No. As of October 2026, street racing on public roads is banned in Mexico City and on Mexico’s federal highways. Mexico City’s traffic code punishes organizing or joining a high-speed race with a fine of 21 to 30 UMA (about MX$2,464 to MX$3,519), 20 to 36 hours of arrest that cannot be paid off, and 6 points on your license.
Quick Summary
- Mexico City: organizing or taking part in high-speed races, stunts or other risky maneuvers on public roads is prohibited (Traffic Regulation, Article 34, section II)
- Federal highways: speed and acceleration contests are prohibited (Federal Highway Traffic Regulation, Article 138)
- Foreign drivers: Mexico City’s rules cover vehicles registered in Mexico or abroad
- Racing legally: on a closed circuit, in a sanctioned event
What does Mexico City’s traffic law say about street racing?
Article 34 of the Reglamento de Tránsito de la Ciudad de México lists what is prohibited on public roads. Section II reads, in Spanish: “Organizar o participar en competencias vehiculares de alta velocidad, acrobacias y demás maniobras riesgosas” (organizing or taking part in high-speed vehicle competitions, stunts and other risky maneuvers). That covers arrancones, the Mexican term for drag races from a standing start, as well as stunt driving.
The penalty, added to the regulation in February 2021, has three parts: a fine of 21, 25 or 30 times the UMA, an arresto administrativo inconmutable (administrative arrest that cannot be swapped for a fine) of 20 to 36 hours, and six points on the driver’s license. The text we read is the version with the latest reform published in the city’s Official Gazette on October 10, 2025.
How much is the fine for street racing in Mexico City?
The fine is set in UMA, Mexico’s official reference unit for fines, which INEGI sets at MX$117.31 a day for 2026. So the three fine levels work out like this:
| Fine level | UMA | In pesos (2026) | Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 21 | MX$2,463.51 | 20 to 36 hours of arrest, 6 license points |
| Middle | 25 | MX$2,932.75 | 20 to 36 hours of arrest, 6 license points |
| High | 30 | MX$3,519.30 | 20 to 36 hours of arrest, 6 license points |
Pesos are the UMA multiplied by the 2026 daily value; the UMA changes every year, so the peso amounts will too.
Is street racing legal on Mexico’s highways?
No. On roads and bridges under federal jurisdiction, Article 138 of the Reglamento de Tránsito en Carreteras y Puentes de Jurisdicción Federal says: “Queda prohibido a los conductores entablar competencias de velocidad o de aceleración en las vías federales” (drivers are prohibited from holding speed or acceleration contests on federal roads). Car drivers face a fine of 50 to 75 times the daily fine unit set in that regulation, and the fine is doubled for drivers of buses, trucks and tractor-trailers.
Motorcycles are named separately: Article 168 requires motorcycle, trimoto and quad riders on federal roads not to take part in speed contests, arrancones or maneuvers that endanger traffic or other people.
Do these rules apply to tourists and foreign cars?
Yes, in Mexico City. Article 1 of the city’s traffic regulation says it applies to pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, passengers and owners of any vehicle registered in Mexico or abroad that is driven in the city. If you are driving to Mexico for a race, the same street rules apply to you as to local drivers.
What about other Mexican states?
Each state, and many municipalities, writes its own traffic regulation, so fines and arrest terms differ from place to place. This page covers only Mexico City and federal roads. Before you drive anywhere else, check that state’s or city’s own reglamento de tránsito on its official government site.
Where can you race legally in Mexico?
On a closed circuit, at a sanctioned event. Mexico’s professional series, from NASCAR Mexico to the Mexico City Grand Prix, run on permanent tracks and closed courses. Our guide to Mexico’s race tracks lists the circuits, and each track’s own site is the place to ask about events open to amateur drivers. To watch instead of drive, the Mexican racing calendar has every upcoming date and how to watch Mexican racing covers TV and streaming.
What this page does not cover
This is a plain-language summary of two traffic regulations, not legal advice. It does not cover criminal charges, which can follow if a race injures someone or damages property, insurance consequences, or the rules of states other than Mexico City. For a specific case, ask a lawyer licensed in Mexico or the traffic authority where it happened.
Sources: Reglamento de Tránsito de la Ciudad de México, Articles 1 and 34 (PAOT, Mexico City government; last reform published October 10, 2025) · Reglamento de Tránsito en Carreteras y Puentes de Jurisdicción Federal, Articles 138 and 168 (Orden Jurídico Nacional) · INEGI – Unidad de Medida y Actualización, 2026 value. Facts verified October 12, 2026.
Cite this page: Race.mx, “Is Street Racing Legal in Mexico?”, race.mx/is-street-racing-legal-in-mexico/ (updated ).