pm, Monday through Friday.  Vehicles less than 10 years old can get an exemption sticker.  That should include rental cars, but often doesn’t.   Check with rental car agency to verify that auto has a sticker. Any car may operate on Saturday and Sunday.  
The last digit of the license place numbers, including foreign registered cars, determine the day for no drive.
Monday       =  5 & 6
Tuesday       =  7 & 8
Wednesday  =  3 & 4
Thursday      =  1 & 2
Friday           =  9 & 0
Mexico City Police really enforce these driving restrictions.
For anyone traveling through Mexico City, the "Hoy No Circula" program as of July 1, 2008 applies to Saturdays. License plates from outside of Mexico City ending in 5-6 cannot circulate the first Saturday of each month, 7-8 the second, 3-4 the third, 1-2 the fourth, and 9-0 the fifth.

Also, no vehicles with Mexican plates from outside Mexico City nor vehicles with foreign plates are now allowed in Mexico City from 5 am to 11 am each day. That pretty much leaves you with the option of going through there in the afternoon--major traffic, or at night--can be a bit scary. 
Gasoline Prices in Mexico
Mexico gas prices converted from liters to gallons, and pesos to dollars.
As of February, 2024
$1.29 USD/Liter 
As of March 13, 2016
Regular = $2.81 per gallon 
Premium =$2.98 per gallon
Diesel = $2.94 per gallon


As of November 20, 2015 
Regular = $2.71 per gallon 
Premium = $3.39 per gallon
Diesel = $2.31 per gallon

As of October 30, 2014 
Regular = $3.69 per gallon 
Premium = $3.91 per gallon
Diesel = $3.86 per gallon

As of March 18, 2014 
Regular = $3.64 per gallon 
Premium = $3.82 per gallon
Diesel = $3.77 per gallon

On September 10, 2013 
Regular = $3.48 per gallon 
Premium = $3.64 per gallon
Diesel = $3.58 per gallon 

On October 20, 2012
Regular = $3.12 per gallon 
Premium = $3.29 per gallon
Diesel = $3.23 per gallon 

On July 31, 2010, 
Regular = $2.49 per gallon 
Premium = $2.95 per gallon
Diesel = $2.60 per gallon 
100%

Sponsor 
Free 
Mexico Maps
Mexico Maps provides many choices when it comes to maps of Mexico For touring and recreational needs, we have folded maps, atlases, paper topographic maps and GPS maps.
They ship to Mexico. 
www.mexicomaps.com
World Map Source 
Mexico Maps 
3920 Maricopa Drive 
Santa Barbara, CA 93110 
ph#805-687-1011
Skype Name markwalker1011
mwalker@mexicomaps.com
 Contact:  Mark Walker
 Gringo Dog Travels 
http://gringodog.com/

PET FRIENDLY ACCOMMODATIONS IN MEXICO
Pet Friendly Hotels 
Getting an Auto Permit
There are three ways to get a permit:
1. At the border
2. At Mexican Consulates with a Banjercito office in:
Arizona -- Phoenix
California -- Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino
Colorado -- Denver
Illinois -- Chicago
New Mexico -- Albuquerque
Texas -- Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston

Registration is no longer available on line!
Patzcuaro / Cuitzio Cuota 
On the Mexico City / Guadalajara Cuota, about 5 miles west of the Cuitzio/Morelia libre, is the Cuitzio/Morelia/Patzcuaro Cuota.  It is well marked coming from either direction.  
About halfway is the Capula exit.  Go east to Morelia or west to Quiroga and Lake Patzcuaro. 
14D continues past Patzcuaro to Uruapan & 37D to the coast and Lázaro Cárdenas. 


DRIVING UPDATE: 
check out the newly updated:
Austin to Lake Patzcuaro