Uncovering Mexico
Jeremy Schwartz is the Mexico correspondent for Cox Newspapers. He is based in Mexico City.What's on this page?
The entry titled "Driving through Mexico? Get your wallet out."
Categories
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
More recent entries
Home > Uncovering Mexico > Archives > 2008 > July > 25 > Entry
Driving through Mexico? Get your wallet out
We just got back from a road trip to nearby Michoacan and Guanajuato, both places a little more than three hours from the Mexican capital. The 376-mile round trip cost us about $54 in tolls, a vivid reminder that comfortable long distance driving is only for those with money in Mexico. To put the tolls in perspective, it would take a laborer making minimum wage 10 days of work to save enough money for the trip. The free alternative consists of horrendous, winding roads filled with frequent stops as you pass through small towns. Like many things in Mexico, road travel is a two-tiered system based largely on class.
Consider the following toll prices: from Mexico City to nearby Acapulco (at just four hours from Mexico City, it’s a favorite weekend getaway for Chilangos), it’ll cost you about $100 roundtrip in tolls. To drive from Nuevo Laredo to Mexico City and back, it’ll run you about $120 roundtrip. The Transportation and Communications Ministry has an excellent website that will compute your toll costs, valuable information for anyone planning a road trip in Mexico.
Many toll roads in Mexico were built and are managed by private companies, a privatization strategy devised by the cash-strapped federal government. The Calderon administration is planning on another 24 privately managed toll roads, according to the Los Angeles Times. While the strategy has resulted in many more miles of clean, fast highways, it’s also priced out average Mexicans.
Comments
Click here to report comment abuse.
By ben
July 25, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
This is an honest question. Can somebody please explain how much in bribes or “tips” (mordida?) I would have to pay to drive my own TX car in Mexico. I understand I have to buy Mexican insurance. How much do I have to budget to pay policemen or military when stopped for “speeding” or “running a stop sign” or some other fake accusation? How much is the customary payment to be able to move along? How much “for the chief”?
By JKW
July 25, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
The price of tolls is of minimal concern when you consider that the price of gas in Mexico is roughly $2.90 or a $1.10 less a gallon. The savings on gas more than makes up for the cost of tolls.
By ben
July 25, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Can somebody please explain how much in bribes or “tips” (mordida?) I would have to pay to drive my own TX car in Mexico. I understand I have to buy Mexican insurance. How much do I have to budget to pay policemen or military when stopped for “speeding” or “running a stop sign” or some other fake accusation? How much is the customary payment to be able to move along? How much “for the chief”?
This is an honest question. It is not racist against Mexico. I grew up in Chicago and am familiar with “paying” for tickets in cash to the cop and paying a $5 “tip” to the driver’s license examiner to pass the driving test.
By Frank
July 28, 2008 7:20 AM | Link to this
Ben -
After two years of driving an American car in Mexico, my current mordida outlay totals $0.00 - though I do keep 200 pesos in the glove compartment just in case.
By Gritsforbreakfast
July 31, 2008 6:48 AM | Link to this
Jeremy, what you neglect to add is that the bus system is cheap, efficient, goes everywhere virtually any time you need it and is how most people avoid the tolls. Here in the United States there is nothing like it but Mexican bus stations have more in common with US airports than the Greyhound stations here - they’re designed for mass transport and IMO highly functional.
By Jeremy Schwartz
July 31, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this
Grits - true, bus rides usually cost about one would pay in pure tolls (I think the bus to Acapulco is actually less than the tolls).
Jeremy
By Jim
August 4, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
i’ve noticed that first class buses almost always run you 50 pesos per hour of ride time, for what it’s worth.
jeremy - thanks a ton for that consulta de ruta link. i’m driving to slp tomorrow and i was hoping to be able to budget the tolls in.
By Del
September 1, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this
Thought you might have an idea on how I can get the names of all the elementary schools in Ecatepec de Morelos. Not asking you to give a list just a way for a gringo to find one. Thanks, Del
By Jeremy Schwartz
September 9, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Del - try this number for Ecatepec public information. They should be able to send you a list or at least tell you where to look: 011-52-55-5779-8899. Also, http://www.ecatepec.gob.mx/
Good luck!
By Josh
September 9, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this
Hey, I’ve been hearing that it is very dangerous for americans to travel through mexico right now. More so now than ever before. I find this hard to belive, having grown up driving all through mexico, but I was wondering if you had any insight about this. Is the situation down there really bad right now?
By Jeremy Schwartz
September 10, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Josh - I’ve actually been doing quite a bit of driving here in the last month or so, going from Mexico City to Morelia and then from Mexico City to Ecatepec, Queretaro and Guanajuato. I had no problems on either trip and my feeling is that the toll roads continue to be a very safe option for American travelers. It’s true that violence is spiking once again down here, but I’ve not heard of violence being specifically targeted at traveling Americans. Obviously there are trouble spots and I wouldn’t recommend a road trip through Culiacan, Ciudad Juarez or Tijuana right about now.
By Valentine
September 16, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
Hi Jeremy, What is the best route in Mexico if I’m driving from Laredo Texas to Honduras and what is the best time to drive thru Mexico city? Thank you
By Jeremy Schwartz
September 16, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Valentine - I’ve never done the cross country route, but anyone who has feel free to chime in. I’d say 85 to 57 to Mexico City, but not so sure on the southern half.
As far as coming through the monster, I’d try to hit the DF on a weekend if at all possible. If you’re coming during the week aim for noonish when traffic is lightest. Hit it during rush hour and you will rue the day you were born.