Drink-driving limits in Mexico (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
In short: Federal roads in Mexico have a limit of 0.8 g/l blood alcohol (0.08%) for private drivers and 0.3 g/l for federal freight and private transport drivers. Breaches bring a fine, removal of the vehicle and referral to the federal prosecutor. Other roads are covered by state and local rules not shown here.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Lower limit for novice or young driversDriving after drinking alcohol; Federal roads and bridges | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Random breath tests without suspicionDriving after drinking alcohol; Federal roads and bridges | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Maximum penaltiesDriving after drinking alcohol | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Blood alcohol limit for ordinary driversDriving after drinking alcohol | 0.05 % blood alcohol [1] |
| Limit for professional or commercial driversDriving after drinking alcohol | No alcohol at any concentration, by breath or in blood, for vehicles carrying passengers or cargo. [1] |
Notes
- This rule applies on federal roads and bridges only. States and municipalities regulate other roads.
- The federal general law sets these limits as the minimum traffic measures that states and municipalities must include in their rules (article 49). Motorcyclists: more than 0.1 mg/L in exhaled air or 0.02 g/dL in blood is prohibited. The figure shown is 0.05 g/dL as 0.05%. This is the text of the consolidated version with the last reform of 29 December 2023.
Sources
- Orden Jurídico Nacional (Secretaría de Gobernación), copy of the federal law: Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial (DOF 17-05-2022; texto vigente, última reforma DOF 29-12-2023) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
Mexico: rules by state or province
| State | Blood alcohol limit for ordinary drivers | Lower limit for novice or young drivers | Limit for professional or commercial drivers | Random breath tests without suspicion | Maximum penalties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aguascalientes | 0.05% (0.25 mg/L breath) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero (passenger and cargo vehicles) | Yes, preventive operations | Licence out 1+ year; 36 h arrest on repeat |
| Chihuahua | 0.05% (0.25 mg/L breath) | 0.02% novice; zero under 18 | Zero (passenger and cargo vehicles) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Licence withdrawn, min. 1 year |
| Colima | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero under 18 (0.02 mg/L tolerance) | Zero (0.02 mg/L tolerance) | Yes, alcohol checkpoints | Arrest 20-36 h, 40-100 UMA fine over 0.41 mg/L |
| Hidalgo | 0.05% (0.25 mg/L breath) | Zero for minors | Zero (transport); motorcycles 0.02% | Yes, random checkpoints | Arrest up to 36 h |
| Jalisco | 0.05% (0.25 mg/L breath) | Zero for minors | Zero (passenger, cargo, public transport) | Yes, random tests | Arrest up to 36 h; licence cancelled on repeat |
| Michoacán | 0.05% (0.25 mg/L breath) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero (public transport) | Yes, control programmes | Fine or arrest up to 36 h |
| Nayarit | 0.05% (0.25 mg/L breath) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero for passenger and cargo vehicles | Yes, random roadblocks | UMA 50-100 fine, 20-36 h arrest, licence suspended |
| Querétaro | 0.08% blood (0.2 mg/l breath) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero for public transport and cargo | Yes, checkpoints | 50-60 UMA fine, arrest, 6 points |
| Tamaulipas | 0.08% (0.4 mg/l breath) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero for public transport and cargo | Yes, checkpoints | Min. 50 UMA fine; arrest 8-36 h |
| Zacatecas | 0.05% (0.25 mg/l breath) | ⚠ Not yet verified | Zero for public transport | Yes, alcohol-testing operations | Arrest 8-36 h; licence out 1-3 years |
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.