Argentina Chile
Argentina 
ChileLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
The Cristo Redentor (Los Libertadores) tunnel on Route 7 links Mendoza with Santiago.
Driving rules in Chile
- 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.
What to see when you arrive in Chile
- Torres del Paine National Park
- the Atacama Desert
- Easter Island's moai statues
- the port city of Valparaíso
- the Chilean Lake District
Once you're driving in Chile
Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.
Driving on a foreign licence
Visitors may drive on a valid foreign licence for the length of their tourist stay (up to 90 days). An IDP is recommended and is required if your licence is not in Spanish or uses non-Roman characters; carry licence, IDP and passport together.
Tolls & road charges
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 the cities
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.
Fines & camera enforcement
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
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.
Driving in the capital
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.
Sources: internationaltravelpermits.com · mtt.gob.cl · en.wikivoyage.org · sixt.com