South Africa licence 
UruguayCan you drive in Uruguay with a South Africa license?
Short answer: to drive in Uruguay with a South Africa license you need an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna format, carried together with your South Africa license.
Yes — to drive in Uruguay on a South Africa licence you should carry an International Driving Permit together with your South Africa licence. Uruguay expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP.
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.
What driving in Uruguay is like
The Rambla of Montevideo and Ruta 10 along the Atlantic coast toward Punta del Este and José Ignacio are the country's most celebrated coastal drives. 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 110 km/h national routes. 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 Uruguay can read your credentials at a glance.
What applies to South Africa licence holders in Uruguay
| South Africa licence in Uruguay | |
|---|---|
| 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 | 911 |
| Top speed limit | 110 km/h national routes |
| Currency | UYU |
Driving rules in Uruguay you should know
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Headlights on at all times on highways.
- Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants.
Local driving facts in Uruguay
Emergency number: 911 (112 also connects from most mobiles). Typical maximum for cars on the fastest road class: 110 km/h national routes. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls & road charges in Uruguay
Tolls (peajes) on national routes are about 90-130 UYU each and since July 2022 many no longer take cash; foreigners register the vehicle plate online via the Tourist Pass at telepeaje.com.uy/paseturista or the Telepeajeuy app so booths read the plate automatically.
Parking in Uruguay
Montevideo uses paid "Zona Azul" blue zones on weekdays, paid via parking app or kiosk for set time slots; parking is free on Sundays, but unpaid or over-stay parking in the zone risks fines.
Penalties & enforcement in Uruguay
Enforcement is strict with a 0.0% blood-alcohol limit; speeding fines start around USD 25 but alcohol and phone offences are far costlier, and rental companies forward camera and toll fines to your card. Many fines are ticketed rather than cash on the spot.
If you have an accident in Uruguay
Dial 911 (or 02-911 from the interior) for police and ambulance; stop, do not leave the scene, and obtain the police report for insurance and the rental firm. Alcohol limit is 0.0%, so never drive after any drinking before or after a crash.
City driving in Uruguay
In Montevideo the scenic Rambla coastal avenue is heavily policed for speed and the give-way-to-the-right rule applies at unsigned intersections, which catches out foreign drivers at the city's many uncontrolled crossings.
Winter driving in Uruguay
No winter-tyre or chain rules - Uruguay's mild climate never produces road snow; winter just brings rain and coastal fog.
Fuel in Uruguay
State brand ANCAP plus Petrobras and DISA sell nafta (petrol, ~82 UYU/litre) and gasoil (diesel, ~50 UYU/litre); stations are attended (no self-serve) and accept cards in towns, though carrying pesos helps in rural areas.
Sources: tyremap.com, tollguru.com, globalpetrolprices.com, countryreports.org