Uruguay Argentina
Uruguay 
ArgentinaLast reviewed July 2026
Crossing the border
Uruguay and Argentina 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 Argentina
- Headlights on at all times on highways.
- 0.05% alcohol limit (0% in some provinces).
- Carry licence, IDP and rental papers.
- City parking restrictions are strictly enforced.
What to see when you arrive in Argentina
- the Iguazú Falls
- the Perito Moreno Glacier
- Buenos Aires' tango and La Boca
- the Patagonian peaks of El Chaltén
- the wine region of Mendoza
Once you're driving in Argentina
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
Tourists may drive on a valid home licence for the duration of their authorized stay (typically up to 90 days on a tourist entry). An IDP is not legally mandatory but is strongly advised and effectively required if your licence is not in Spanish or uses non-Roman script.
Tolls & road charges
Major highways and the Buenos Aires access autopistas use manned toll plazas (peajes) costing roughly ARS equivalent of USD 1-5 per booth; the electronic TelePASE tag is rarely fitted to rentals, so keep cash, as foreign cards are often not accepted in lanes.
Parking in the cities
In central Buenos Aires use 'estacionamiento medido' paid zones (pay via meter or the BA Estacionamiento/SEMOV-type apps); yellow-painted curbs and signed clearways mean no stopping, and illegally parked cars are towed (acarreo) with recovery fees.
Fines & camera enforcement
Radar speed cameras are widespread; fines include phone-without-handsfree (~ARS 20,000-50,000) and no seatbelt (~ARS 10,000-30,000). There are officially no on-the-spot cash fines (an officer demanding cash is likely soliciting a bribe); camera fines are passed to the rental firm and charged to your card.
If you have an accident
Call 911 for police and ambulance; do not move vehicles if there are injuries. Complete the insurance accident form (denuncia), exchange details, and get a police report (constancia) which insurers and rental firms require.
Driving in the capital
Buenos Aires bans most through-traffic in the central microcentro and enforces bus-only carriles exclusivos during the day; the Avenida 9 de Julio and the access autopistas (25 de Mayo, Perito Moreno) are notoriously congested at rush hour.
Sources: gov.uk · rhinocarhire.com · tyremap.com · wander-argentina.com