Renting a Car in Los Cabos for Todos Santos

What You Need to Know (Insurance Traps & Tips)

Renting a car at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is one of the best decisions you can make if you are heading to Todos Santos, El Pescadero, or Cerritos Beach. The drive up Highway 19 is stunning, you will have the freedom to explore on your own schedule, and having a car in Todos Santos opens up everything, remote beaches, surf spots, local markets, and the kind of spontaneous Baja adventures that do not fit a shuttle timetable.

But the car rental experience at Los Cabos airport has a well-earned reputation for catching travellers off guard. Insurance upsells, mandatory fees that were not in the advertised price, and high-pressure counter tactics are common enough that hundreds of travellers complain about them every year.

This guide tells you exactly what to expect, what to watch out for, and how to arrive at the counter prepared, so you can get on the road and enjoy the drive to Todos Santos without the stress.

The drive from Los Cabos to Todos Santos: what to know first

Before we get into car rental specifics, a quick overview of the drive itself.

Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) is located in San José del Cabo — if you are still sorting out flights, read our guide What Airport Do You Fly Into for Todos Santos? for a full breakdown of options. From the airport to Todos Santos is approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) along Highway 19 — a well-maintained, paved toll road that runs up the Pacific side of the Baja peninsula. Under normal conditions the drive takes about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

The road passes through open desert and agricultural valleys, with stretches of Pacific coastline visible as you approach Pescadero and Cerritos Beach. It is a genuinely beautiful drive. The highway is mostly in good condition, though topes (speed bumps) appear without warning as you pass through small towns, slow down for these.

Cerritos Beach is approximately 60 kilometres from the airport and arrives first. El Pescadero is a few kilometres further north. Todos Santos town is the final 15 minutes beyond that.

The toll on Highway 19 is a few dollars USD, have a small amount of pesos or US dollars ready at the booth.

The insurance situation: what most travellers get wrong

This is where most people run into problems, and it is worth spending real time on because the costs can be significant.

Your US or Canadian insurance does not work in Mexico

This is the most important thing to understand before you reach the counter. Mexican federal law requires all drivers on Mexican roads to carry third-party liability insurance issued by a Mexican insurance company. Your State Farm, Geico, Progressive, or Canadian equivalent policy is legally invalid in Mexico, full stop.

If you are involved in an accident, even one that is not your fault, and you do not have valid Mexican liability insurance, you are breaking the law. Mexican authorities can legally detain you and impound your vehicle until damages are resolved. This is not a theoretical risk. It happens.

What about your credit card coverage?

Many travellers assume their credit card’s car rental insurance covers them in Mexico. Some cards do offer collision damage waiver (CDW) coverage for Mexico, but almost none cover third-party liability, which is the legally required coverage. You need to verify with your specific card issuer before you travel. Do not assume.

Even if your card covers collision damage, you will still need to purchase Mexican third-party liability (TPL) insurance separately. This is not optional and it is not a sales tactic — it is the law.

The mandatory TPL insurance

Third-party liability insurance is legally required and costs approximately $15–$25 USD per day depending on the rental company and coverage level. This fee is often not included in the advertised base rate you see online — which is how a $30-a-day rental becomes $60-a-day at the counter.

Some rental companies now include TPL in their advertised rate. Many do not. Read the fine print carefully before booking online, and budget for this fee regardless.

The collision damage waiver (CDW) upsell

On top of the mandatory TPL, rental companies will offer you a collision damage waiver, coverage for damage to the rental vehicle itself. This typically costs an additional $20–$40 USD per day.

Whether you need this depends on whether your credit card covers collision damage for Mexican rentals. If it does, you can decline the rental company’s CDW and use your card coverage instead, but you will need to pay the full deposit on your credit card and file a claim with your card issuer if anything happens. If your card does not cover Mexico, or if you want the peace of mind of not having to deal with a credit card claim process while on vacation, the CDW is worth considering.

The advertised price vs. what you actually pay

This is the most common source of frustration at the Los Cabos rental counter. An advertised weekly rate of $150 USD can easily become $400–$500 once mandatory insurance, airport surcharges, and taxes are added. This is not unique to Cabo, it happens at rental counters globally, but the insurance complexity in Mexico makes the gap larger than most travellers expect.

The solution is straightforward: when comparing rental prices online, look for the total out-the-door price including all fees and mandatory insurance, not just the base rate. 

Practical tips for the rental counter

Book in advance, not at the airport counter. Walk-up rates at the airport are significantly higher than pre-booked rates. Book online before you travel, ideally through a comparison platform that shows total pricing.

Pre-purchase your Mexican liability insurance before you land. Companies like MexicoInsurance.com and Baja Bound sell Mexican TPL insurance online before you travel. Buying in advance is often cheaper than purchasing at the rental counter, and it removes one layer of counter pressure. Arrive with your policy already in hand.

Photograph everything before you drive away. Walk around the entire vehicle with the agent present and photograph every panel, bumper, tyre, and the windscreen. Check for existing scratches, dents, and chips, even small ones. Make sure any pre-existing damage is noted on your rental agreement before you sign. This is your protection against being charged for damage you did not cause on return.

Check the fuel level and get it noted. Confirm the tank is full (or at the level stated in the agreement) before leaving. Fuel prepayment options are available but usually overpriced, returning with a full tank is almost always cheaper.

Look at local companies alongside the big names. Cactus Rent-a-Car is consistently recommended by locals and experienced Baja travellers. Local companies like Mex Rent A Car often offer rates 20–40% lower than international brands with more transparent pricing. Read reviews carefully and look for companies with ratings above 8.0 on comparison platforms.

Decline extras you do not need. Roadside assistance packages, GPS units (use your phone), child seat upgrades, and additional driver fees can all add up quickly. Know what you actually need before you reach the counter.

Bring your credit card with sufficient limit for the deposit. Deposits range from $500 to $3,000 USD depending on the vehicle class and your insurance coverage. This is held on your card and released on return, but you need the available credit. Debit cards are often not accepted.

What car do you need for Todos Santos?

For most visitors staying in Todos Santos town or at a vacation rental in Pescadero or Cerritos Beach, a standard economy or compact car is perfectly adequate. Highway 19 is paved and well-maintained.

However, if your rental is on a dirt road, and many of the most beautiful properties in El Pescadero and Cerritos Beach are accessed via unpaved tracks, an SUV or higher-clearance vehicle is worth the small additional daily cost, particularly in rainy season (July–October) when dirt roads can become rutted and muddy. Not sure when to visit? Read our guide What Is the Best Month to Visit Baja California Sur? to find the right season for your trip.

When you book your vacation rental with Todos Santos Villa Rentals, our concierge team can tell you exactly what road conditions to expect for your specific property and advise on vehicle type.

Getting from the airport to Todos Santos without renting a car

A rental car is not your only option. For those who prefer not to drive, there are a few alternatives:

Private shuttle: Several shuttle services run between Los Cabos airport and Todos Santos directly. For a full overview of every way to get here, read our article How to Get to Todos Santos, Mexico. This is the most comfortable non-driving option and costs approximately $80–$120 USD each way depending on the provider and group size. Book in advance.

Uber: Uber operates in Los Cabos and can take you from the airport toward Todos Santos, though availability and willingness to make the full journey varies. Not always reliable for the full 80km trip.

Once you are in Todos Santos, a car is genuinely useful for day trips to Pescadero, Cerritos Beach, La Paz, and the surrounding area. Wondering what the beaches are actually like for swimming? Read our guide Is There a Swimmable Beach in Todos Santos, Mexico? before you pack your swimsuit. Many guests who arrive by shuttle end up renting a car locally for at least a few days of their stay.

A note on driving in Mexico

For most visitors from the US and Canada, driving in Baja feels very manageable, especially compared to driving in Mexico City or other large urban areas. Highway 19 between Cabo and Todos Santos is straightforward.

A few things worth knowing:

Topes (speed bumps) appear suddenly and are often unmarked or poorly marked. They are common at the entrance to every small town along the route. Slow down when approaching any settlement.

Night driving: Avoid driving between Todos Santos and Cabo after dark if possible. Cattle are harder to see on unlit stretches of highway. Most incidents involving visitors on Baja roads happen at night.

Gas stations: PEMEX stations are the only option along this route. Always pay inside or watch the pump carefully, ensure the attendant resets the pump to $0.00 before filling. Tipping the attendant 10–20 pesos is customary.

Emergency contacts to save: Save the number for your rental company’s roadside assistance, your accommodation in Todos Santos, and the emergency services number (911 now works across Mexico).

Check your phone plan before you go. Signal and data coverage varies across the Baja corridor. Read our article What Cell Coverage Is Like in Todos Santos 2026 so you know exactly what to expect, and how to stay connected on the road.

Ready to plan your Todos Santos trip?

Getting the car sorted is step one. The next step is having somewhere worth driving to.

Looking for a vacation rental in Cerritos, Todos Santos, or Pescadero? Book your stay through Todos Santos Villa Rentals and you will not pay a single cent in Airbnb service fees. Guests who book directly with us get the best price guaranteed, plus genuine local support, not a chatbot or a call centre. Our concierge team knows every property in our portfolio, every road condition, every restaurant worth the detour, and every surf break worth the early alarm. That is what direct booking with a local specialist actually looks like. Browse our listings here.

Todos Santos Villa Rentals manages vacation properties across Todos Santos, El Pescadero, and Cerritos Beach, Baja California Sur. No service fees charged to guests. All bookings include personal concierge support from our local team.