Cars & transport in Mexico City

How transport in Mexico City works: from the metro to a car

How you get around Mexico City determines a great deal: how much time you waste each day, how much you spend on transport, and how comfortably you live in one of the world’s largest metropolises. For Russian-speaking expats and nomads this is especially relevant — the city is enormous, traffic is real, and the rules for foreigners are far from straightforward. Let’s break it down honestly.

Mexico City Metro (CDMX) and surface transport

Mexico City Metro is one of the cheapest in the world. A single ride costs 5 MXN (about 25 cents). 12 lines cover most of the city, including tourist and residential neighbourhoods. If you live in Roma, Condesa, Polanco, or Escandón, there are nearby stations everywhere.

The main problem with the metro is rush hour. From 7:30 to 9:30 in the morning and from 18:00 to 20:00 in the evening, platforms turn into genuine chaos — the crowding is physical, not metaphorical. A laptop in your backpack is a real risk. During peak hours, dedicated carriages for women and children are in operation and are actively monitored.

Metrobús (BRT buses on dedicated lanes) and trolebús (electric trolleybuses) cost 7 MXN. Payment is made with the CDMX card, which can be topped up at any station. Metrobús routes cover Insurgentes, Alameda, and the NAICM airport. The trolebús is convenient for trips along the central corridor.

Ecobici — the city’s bike-share scheme. An annual subscription costs around 600 MXN, with the first 45 minutes of each ride free. Works well in Roma/Condesa, where cycle lanes exist. In other neighbourhoods, exercise caution in traffic.

Uber, DiDi and taxis in Mexico City

Hailing an official taxi off the street is a risk most expats avoid. Safety has improved, but the habit of booking through an app is now firmly established.

Uber and DiDi are the standard way to get around the city. An average ride within the colonias costs 80–150 MXN; to the airport or outlying areas — 200–350 MXN. DiDi is often 15–20% cheaper than Uber, especially during off-peak hours.

Insider insight: during peak hours and rain, surge pricing kicks in and a ride from Polanco to Condesa can top 300+ MXN. A handy alternative is InDriver, where you negotiate the fare directly with the driver. Less well known among expats, but genuinely worthwhile for routes over 10 km.

A car in Mexico City: to buy or not to buy

The Hoy No Circula system

Before thinking about a car, get to grips with the Hoy No Circula (’Today it doesn’t run’) system. Restrictions apply on weekdays based on the last digit of the license plate and the color of the environmental sticker. Violations mean a fine and possible towing. Tourists on foreign plates are technically subject to an even stricter version of the rule: vehicles with foreign registration face additional limitations. This matters if you have driven your own car over or plan to import one.

Buying a car in Mexico City

Buying a car in Mexico City as a foreigner without residency is difficult but doable. Private sales between individuals are not prohibited by law — but re-registration without a Mexican RFC (tax identification number) creates complications. In practice, many expats buy “grey” vehicles through a Mexican intermediary or wait until they obtain a CURP and RFC after getting residency.

Used-car markets: Mercado Libre, Seminuevos.com, dealerships in the San Juan de Aragón area. Prices for a reliable 2018–2020 hatchback run 150,000–250,000 MXN. New cars are available from official dealerships; financing is possible with a residence permit and a bank account.

Mexico City driving licence for Russians

Russian driving licences are valid for tourists under international convention. As long as you hold tourist status (FMM for 180 days), you may drive with a Russian licence. After obtaining residency (temporal or permanente), you are formally required to replace it with a Mexican licence.

Mexican driving licences are issued by SEMOVI (Secretaría de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México). The process: pass a theoretical test in Spanish, complete a medical examination, and pay the state fee (approximately 700–900 MXN depending on the category). No translation of your Russian licence is required — you simply need to pass the test.

Comparing transportation options in Mexico City

Common mistakes

1. Getting into a street taxi. Even if it looks official — without an app there are no guarantees on price or safety. At the very least, ask your host to call a sitio taxi from a known stand.
2. Ignoring Hoy No Circula. Tourists on foreign plates assume the rule does not apply to them. It does — and the fine plus towing will cost more than a week of Uber.
3. Taking the metro at 8 a.m. with luggage or a laptop. Beyond the crush, there is a real risk of losing your gear. Use DiDi for trips like these.
4. Buying a car before receiving your RFC. Completing the paperwork without a tax ID leaves you in a grey area: getting proper insurance is difficult, and transferring ownership later becomes even harder.
5. Underestimating traffic when planning daily life. Getting from Coyoacán to Polanco on a weekday can take 1.5–2 hours. Choosing a home close to your office or co-working space is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.
6. Not using DiDi and InDriver, sticking only to Uber. Uber is more expensive here than its competitors and applies aggressive surge pricing. Having all three apps is standard practice among locals.

What to choose in the end

For your first months in Mexico City — Uber/DiDi plus the metro for off-peak routes. It’s cheap, flexible, and legally hassle-free. A personal car makes sense if you have a family, residency, and live outside the central colonias — Pedregal, San Jerónimo, Tlalpan. In Roma/Condesa, a car is more burden than help: parking is paid, traffic eats your time, and Ecobici covers most daily errands.