Are you a decent driver? If so, don't worry about renting a car. I lived in that area for years, drove around dozens of rental cars, plus 3 Texas plated cars and was pulled over exactly twice in all those years. Never paid a dime in mordida or fines. If you get pulled over, please don't give the policia mordida (a bribe). It's obviously illegal, but all it does is make the bad cops bolder and worse for the rest of the non-citizens who drive there.
If you get pulled over, just smile, be polite, and ask for your ticket. You don't have to use Google translate or try to speak spanish. Just keep politely asking for your ticket and they will eventually leave you alone. You can also show them this Tourist Mobility Pass that means you can't be ticketed the first two times you are pulled over (it used to be just a letter you print out). Both of these strategies are tried and tested.
https://riviera-maya-news.com/tourist-mobility-pass-for-car-rentals-expanded-to-include-all-of-quintana-roo/2025.html