To rent a golf cart in Tulum you need three things: a valid driving licence from any country, to be 18 or over, and a card for the security deposit. No account, no paperwork sent in advance: you pick your dates, you pay, and the cart is delivered to your hotel.
What you will actually be asked for
The list is short and it does not change with the season:
- A valid licence, issued anywhere in the world. An international permit is not required.
- To be 18 or over. Below that there is a young driver option, subject to policy and to the cover taken out — ask before booking, not on the day of delivery.
- Official ID for whoever the booking is in.
- Every person who will drive, named in the contract. Anyone not in the contract does not drive, and that includes your partner or your brother.
When you book online, ID and licence are uploaded before payment, in a step of their own. That is deliberate: nobody should end up charged with a document still missing. At handover they are no longer captured — they are checked against the person in front of us.
What you pay, and what you only leave as a guarantee
There are two different amounts, and it is worth not mixing them up: one is a cost, the other is not.
The rental is charged per day. The current price of each model is always on its own page — see the Detour Four — and it is frozen the moment you book: if the rate goes up afterwards, your booking keeps the price you made it at.
The deposit is money held in trust, not part of the price. It is taken at handover and returned in full when the cart comes back undamaged. It appears that way on your receipt, separate from the rental, precisely so you can see it is not a charge.
The quick sum: budget the rental for the days you will use it, and keep the deposit available on the card. Give the cart back the way you got it and the deposit is never touched.
The three cover levels, and what really changes between them
This is the decision most people make blind. All three protect the vehicle; the difference is what happens to you when something goes wrong.
| 90% | 100% | Defensa a Defensa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage covered | 90% | 100% | 100% |
| Your share | 10% of the excess | None | None |
| Recovery and towing | No | No | Yes |
| Replacement cart | No | No | Yes |
| Priority attention | No | No | Yes |
In one line: 100% cover protects the cart, but it does not come and get you. Defensa a Defensa is the only one that gets you off the road, recovers the unit and finds a replacement so the trip can carry on.
And five things no cover includes — not here and not with any serious company: traffic fines, legal liability arising from an incident, lost keys, a lost number plate, and stains or damage to the upholstery. Being pulled out of the sand is not covered either. The FAQ goes through all of it.
The extras people actually use
You do not need all of them. In order of real usefulness in Tulum:
- Delivery and collection where you are staying. Hotel, villa or Airbnb. Arranged when you book, because it depends on the area.
- Additional driver. If two of you will drive, this is not a formality — it is what makes the second driver legal.
- Child seat, if you are travelling with small children.
- Beach kit, so you do not have to bring a cool box and towels from home.
- Pet friendly travel, with the cleaning conditions that come with it.
- Extra hours, if your flight home is late and you want the cart until the end.
- Out-of-hours handover or collection, for when the office is closed.
The battery, the zone and giving it back
The cart leaves us charged to 100% and you charge it during the rental, the same way you would look after any borrowed vehicle. It plugs into a normal socket at the hotel or the apartment; no special installation. If your accommodation will not allow it, there is a charging service.
The contract names a zone: inside it you move freely, outside it you do not. The cart is for flat ground and paved roads, and it is not made for the federal highway — that is a safety rule, not small print. We go through it in driving a golf cart in Tulum.
You give it back the way you got it. Everyday sand and dust are fine; a deep clean is only charged when the cart comes back with stains, food, drink or an amount of sand that is not one beach day's worth.
Quick questions
Can I keep it longer if I am enjoying myself?
Yes, by the hour, as long as the cart is not booked straight afterwards. Tell us before your return time, not after.
Do I need an account to book?
No. Dates, model, contact details, payment. An account is optional and only helps you look up your bookings later.
What if I have an accident?
Leave the cart where it is and call us. Do not move it and do not arrange anything yourself: from there it is on us.
Can I carry passengers for money?
No. The cart is for you and the drivers named in the contract. No paid transport, no subletting, no passing the rental on.
So where do I start?
With the dates. High season availability closes weeks ahead, and the price is frozen when you book, not when you arrive. Have a look at the carts available and, if you are still deciding how to get around, the Tulum guide compares the four options with their drawbacks.
