Urban Rentals Rise 20% in Mexico, Says Drivana

Drivana, a digital peer-to-peer car rental platform, reported a 20% increase in urban vehicle rentals in Mexico, signaling a shift from traditional tourism-focused demand toward more frequent intra-city use. According to CEO Edson Arteaga, this trend reflects a growing number of users treating car rental as a flexible alternative to ownership.

“Increasingly, people within the same city see us not only as an alternative to traditional rental companies, but to car ownership itself,” Arteaga said. “We have users who rent at least three times per month due to work commitments but find no need to own a vehicle the rest of the time.”

This shift aligns with broader patterns in the car rental sector. Data from the Mexican Association of Vehicle Leasing Companies (AMAVe) shows its members increased purchases of light vehicles for leasing by 27.7% during the last reporting period.

Drivana identified Mexico City as the most active market for day-use rentals. Arteaga noted that urban residents are increasingly leveraging flexible rental models to meet specific transportation needs without incurring the long-term costs of vehicle ownership.

Tourist destinations such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum continue to see high rental activity; however, much of the market in those regions remains informal. According to AMAVe, its members operate over 20,000 vehicles dedicated to travelers in these areas, representing 20% to 25% of the country’s daily rental fleet.

Arteaga also highlighted structural differences between the Mexican and US rental markets. “Unlike the United States, where three large companies control 95% of the market, Mexico’s sector is fragmented. It’s mostly small fleet owners operating through WhatsApp or Facebook, without technology, formal validation, or specialized insurance,” he said.