Mexico planning

I mean… if they get your DL from you, you’ve probably lost. You might have to pay them to get it back. I made that mistake once in Mexico City.

But always insist you want to go to the police station to pay the fine. They don’t want this, and would rather send you on your way.

And you are only legally obligated to show them your DL, not hand it over. That’s why I take color copies of mine (front and back.)

If it’s the Federal police on the other hand, just do what they ask. They are professional and not out for bribes.

Always remove your sunglasses at federal checkpoints, smile, talk in English, and they will wave you onward.

 

Hi all,

Thank you so much for all this info, really appreciate it. We leave Saturday and I'm stoked!

One thing I read about but haven't seen mentioned here: gas. I know gas down there isn't as high quality as what we have up here. Should I plan on just getting a higher octane down there? Or do I need to run fuel additives?

 

Have fun, BP gas stations are plentiful around Ensenada and PEMEX is state run. If anxiety sets in just fill up before crossing the border and then top off at a BP station when you see one. Unless you are going genuinely remote you will quickly get comfortable with gas availability near Ensenada.

 

Personally didn’t have a problem with quality of gas, driving the entire length of Baja, including remote areas. I did make a habit of always trying to fill up when half empty, and I took 10 gallons extra fuel in jerry cans, which became useful when the distance between gas stations was long (mostly in or toward Baja Sur).