Do I need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to drive in Argentina?

Yes, it is highly recommended. While some rental agencies may accept a valid driver's license from your home country, Argentine traffic laws officially require foreign drivers to carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their original license to avoid fines at police checkpoints.

Which side of the road do they drive on in Argentina?

In Argentina, you drive on the right-hand side of the road, and vehicles are left-hand drive. This is the same as in the USA and most of Europe, making it relatively easy to adapt for many international visitors.

What are the speed limits in Argentina?

Unless otherwise posted, the general speed limits are: 40 km/h in urban areas, 110 km/h on rural paved roads, and 130 km/h on highways (autopistas). Speed cameras and police checkpoints are common, so strict adherence to posted signs is essential.

Are there toll roads in Argentina, and how do I pay them?

Yes, major highways, especially around Buenos Aires and routes to cities like Córdoba and Rosario, have toll booths (peajes). Tolls can usually be paid in cash (Argentine Pesos) or with major credit cards. Some rental cars may come with a telepeaje (electronic toll tag), which is billed to your rental account.

Is it safe to drive in Argentina for tourists?

Driving in Argentina is generally safe, especially on major highways and in tourist regions like Patagonia and the Lake District. However, urban driving in Buenos Aires can be chaotic, and rural roads may have potholes or stray animals. Avoid driving at night in remote areas and always keep your doors locked in cities.

What is the minimum age to rent a car in Argentina?

The minimum age to rent a car in Argentina is typically 21 years old, and you must have held a valid driver's license for at least one year. Drivers under 25 are usually subject to a young driver surcharge, and some premium vehicle categories may require the driver to be at least 25.

Do I need winter tires or chains for driving in Patagonia?

If you are driving in Patagonia or mountainous regions like Bariloche between May and September, winter tires or snow chains are often legally required. Most reputable rental companies will equip vehicles with winter tires during this season, but you should always confirm this when booking.

Can I take a rental car from Argentina into neighboring countries like Chile?

Crossing borders with a rental car is possible but requires explicit written permission from the rental company in advance. You will also need to purchase additional cross-border insurance (like a Carta Verde for Mercosur countries) and pay an administrative fee. Always confirm this policy before booking.

Driving in Argentina : Rules, Costs and Rental Tips

October 28th 2026

By Jean Genevieve

Tourists can drive in Argentina on a valid foreign licence. Traffic keeps right, low beams stay on along national routes, and the alcohol limit is zero. Petrol costs about ARS 2,099 per litre, tolls start at ARS 1,500, and rentals start from $32 per day.

Driving in Argentina rewards the prepared. Distances are huge and police checkpoints are routine. If you plan to rent a car in Argentina, these four answers cover the papers, rules, border permits and costs.

What do you need to drive in Argentina as a tourist?

You need a valid licence from home and your passport with its entry record. Argentina's transport ministry says a licence from a country that signed the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna conventions stays valid for up to one year after entry. An International Driving Permit(IDP) under the 1943 Washington convention also lasts one year.

Rental desks are stricter than the law. Expect to hand over your passport, your licence and a credit card in the main driver's name. Most suppliers want drivers aged 21 or older with 1 year of licence history, and an IDP is a smart backup if your licence is not in Spanish.

Your licence gets you on the road. Your credit card gets you the keys.

Which driving rules in Argentina matter most in 2026?

Argentina drives on the right, and these rules trip up visitors most.

Rule	What to do
Alcohol	Zero. Law 27.714 sets the national limit at 0 mg per litre of blood.
Headlights	Keep low beams on day and night along national routes.
Speed limits	40 km/h on streets, 60 on avenues, 110 on rural roads, 130 on motorways.
Checkpoints	Show your licence, passport, car papers and proof of insurance.

The legal alcohol limit is zero, so the Malbec waits until the car is parked. Posted signs beat the national numbers because provinces adjust limits.

Run a 4 item pickup check before you leave the lot: papers in the glovebox, a dated fire extinguisher, warning triangles and a spare tyre. Checkpoint officers may ask for the first three.

Can you drive a rental car from Argentina to Chile?

Yes, but only with written permission from the rental company, and approval is never automatic. The supplier issues a cross border permit, and one major supplier lists the Chile fee at ARS 137,190 including tax, about USD 90. That supplier rents the car without the permit if the crossing is refused and requires it back in Argentina, so plan a round trip.

Ask before you book and carry the paperwork with your passport at the border. Confirm that your rental car insurance still applies in Chile. Read the rules for driving in Chile before you cross, because traffic laws and toll systems change at the border.

What does driving in Argentina cost in 2026?

Rental prices start from $32 per day, and fuel adds up fast. Super petrol costs ARS 2,099 per litre at YPF in Buenos Aires (La Nación, October 2026), near USD 1.35, which Infobae reported was above US and Brazil prices in September 2026.

Tolls on national concession routes start at ARS 1,500 for a car, with the same price for TelePASE and cash since 26 February 2026 (Vialidad Nacional). Carry pesos as a backup, because not every booth accepts international cards.

Our estimate: the 690 km drive between Mendoza and Córdoba burns about 48 litres at 7 litres per 100 km in a compact car. That is roughly ARS 101,000, or USD 65, in fuel. Add 2 rental days at $32 and the trip lands near USD 130 before insurance, tolls and fees.

You can collect a car at either end, through El Plumerillo International Airport Car Rental in Mendoza or Ingeniero Aeronautico Ambrosio L.V. Taravella International Airport car rental in Córdoba.

Fuel stations thin out in Patagonia and along Ruta 40, so fill up whenever you pass one. A same level fuel policy means you only pay for the fuel you burn.

Ready to book your Argentina rental car?

Driving in Argentina gets easy once the papers, the zero alcohol rule and the border permit are sorted. Final Rentals bookings include free cancellation with no fee, and you pay the full amount at the counter.

Choose your dates and car, then book affordable car rentals for your trip with Final Rentals.

Sources: Argentina.gob.ar (Law 25.456 and the foreign licence guidance), Boletín Oficial (Law 27.714), National Traffic Law 24.449, La Capital and iProfesional on Vialidad Nacional Resolution 248/2026, La Nación and Infobae on October 2026 fuel prices, the Final Rentals Argentina page for rental terms and prices, and a published supplier fee schedule for the Chile permit. Distance and drive time between Mendoza and Córdoba from Wanderlog. Fuel use is an estimate.

About the Author

Jean Genevieve is a travel and car rental content specialist at FinalRentals, creating practical travel content that showcases partner locations worldwide. Her work focuses on helping international travellers understand rental requirements, driving considerations, road conditions, insurance and self drive planning before they travel.

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