Destinations / Chile
Driving in Chile as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Carry an IDP with your national licence to drive and rent in Chile.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Chile expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 133 (police), 131 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 120 km/h autopistas |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in CLP. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.03% alcohol limit; criminal above 0.08%. |
| Lights | Headlights on in tunnels. |
| Tyres | Andean mountain passes may require chains in winter. |
On the road in Chile
At the pump
Stations (Copec, Shell, Petrobras/Aramco) are full-service; petrol is sold as 93/95/97 octane and diesel as 'petróleo diésel', roughly USD 1.20-1.40 per litre, with cards widely accepted. Rentals usually run full-to-full.
After a crash
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.
Sources: internationaltravelpermits.com · mtt.gob.cl · en.wikivoyage.org · sixt.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Chile?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Carry an IDP with your national licence to drive and rent in Chile.
Which translation format is used for Chile?
Chile uses the 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Chile ask for a translation?
Electronic toll (TAG) devices fitted to rental cars on Santiago motorways.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Chile?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in South America
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.