Cross-border route

Peru Chile

Driving across the border

Yes — you can drive from Peru into Chile: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Chile expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1968 Vienna Convention format. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no change of driving side at the border. The crossing at Tacna–Arica is the main coastal route on the Pan-American Highway.

Get my permit for Chile Chile requirements

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance

FromPeru

ToChile

IDP in ChileStrongly recommended

Accepted format1968 Vienna

Driving sideright (no change)

Currency in ChileCLP

Emergency number133 (police), 131 (ambulance)

Top speed limit120 km/h autopistas

Peru → Chile

Crossing the border

The crossing at Tacna–Arica is the main coastal route on the Pan-American Highway.

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

Common questions

Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Peru to Chile?

Yes — Chile commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Chile recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.

Does the driving side change between Peru and Chile?

No. Both Peru and Chile drive on the right.

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 maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 120 km/h autopistas, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.

How do tolls and road charges work in Chile?

How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?

International Driver Licence issues your digital IDP in as fast as 8 minutes, so you can have it ready before you set off.

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