Argentina Uruguay
Argentina 
UruguayLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Argentina and Uruguay share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.
Driving rules in Uruguay
- Drive on the right.
- Zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0%).
- Headlights on at all times on highways.
- Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants.
What to see when you arrive in Uruguay
- the beaches of Punta del Este
- the old town of Colonia del Sacramento
- the Rambla and old city of Montevideo
- the wine country of Carmelo
- the surf town of La Paloma
Once you're driving in Uruguay
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
A foreign visitor may legally drive on a valid home licence (or an IDP) for up to one year. An IDP becomes effectively mandatory at the rental counter and is strongly recommended whenever the home licence is not in Spanish.
Tolls & road charges
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 the cities
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.
Fines & camera enforcement
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
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.
Driving in the capital
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.
Sources: tyremap.com · tollguru.com · globalpetrolprices.com · countryreports.org