Discover Cars Cancun Review: 15 Pros & Cons
Want to rent a car in Cancun? Our Discover Cars Cancun review will tell you all about the advantages and disadvantages of using this popular car rental platform.
I always recommend renting a car in Cancun, unless you are planning to relax all day in the pool or on the beach in one of the spectacular all-inclusive hotels in Cancun.
But if you like to explore having a car is ideal and in this post we will discuss wether Discover Cars is the best place to find a car to rent in Cancun
First of all Discover Cars is not a car rental, but an aggregator that showcase different car rental company rates and terms of rentals. The popular platform compares all the major car rentals in a destination for you and spears you the hassle of checking in every site.
Many people brag about it and they, have more than 110K 4.5/5 reviews on Trust Pilot. This is why I have been recommending this platform to many happy customers and in this post, I want to share a full review of Discover Cars and the best way to use it to book your rental car, plus some tips to make renting a car in Cancun a pain-free process.
DISCOVER CARS REVIEW
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Discover Cars Cancun Review: What is Discover Cars?
If you have not heard of it, or used it before, Discover Cars is an online car rental platform that searches through hundreds of car rental companies to help you find the best car rental. All you have to do is go onto their site, specify where you want to pick up the rental car, and what dates you will need it.
Discover Cars will search through its partnered car rental agencies and show you a list of available cars, what agency they are from, and their price.
You can search by price, but also narrow down your search by the type of car you want, or the rating clients gave the car rental agency.
Discover Cars makes renting a car fast and easy. Instead of spending time comparing prices from different agencies, you can quickly see what is available.
It is important to not only shop for the price but also read other customer reviews. If the agency has bad reviews, it is probably not worth it to book with them to save a few dollars.
Keep in mind though that reviews are based on personal experience. And you will find bad reviews on companies that have been praised by other customers. So I would take them with a grain of salt.
DISCOVER CARS REVIEW
Is Discover Cars legit?
Yes, Discover Cars is legit. The company was started 10 years ago and now operates all over the world. They work with international and local car rental agencies to help you find the best car rental for you.
One of the best things about them is that they try to eliminate hidden fees, so there shouldn’t be any surprise charges when you pick up your rental car. They also offer insurance coverage for rentals.
Also, they have thousands of reviews that you can read before making any purchase.
DISCOVER CARS REVIEW
How much does it cost to rent a car with Discover Cars in Cancun?
When you are looking around to rent a car in Mexico, you have probably noticed that some sites quote really cheap rates- like only a few dollars a day.
If you have spent much time in Mexico, you may be familiar with the saying “lo barato sale caro.” This basically means, that sometimes the cheap choice ends up being expensive, and this is certainly true with car rentals.
If the price seems too good to be true, that is probably because it is only the base rental price. In addition to that price, you will need to pay taxes, mandatory insurance, and other hidden fees, besides the full coverage (which I always take and recommend)
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you travel, but in general you can expect to pay about $60-75 dollars a day for a small or midsize car, $75-90 a day for a large car, $100-120 for an SUV, and $220-300 for a van.
DISCOVER CARS REVIEW
Where can you find Discover Cars rentals in Cancun?
You have a few options when it comes to picking up and dropping off a rental car. The most convenient place to get your car from depends on your travel plans. Here are a few common places to find Discover Cars in Cancun.
Renting a car from the Cancun Airport
If you want to have your rental car for your entire vacation, picking it up and dropping it off at the airport is the most convenient option for you.
If you shop around you may find some cheaper car rentals with pickup in Cancun downtown; however, factor in the time and money you will spend to get to the rental agency when deciding if it is really a good deal or not.
Most of the airport rental agencies are near the airport, but actually on the premises, and they offer free shuttles between the arrivals terminal and the rental office.
Renting a car in downtown Cancun
If you are already in Cancun, the best pickup option for you is probably in downtown Cancun. This saves you the hassle of going back to the airport, and it is easy to use public transportation or a short taxi ride in Cancun to get to the rental agency office.
You can play around on the site for different pickup locations and find one that is the most convenient for you. Take your time looking at the different rates and cars available at different pickup points to get the best deal.
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Pros of renting Discover Cars in Cancun
When you start to use Discover Cars, you will see why so many people around the world like this site. Here are the pros of using Discover Cars in Cancun:
1. User-friendly comparison tool
There are a lot of elements to consider when renting a car. What size do you need? does the car have an automatic or manual transmission? and the list goes on and on. The Discover Cars site makes it easy to compare different car rentals, so you can pick which one is correct for you.
2. Helps you discover affordable car rentals in Cancun
Comparing prices is important when renting a car. You want to get a great deal, so you have money to spend on all the fun adventures you will be having on vacation. Discover Cars make it easy to see the different prices between different rental agencies.
3. Transparent information
Discover Cars makes it easy to see all the important information you need to rent a car. You can see the rental agencies’ ratings read reviews from other customers, and read the rental agreements.
All the information you need to make an informed decision is on their page- just make sure to take the time to look at it!
4. Less hidden fees
For most of us, the most frustrating part of renting a car is the hidden fees. Sometimes it feels like you are guessing at what the total cost of your rental car will be. Thankfully, Discover Cars takes away this guessing game.
With them there are no hidden fees, so you can confidently book a car within your budget. But you need to take the time to read. 🙂
5. 48-Hour cancellation policy
Discover Cars has a great cancellation policy. You can cancel for a full refund up to 48 hours before you pick up your car. So, if your plans change, you will not get stuck paying for a rental car you cannot use.
6. Offers full coverage
No one plans to get into an accident, but the fact is, they do happen. Mexico requires that all rental cars have insurance, the CDW (collision damage waver) is usually included in the car rentals because it’s mandatory, but it comes with a deductible, which is a cost that you still have to incur if you have an accident, unless you book extra insurance that waives that. Discover Cars offers the full coverage, which waives the deductible fees. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before purchasing it.
There is a huge difference between purchasing a full insurance with the company and the Discover Cars full coverage, which is basically that with the full coverage you will need to pay upfront and make a claim to get the refund. With the car rental you don’t have to pay anything upfront.
So this is something to keep in mind.
7. Easy & quick full coverage payment
Opting to buy full coverage when you rent your car is fast and easy. You will not have to mess around with looking at different insurance options when you arrive at the rental agency and can get your car and start your adventure.
8. 24/7 customer support
If you need any help, you can contact Discover Cars at any time. They have support available all day, every day.
9. Amazing Reviews
Before using a service or a platform, I always check the reviews, and although I don’t know the people who left them I always consider the % of good and bad and I read a few of both sides of the story to understand why there are bad reviews and what happened.
You can tell when it’s an episode of bad service or bad luck. Because that happens as well when you travel.
Discover Cars has more than 110K 4.5/5 reviews on Trust Pilot which makes me think they are doing something good.
Discover Cars Cancun: Cons
As you can see, Discover Cars is a great place to rent a car. Their user-friendly platform makes it easy to compare available cars, buy insurance, and be confident you will not have any hidden fees.
That said, no company is perfect, and here are the downsides to renting with Discover Cars. I am going to list them here below so that you can weigh them and decide if it’s worth it or not.
10. Short-term rentals are expensive
If you play around with rental dates and compare the prices to other sites, you will realize that Discover Cars can be a bit expensive if you are only renting a car for a few days. In general, you will find that the price per day goes down the longer you rent the car.
But it’s not always the case, so you should make an extra effort to compare with the car company directly. This is something I always suggest for every service you book, including
11. Short grace period
Since Discover Cars is a third-party site that connects you with rental agencies, they cannot help you if you realize you will be returning your car past the agreed-upon return time.
Individual car rental agencies may have an hour or two grace period, but Discover Cars does not guarantee this. If you return your car late, you may be billed an extra day and a late fee.
You need to ask the car rental when you pick up the car how much grace period they can allow. I have rented cars in many places and usually, it’s not more than 1 hour.
12. Confusing insurance policies for some clients
Some people find the insurance policies a bit confusing. It is important to remember that in Mexico, it is required to have third-party liability insurance.
Some car rentals come with that insurance included in the price, and you would need to pay extra for full coverage insurance.
If you have any doubts about the insurance, it is a good idea to reach out to Discover Cars customer service for assistance.
The most important thing to know is that you always need to read the terms and conditions of the car rental you want to book. (see screenshot below about the security deposit, which is one of the rental conditions you should look at)
13. High-security deposit fees
This is for me the major downside of renting your car with Discover Cars. Let me explain. When you rent a car directly with a car rental company they offer you a different level of insurance.
If you get the full insurance, which is the most expensive but the best for a trip with peace of mind (I always get that one), your security deposit fee is reduced to the bare minimum, usually around a couple of hundred dollars.
If you don’t buy the insurance directly with the car rental, they will charge you the maximum security deposit which can get as high as 2500 USD.
Keep in mind that it is just a deposit, though. It’s a way for the car rental to protect themselves from any damages that you may be charged for.
And that goes to a second important point. The insurance offered by Discover Cars is great and cheap but doesn’t pay for the damages directly. If you have an accident or an issue you will have to pay upfront and claim the refund with Discover Cars at the end of your trip. But you still get a refund. So for me it implies a bit of work but you get your money back.
That’s the main reason why the car rental company would charge such a high-security deposit.
See below how to find out what’s the security deposit for the car you want to rent.
14. Fewer special deal offers
If you rent cars often, you may get special perks for being a frequent customer of a company. Since Discover Cars is a platform that offers many different companies, you are less likely to find special offers and member discounts on it.
If you rent frequently, it is probably worth your time to check directly with your preferred rental company to see if they can give you a better price than Discover Cars can.
Because I live in Cancun I had a special deal with a couple of car rentals that offered me a “frequent-customer” rate. However, if you are not planning to go back to Cancun that often, then the Discover Cars platform is your best place to find a good deal.
15. A rental car extension is not available
Because Discover Cars do not operate the rental cars, they cannot help you extend your rental. If you want to extend your rental, you will need to contact the rental agency directly and work with them.
If you contact Discover Cars to extend a booking, your only option will be to create a new booking and return your current car to the rental agency.
While Discover Cars cannot help you extend your rental, they will extend your insurance. If you extend your rental directly with the rental agency, you can call Discover Cars and extend your full coverage insurance on the car.
16. Car availability during peak seasons
Whether you book through Discover Cars or directly with a rental agency, there will be fewer car rental options during peak travel seasons- and the prices will be higher.
This is the reality for everything when you travel during the peak season, hotels book up, and excursions can be full.
If you are traveling in the busiest times in Cancun, especially during Christmas, New Year, and Easter, make sure to book your rental car in advance.
Types of available vehicles in Discover Cars
If you have rented a car, you have probably noticed that your reservation says you will get one model of a car, and you end up with a similar, but slightly different model.
This is because car rental agencies move large amounts of cars, and cannot always guarantee you will get the exact car you booked.
What you will get is a car that is in the same class of cars, meaning it is roughly the same size, fits the same amount of people and baggage, and what kind of gas and transmission it has. Here are the types of cars available on Discover Cars:
🚙 Economy to Intermediate cars
This category includes most four-door cars. Unless you have a lot of luggage, a big group, or really plan to get off of main roads, an economy car is a great choice for the Cancun area. Economy cars are the cheapest rental option and are generally good on gas.
🚐 SUV & minivans
If you need something bigger than a car, you will pay a bit more but can opt for an SUV or minivan. Check the car description carefully to see exactly how many passengers it will fit.
😎 Station wagons and premium cars
If you are happy to splurge you can find amazing luxury cars and station wagons which are also great if you have a lot of baggage. Discover Cars have this option too.
How to find a great car rental deal in Cancun
Whether you are a seasoned car renter or preparing to rent a car for the first time, here are a few tips to help you get a great rental:
Book in advance
If you wait until the days before your vacation, there will be fewer cars available to rent and therefore fewer choices.
Booking early means you will have a better car selection, which in turn, will help you find a great deal. With car rentals, planning ahead pays off, plus Discover Cars has a 48-hour cancelation policy, so even if your plans change, you can get your money back.
Check the reviews
Discover Cars makes it easy for you to check the reviews for the car you want to book. Make sure you read what other customers say. The cheapest car is not a great deal if the agency has terrible ratings and customers are unhappy with their experience. It will be better to spend a few dollars more and work with an agency with good reviews.
Be mindful of the deposit
Discover Cars take away the guessing game of hidden fees- but you need to pay attention to the required deposit. You will need to provide the deposit to the rental agency before taking the car. A credit card is required because it’s easier to remove the deposit once you bring the car back (intact).
Know the fuel and mileage policies
Every rental agency has different fuel and mileage policies. Make sure to read the fine print and know your agency’s policies to avoid frustrating fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it affordable to rent cars with Discovers cars in Cancun?
If you want to try to save even more money, you can reach out to individual car rental agencies to see if you can get a better price than you can find on Discover Cars.
How much does the rental car insurance cost?
Is it safe to drive a car rental in Cancun?
How old should I be to rent a car in Cancun?
Discover Cars Cancun: Final Thoughts
The area surrounding Cancun is a great place to explore with a rental car. You can drive yourself to small jungle villages, visit Mayan ruins, and explore remote cenotes, but before you can start your adventure, you need to rent a car.
For many, the process of renting a car is nothing but a big headache. Thankfully, Discover Cars is a great option for finding good deals on rental cars.
The platform is easy to use, and transparent about costs and customer reviews. As a customer, your job is to read all the information available to you, so you can make a good choice, and have an easy rental experience.
I am hoping this post helped you understand more about the Discover Cars platform and renting a car in Cancun.
