Car Rental in South America (2026) - Driving Guide
See the best car rental options in South America for smooth travel-find flexible pickups, scenic road trips, and insider tips on safe driving.
Driving Requirements
Most South American countries allow tourists to drive on a foreign license for up to 90 days. After that, or if the license is not in Spanish or Portuguese, an International Driving Permit (IDP) or certified translation is legally required. Carry both your original license and the IDP/translation whenever you drive.
The legal minimum driving age is 18 in almost every South American country. But rental companies set their own higher limits, typically 21 to 25 for economy cars and 25 to 30 for premium or 4×4 vehicles. Some companies will rent to drivers aged 18, 20 with an additional young-driver surcharge.
Third-party liability insurance is required by law in all South American countries. Proof must be carried in the vehicle. Rental companies usually include this basic coverage but offer optional collision-damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection, check which items are already covered before paying extra.
Rental companies universally require a credit card in the primary driver's name to block a refundable security deposit. Debit cards or cash deposits are rarely accepted. Deposit amounts vary by company and vehicle class, so confirm the hold amount before signing.
Traffic drives on the right throughout South America. Turning right on red is generally prohibited unless a sign explicitly allows it, and at uncontrolled intersections the vehicle on the right usually has priority. Roundabouts give priority to traffic already circulating in most countries.
Helpful Tips
At airports like GRU (São Paulo) and EZE (Buenos Aires) you'll find the widest fleet choice and 24-hour desks, but city-center branches can be 20, 30 % cheaper and avoid airport surcharges, check both in the booking widget.
Film a 360° walk-around on your phone, focusing on alloy rims and windshield chips. Most South American fleets are older and insurers may classify gravel dents as 'off-road damage' unless you upgrade to full coverage.
Google Maps works in capitals and along paved corridors. But download offline maps in advance, in the Andes or Pantanal, because roaming data can be patchy and local apps like Waze Chile or Mapas Copec Argentina offer better real-time road-condition alerts.
Most rentals use gasoline or flex-fuel; stations are plentiful on inter-city routes but sparse in Patagonia and the Amazon, so fill up whenever you see a YPF, Petrobras, or Terpel sign and insist on full-to-full to avoid prepaid markups.
In historic city centers (e.g., Bogotá, Lima) look for blue 'Zona Azul' meters or private garages for day parking; overnight, hotels with locked courtyards are safest, and never leave luggage visible, break-ins at beach or trailhead lots are common.
Driving Warnings
In Chile, turning right on red is illegal nationwide, cameras at Santiago intersections like Av. Apoquindo / El Golf will issue automatic fines.
During Brazil's summer rainy season (Dec, Mar), flash flooding can close the Via Expressa Sul in Rio de Janeiro between Barra da Tijuca and São Conrado tunnels without warning.
In Bogotá, Colombia, the 'Pico y Placa' restriction bans private cars from key arterials like Calle 26 and Avenida Caracas during weekday rush hours. Violators face on-the-spot fines.
Argentine federal police conduct random alcohol checkpoints on Ruta Nacional 9 leaving Buenos Aires toward Ezeiza Airport every weekend night. The legal BAC limit is 0. and penalties include immediate license suspension.