International Driving Permit Argentina

Most car rental companies in Buenos Aires ask for an International Driving Permit at the counter, so carrying one helps you avoid delays even where the underlying legal requirement depends on your licence's language.

• A valid foreign licence is usable in Argentina for the length of your stamped stay under the 1943 Inter-American Automotive Traffic Convention.Commonly reported
• If your licence isn't already in Spanish, an IDP is what provides the translation traffic authorities need to read it.Commonly reported
• You must carry your IDP together with your passport or national ID and your original licence while driving.Commonly reported
• Most rental companies in Buenos Aires and beyond treat an IDP as a standard condition of rental regardless of licence language.Commonly reported
• Argentina drives on the right, with the driver's seat on the left side of the vehicle.Commonly reported

Ruta 40 through Patagonia is mostly paved but has a real gravel section, fuel stations in the far south can be hundreds of kilometres apart, and Buenos Aires's autopistas run on a mix of cash and electronic tolling.

• Over 97% of Ruta 40 through Patagonia is paved, but a roughly 72km gravel (ripio) section remains between Gobernador Gregores and Tres Lagos, recommended at a reduced 40-60km/h.Commonly reported
• Fuel stations in the Patagonian steppe can be 50 to over 300km apart — refuelling at every opportunity is a genuine necessity on these stretches, not just a precaution.Commonly reported
• Toll roads (autopistas de peaje) are common around Buenos Aires and on major inter-city routes, payable in cash or with the TelePASE electronic transponder.Commonly reported
• Speed limits are generally 40km/h in urban areas, 110km/h on rural roads, and 130km/h on motorways.Commonly reported
• The drink-driving limit is 0.05% blood alcohol for ordinary drivers.Commonly reported
• Commercial drivers and anyone with under two years of driving experience face a stricter 0.00% limit.Commonly reported

Self-drive car rental is available at Buenos Aires's Ezeiza and Aeroparque airports, with comprehensive insurance covering gravel and underbody damage worth confirming before any Patagonia or Ruta 40 trip.

• Ezeiza International Airport and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery both have rental counters from major providers serving Buenos Aires.Commonly reported
• Many standard rental insurance policies exclude unpaved-road damage, so confirming gravel and underbody coverage matters specifically for Ruta 40 or Patagonia routes.Commonly reported
• A high-clearance 2WD vehicle can generally handle Ruta 40's gravel sections at a slow, careful pace — a 4x4 isn't strictly required but adds comfort and security.Commonly reported
• Typical documents requested at pickup are your original licence, an IDP if applicable, your passport, and a credit card in the main driver's name for the deposit.Commonly reported

Keep your original driving licence, and your International Driving Permit if you're carrying one, together as your standard document set any time you're driving in Argentina.

• Your original licence, and your IDP if you're carrying one, should be kept together and accessible at all times while driving.Commonly reported
• 911 covers all emergency services within Buenos Aires; elsewhere in the country, 101 reaches police, 107 ambulance, and 100 fire.Commonly reported

Driving a rental car from Argentina into Chile requires a notarized permission letter from the rental company, arranged well in advance — it isn't something you can sort out at the border itself.

• A notarized letter of permission from the rental company is required to take the vehicle into Chile, and this typically needs to be arranged a week or more before your trip.Commonly reported
• Proof of insurance valid in Chile is required alongside the permission letter.Commonly reported
• The vehicle's licence plate and VIN must be etched into the side window glass before the crossing — a genuinely easy detail to miss if you're not told about it in advance.Commonly reported
• Fees and exact conditions for the cross-border permit vary by rental provider, so confirm the specifics and lead time directly with your rental company rather than assuming a fixed cost.Commonly reported