Cactus — Local services in Baja California Sur

After reading blogs and reviews before our trip to Cabo, we understood that we could waive the CDW insurance (and use primary insuarance on a credit card to cover this). HOWEVER, in Mexico there is ALSO an additional 3rd party liability insurance required by LAW, which is NOT covered by credit card benefits. Thus many reviewers complaining about having to pay "any" insurance probably don't understand this so those reviews aren't useful...but HOW MUCH other companies charge for this 3rd party liability insurance is a huge problem since it's not transparent. Basically, it seems like when you get there, they will charge how ever much they think they can get from you for the required 3rd party liability insurance...even if it's from a US brand name car rental company.

That being said, I'm usually someone willing to arm myself with internet knowledge and negotiate to save just a few bucks. But after reading the (consistenly awful) reviews of the other car companies, the fact that we were coming during spring break (high season), and this is an international trip...we ultimately decided to go with a rental company that seemed trustworthy and loved...and I'm SO glad we did. It is possible I 'could' have 'possibly' saved $100-$200 with a different car company, but there was the risk that I also could have ended up spending hundreds of dollars more in hidden fees AND have to deal with shady practices AFTER a car return with other companies...in hindsight the $480 we spent for 8 days (including taxes/fees and the required 3rd party insurance, and waiving CDW insurance) was one our best trip decisions.

The Pros: Unlike other rental companies, Cactus Rent a Car includes the required 3rd party liabilty insurance and taxes/fees in the price, which is exactly how it should be. You know exactly what you're paying for. The included 3rd party liability is a generous amount. Note: There are travel sites that say that 3rd party liability insurance is included (ex: $750,000 MXN), which is a bit misleading because while yes it's included, it's not close to enough of how much liability coverage you should have. Thus the other rental companies will insist that you pay more. TBH I would also recommend paying for more coverage in those situations. The Cactus staff is fast, professional, and knowledgable. A shuttle took us from the airport to the rental venue quickly and we were driving off in a nice clean car (VW) in less than 15 minutes. We were offered bottles of water, which was such a nice gesture after a flight and huge crowds at the airport. Rental venue is spacious and clean. The process is simple, efficient, and transparent. And the tech is good. We received a report with photos of the car and mileage taken just before we got into the car, to our email. No deposit/hold required for the rental. Returning the car was a breeze. Luis C. is a gem. Thank you Luis and team!

We visited during high season (spring break time) in Cabo and booked last second so we expected rental cars to be more expensive. Prices will be much lower if booked ahead of time, or visiting during a low season. It pained me a bit to spend $60/day (usually I'm the kind of person who would forgoe a rental at this price), but looking back it was worth it and we'd absolutely do it all over again. I highly recommend Cactus Rent a Car!

Last Tip: If renting a car in Mexico you're probably going to stop at a gas station at some point. The gas station scams are real (where they change the amount shown on the pump at the end). In Mexico, a worker pumps the gas for you, but you can be preventative by keeping your eye on the meter at the pump the ENTIRE time. Be obvious about it even. Don't let someone distract you (via window washing or conversation), or block your view of the numbers. If they know you're watching the numbers they'll be less likely to put the scam in motion, and then you can continue having fun...

We rented a Honda hrv from cactus for a week starting Saturday, 7/20/24. Paid $420 and had collision damage with my credit card. Everything was great and going smoothly until on our 2 hour drive to La Paz we realized the screen wasn’t working, it was on a continuous loop, showing black with the Honda logo loading. There was no way to play music.

It was then nearly impossible to get in touch with anyone at Cactus because the numbers we were given on the brochure didn’t answer. We tried various ways to contact them (call, text, WhatsApp) and finally remembered we had gotten the WhatsApp number of the guy at Cactus who shows clients the map of B.C.S. We got his number because he wanted us to go to a meeting where they’d give information on a timeshare.

He put us in touch with Luis who could send us someone in Todos Santos to fix the screen on Wednesday which we didn’t end up having time to do given we were in Todos Santos less than 24 hours and didn’t want to take x hours of our one day in TS toward fixing a screen since we had a total of 6 full days of vacation.

Upon returning the car, we asked for a discount to see what was possible for the hassle of not having music for the duration of the rental, and not being able to get in contact with any of the numbers on the brochure for days. We were met with a rude manager (didn’t get his name) who didn’t let us talk and barked over us that they offered to fix the screen or change the car and it was our fault we didn’t take them up on their offer. I told him it was never communicated that they would change the car. He didn’t care that that was the case.

I found him to be very rude and inconsiderate of the fact that when people are on vacation they might not want to take time out of their limited stay to meet with a technician. We were then offered a $50 gift card for our next rental with them which is useless and we didn’t take it.

Long story short: don’t be like us and assume that the car will be given to you with all functioning features. Make sure you have someone’s WhatsApp number as the numbers on the brochure do not answer. If something goes wrong and you don’t have time to meet a technician, don’t expect a reimbursement. Don’t expect good customer service or consideration. Go with Cactus if you’re fine with...

I recently had the pleasure of renting a car from Cactus Rent-A-Car during my trip to Cabo, Mexico, and I must say, it was a fantastic experience from start to finish.

From the moment I walked into their office, I was greeted with a warm and professional demeanor, which immediately put me at ease. The staff at Cactus Rent-A-Car in Cabo are a perfect blend of friendly and knowledgeable, making the rental process smooth and hassle-free.

The car I rented was in pristine condition, clean, and well-maintained. It felt like a brand-new vehicle, and I could tell that Cactus Rent-A-Car takes great care of their fleet. I had the freedom to choose from a variety of car options that suited my needs and budget.

What truly stood out to me was the level of transparency and integrity that Cactus Rent-A-Car exhibited throughout my rental experience. There were no hidden fees or surprises when it came time to settle the bill, which is often a concern when renting a car in a foreign country.

Driving around Cabo in the rental car was a breeze. The vehicle performed flawlessly, and I had no issues whatsoever. It allowed me to explore the beautiful landscapes and attractions of Cabo at my own pace, creating unforgettable memories.

Lastly, the convenience of being able to reach Cactus Rent-A-Car's team seven days a week is a testament to their commitment to customer satisfaction. Knowing that they were just a phone call away provided an added layer of reassurance.

In conclusion, I highly recommend Cactus Rent-A-Car to anyone visiting Cabo, Mexico, and in need of a reliable rental car service. Their professionalism, integrity, and well-maintained vehicles truly make them stand out in the rental car industry. My trip was made even more enjoyable thanks to their exceptional service. I look forward to renting from them again on my next...