Last June I hit three police checkpoints going from Tulum to Valladolid and back. Got waived through two and had a chat with the third. My speaking Spanish with him might have thrown him off, or they were seriously looking for someone / something but it was no big deal.

As others have said, buy all the insurance. They advertise super low car rental rates but hit you on the insurance. Just go in knowing it’s closer to US prices once it’s all accounted for.

I do recommend Dream Rentals in Playa del Carmen. It’s owned by a Canadian brother and sister. Their prices are all-in up front, so there are no surprises. And they aren’t shady.