Mexico on a UK Licence — The Side Switch, an IDP & Topes

Mexico is a superb self-drive country for British visitors — a hire car unlocks the cenotes, ruins and Pacific coves that coaches skip. Two adjustments matter far more than the licence question, and getting both right makes the whole trip smoother.

The biggest change: driving on the right

The UK drives on the left; Mexico drives on the right. This is the single thing most likely to catch you out, and the danger window is your first day — pulling out of a Pemex forecourt, joining a roundabout that now flows clockwise, or a reflex glance the wrong way at a junction. Take your first hour on quiet roads rather than Mexico City traffic, and be deliberate at every turn until right-hand driving stops feeling backwards.

The verdict on paperwork

You can drive on your UK licence, and an International Driving Permit is recommended — it is the certified translation rental desks and police expect to see. Carry the IDP, your licence and passport together; the licence covers stays of up to 6 months. Sort the IDP at home, as you cannot get one in Mexico. The Driving Permit Checker confirms what your trip requires.

Topes and the speed cap

Once you’re on the right, the next hazard is the tope — an unmarked speed bump guarding the entrance to every village on the free (libre) roads. Unlike British humps, these are often unpainted and unsigned, so hitting one fast in a low rental can cost a tyre or the sump. Slow hard at any cluster of houses or roadside stalls. Motorways cap at 110 km/h (barely above the UK’s 70 mph), rural roads at 80 and towns a strict 40 km/h; the toll roads (cuotas) are smoother and tope-free. A 10 km/h overspeed runs MXN 870-1,700 (≈ EUR 45-90) depending on the state — estimate yours with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

The alcohol limit is 0.08 BAC, the same as the UK’s, but city roadblocks are routine at night, so keep it at zero. Carry a warning triangle, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit; 911 reaches emergency services nationwide. Petrol is around $1.12/litre. Full rules are on our Mexico driving guide.