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South Africa licence Chile

Can you drive in Chile with a South Africa license?

Short answer: to drive in Chile with a South Africa license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your South Africa license.

Bring an IDP

Yes — to drive in Chile on a South Africa licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your South Africa licence. Chile expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Convention basisChile uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

At the rental deskElectronic toll (TAG) devices fitted to rental cars on Santiago motorways.

CarryCarry BOTH your South Africa national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

Minimum age18+ to drive; rental typically 21+ with a young-driver surcharge under 25

Validity1–3 years (you choose at checkout)

FormatDigital PDF you print yourself, plus a QR-verifiable ID card — accepted alongside printed permits

Last verified July 2026Source: 1968 Vienna Convention

Get my IDP for Chile Full Chile guide

South African drivers should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their licence when driving abroad. Your International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing licence, prepared in the 1968 Vienna format and carried alongside your national licence.

Written by Daniel Mercer

Reviewed by Sofia LindqvistUpdated July 2026

What driving in Chile is like

The Carretera Austral (Ruta 7) through Patagonia from Puerto Montt toward Villa O'Higgins. For most visitors the real draw is the freedom to reach places trains and tours don't, on your own schedule, with the open road generally capped around 120 km/h autopistas. Getting behind the wheel is the easy part: your International Driving Permit is a certified translation of your South Africa licence, carried alongside it, so rental staff and officials in Chile can read your credentials at a glance.

What applies to South Africa licence holders in Chile

At a glance — South Africa licence in Chile
	South Africa licence in Chile
Do you need an IDP?	Yes — carry one alongside your licence
IDP format required	1968 Vienna
Your South Africa licence script	Roman (Latin) alphabet
South Africa is party to	1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna
Drives on the	Right-hand side
Minimum driving age	18
Emergency number	133 (police), 131 (ambulance)
Top speed limit	120 km/h autopistas
Currency	CLP

Driving rules in Chile you should know

Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants.
0.03% alcohol limit; criminal above 0.08%.
Headlights on in tunnels.
Andean mountain passes may require chains in winter.

Local driving facts in Chile

Emergency number: 133 (police), 131 (ambulance) (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 120 km/h autopistas. Posted limits always take precedence.

Tolls & road charges in Chile

Santiago's urban autopistas (Costanera Norte, Vespucio, etc.) are free-flow and require a TAG transponder, which by law all Santiago rental cars now carry; intercity highways (Ruta 5) use manned plazas where many lanes take only Chilean peso cash.

Parking in Chile

In cities use signed paid street zones (parquímetro, often via attendants/apps) or guarded lots; informal 'cuidadores' watch parked cars for a tip. Heed no-parking signs as towing and clamping occur in central Santiago.

Penalties & enforcement in Chile

Speed and red-light cameras are common; serious speeding and drink-driving are court matters with heavy fines. Carabineros do roadside checks; fines are not paid in cash to officers, and camera/photo infractions are billed to the renter via the rental agency.

If you have an accident in Chile

Call Carabineros on 133 (ambulance 131); do not move vehicles if anyone is injured. Report the crash, give names, plate numbers and time/place, and obtain the constancia for insurance and the rental company.

City driving in Chile

Santiago runs 'restricción vehicular' May 1-Aug 31, weekdays 07:30-21:00 inside the Américo Vespucio ring, enforced by plate-reading cameras; vehicles without a green seal (sello verde) are restricted by last plate digit, though most modern rentals are exempt.

Winter driving in Chile

Snow chains are mandatory when Carabineros require them on snow-affected Andean routes (e.g. Portillo, the pass to Mendoza, and southern Lake District/Patagonia roads) in winter (roughly May-September); rentals to ski areas should carry chains.

Fuel in Chile

Stations (Copec, Shell, Petrobras/Aramco) are full-service; petrol is sold as 93/95/97 octane and diesel as 'petróleo diésel', roughly USD 1.20-1.40 per litre, with cards widely accepted. Rentals usually run full-to-full.

Sources: internationaltravelpermits.com, mtt.gob.cl, en.wikivoyage.org, sixt.com

Driving in Chile with a South Africa license · common questions

Can I drive in Chile with a South Africa license?

to drive in Chile with a South Africa license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your South Africa license. Chile uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

Is my South Africa driver's license valid in Chile?

Yes — to drive in Chile on a South Africa licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your South Africa licence. Chile expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Chile?

Yes — to drive in Chile on a South Africa licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your South Africa licence. Chile expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.

Can I rent a car in Chile with a South Africa license?

Electronic toll (TAG) devices fitted to rental cars on Santiago motorways.

What IDP format does Chile accept?

Chile uses the format of the 1968 Vienna Convention. Our certified translation is prepared in that exact format.

How do I get an International Driving Permit for Chile?

An International Driving Permit is a certified multilingual translation of your existing South Africa license. You apply online, and it is issued as a printable PDF booklet with a QR-verifiable ID card in the 1968 Vienna format Chile uses — carried alongside your South Africa license.

Do I still carry my South Africa license?

Carry BOTH your South Africa national licence and the IDP at all times. The IDP is a translation of your licence and never replaces it.

What is the emergency number and speed limit in Chile?

In Chile, dial 133 (police), 131 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The general maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 120 km/h autopistas; posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.