How To Rent A Car In Spanish: All The Vocabulary You Need – Don’t Get Scammed!
Today we’re going to learn everything you need to know about how to rent a car in Spanish to make renting a car in Mexico a super simple experience.
Spring Spanish teacher PaulĂsima will tell you everything from the basics and will share some insider tips.
Are you ready?
Let’s begin!
1. Important things to know on how to rent a car in Spanish
In Mexico, you generally need to be 21 years old to rent a car.
If you’re between 18 and 21, you can still rent a car, but you’ll have to pay what’s called a “young driver fee.” The age range for what’s considered a young driver is different according to each car rental agency.
In Mexico, we call car rental companies “Agencias Arrendadoras de Autos” or simply “arrendadora.”
If you happen to have any problems with the service provided by the rental agency, you can contact PROFECO (ProcuradurĂa Federal del Consumidor).
It’s one of the most respected agencies by Mexicans.
Another thing that’s highly respected in Mexico and around the world is our Essential Spanish Chunking Kit. It’s a great and free tool that will help you advance a lot and very quickly in your Spanish. Download it using the link below.
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You’ll need to present an official identification.
If you’re a foreigner, your passport is sufficient. You’ll also need a driver’s license; an international driving permit is not necessary. HOWEVER, if the driver’s license is written in Arabic, Greek, Russian, or Chinese, the driver must present an international driving permit in addition to their license.
Remember to bring your reservation confirmation if you made it online.
Spring Spanish teacher PaulĂsima is from Cancun, and she can tell you that if you’re coming to this part of Mexico (Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar), it’s highly recommended that you rent a car.
It will give you a lot of freedom!
2. A dialogue on how to rent a car in Spanish
Cliente:
Buenos dĂas, me gustarĂa rentar un coche por una semana.
(Good morning, I would like to rent a car for a week.)
Agente:
Claro, Âżtiene reserva?
(Sure, do you have a reservation?)
Cliente:
No, no tengo reservaciĂłn.
(No, I don’t have a reservation.)
Agente:
No hay problema. ¿Qué tipo de coche necesita?
(No problem. What type of car do you need?)
Cliente:
Necesito un coche econĂłmico.
(I need an economy car.)
Agente:
Perfecto, tenemos varios coches econĂłmicos disponibles. ÂżLe gustarĂa añadir un seguro?
(Perfect, we have several economy cars available. Would you like to add insurance?)
Cliente:
ÂżQuĂ© opciones de seguro tienen? Me gustarĂa una cobertura muy amplia y que sea sin pagar deducible.
(What insurance options do you have? I would like a comprehensive coverage without paying a deductible.)
Agente:
Entonces le recomiendo el Paquete de ProtecciĂłn Total con LDW a valor total, que incluye ExtensiĂłn de Responsabilidad Civil y el Seguro de Accidentes Personales. SerĂan 150 pesos diarios.
(Then I recommend the Total Protection Package with LDW, at total value, which includes Liability Extension and Personal Accident Insurance. That would be 150 pesos per day.)
Cliente:
ÂżLDW?
Agente:
SĂ, es Loss Damage Waiver.
(Yes, it’s Loss Damage Waiver.)
Cliente:
Ah, como en inglĂ©s. Ok, sĂ, ese. Lo tomo.
(Ah, like in English. Ok, yes, that one. I’ll take it.)
Agente:
Muy bien. ÂżVa a haber algĂşn conductor adicional?
(Very well. Will there be any additional drivers?)
Cliente:
SĂ, mi hermano.
(Yes, my brother.)
Agente:
Ok, voy a necesitar también sus documentos. Pasaporte, para sacarle copia y su licencia también, por favor.
(Ok, I’ll also need his documents. Passport, to make a copy and his driver’s license as well, please.)
Agente:
Perfecto. AquĂ tiene el contrato de renta para que lo firme. El coche tiene que ser devuelto con el tanque lleno.
(Perfect. Here’s the rental contract for you to sign. The car must be returned with a full tank.)
Cliente:
Tanque lleno. Entendido, muchas gracias.
(Full tank. Understood, thank you very much.)
Agente:
También es necesario que lo entregue antes de las seis de la tarde para que lo podamos revisar.
(It’s also necessary to return it before six in the evening so we can inspect it.)
Take a look at the most important lexical chunks from this Spanish conversation:
Spanish | English |
---|---|
Buenos dĂas, me gustarĂa rentar un coche por una semana | Good morning, I would like to rent a car for a week |
No tengo reservaciĂłn | I don’t have a reservation |
¿Qué tipo de coche necesita? | What type of car do you need? |
Necesito un coche econĂłmico | I need an economy car |
ÂżLe gustarĂa añadir un seguro? | Would you like to add insurance? |
Me gustarĂa una cobertura muy amplia y que sea sin pagar deducible | I would like a comprehensive coverage without paying a deductible |
Entonces le recomiendo el Paquete de ProtecciĂłn Total con LDW a valor total | Then I recommend the Total Protection Package with LDW, at total value |
ÂżVa a haber algĂşn conductor adicional? | Will there be any additional drivers? |
Voy a necesitar tambiĂ©n sus documentos | I’ll also need his documents |
El coche tiene que ser devuelto con el tanque lleno | The car must be returned with a full tank |
Entendido, muchas gracias | Understood, thank you very much |
Es necesario que lo entregue antes de las seis de la tarde | It’s necessary to return it before six in the evening |
3. When you have a reservation for rent-a-car
Now let’s look at another situation:
Cliente:
Hola, tengo una reserva para un coche compacto.
(Hello, I have a reservation for a compact car.)
Agente:
Muy bien, dĂ©jeme buscar su reserva. AquĂ está. Veo que ha reservado un coche compacto. ÂżLe gustarĂa actualizar a un coche de tamaño mediano por solo $150 más al dĂa?
(Very well, let me look up your reservation. Here it is. I see you have reserved a compact car. Would you like to upgrade to a mid-size car for just $150 more per day?)
Es más espacioso y tiene mejores caracterĂsticas de seguridad.
(It’s more spacious and has better safety features.)
Cliente:
Está bien.
(Alright.)
Agente:
Perfecto. ÂżLe gustarĂa añadir un WIFI portátil por 50 al dĂa?
(Perfect. Would you like to add a portable WIFI for $50 per day?)
Cliente:
SĂ, por favor, sĂ me sirve.
(Yes, please, that works for me.)
Agente:
Muy bien. ¿Qué seguro desea añadir? Le recomiendo el seguro contra todo riesgo.
(Very well. What insurance would you like to add? I recommend the comprehensive insurance.)
Cliente:
SĂ, el seguro contra todo riesgo. Ese está bien.
(Yes, the comprehensive insurance. That one is ok.)
Agente:
Excelente. AquĂ tiene el contrato. Por favor firme aquĂ, aquĂ, y aquĂ.
(Excellent. Here’s the contract. Please sign it here, here, and here.)
Cliente:
Gracias.
(Thank you.)
How did you like it?
Now you can continue learning more Spanish that you’ll need for your trips to Spanish-speaking countries. For example, in the next lesson you can check out how to check into a hotel in Spanish.