Mexico on a Japanese Licence — Yes, but You Switch to the Right

For a Japanese driver, Mexico flips two things at once: the side of the road and the rhythm of the surface. Neither is hard once you know it is coming, but the first day rewards a little caution.

Driving on a Japanese licence

Yes, you can. A Japanese licence is accepted for short tourist stays and rentals in Mexico, with an International Driving Permit recommended as the official translation. Rental desks and police prefer to see it, and although it is not always demanded, carrying it avoids any awkwardness at a stop. Keep the IDP, your Japanese licence and your passport together, and arrange the permit in Japan before you travel.

The side switch is the first hurdle

Japan drives on the left; Mexico drives on the right. This is the change most likely to catch you out, and it bites hardest on day one — leaving a car park, joining a roundabout that now flows the other way, or glancing the wrong direction at a junction. Take your first hour on quiet roads, well away from Mexico City traffic, until the new orientation stops feeling reversed.

Then the topes

Once the side feels natural, watch for the tope — the Mexican speed bump, often unmarked and unlit, on the approach to towns and villages. Coming from Japan’s smooth, well-signed roads, these are a genuine surprise. Slow right down whenever you near a settlement, and look for faded paint or a small sign.

Roads, fines and fuel

Mexico’s tolled cuota highways are good; the free libre roads can be rough and slow. Limits are 40 km/h in town, 80 rural and 110 on the best highways, varying by state. Speeding fines run about MXN 870–1,700 (approx. EUR 45–90), fuel is roughly $1.12/litre, and the emergency number is 911.

Read the full rules on our Mexico driving guide, confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, and estimate a penalty with the Speeding Fine Calculator.