Destinations / Chile
Driving in Chile as a visitor
Usually yes. Chile expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Chile expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| 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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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?
Usually yes. Chile expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Chile accept?
Chile recognises the 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Chile ask for one?
Electronic toll (TAG) devices fitted to rental cars on Santiago motorways.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.