Car rental in Argentina is practiced, and quite popular. This is due to the huge distances. They, in turn, impose certain obligations on renters. Many companies require exorbitant security in the form of large sums for rent or a large deposit.
If you want to find a car locally, check out local Argentine websites like this. But remember that rates are pretty high here, with average rental car prices in Argentina hovering around 647-832 ARS (70-90 USD) per day.
Renting a car in Argentina requires you to be careful. People here don't follow the rules of the road too zealously. Many Argentines consider crossing solid lines and speeding to be the norm, and turn signals are only used in case of accidents. However, this does not mean that the traffic police turn a blind eye to such liberties. There are traffic rules in Argentina, and it is important to adhere to them, even if others do not plan to do so. Recently, laws have come into effect to increase all types of fines for traffic violations in Argentina. Remember to turn on your low beam headlights outside of the city and wear your seatbelts.
The speed limit in Argentina is as follows:
- on narrow city streets - 40 km/h
- on two or more lane roads - 60 km/h
- on highways - 110 km/h
- on autobahns - 130 km/h
If you plan to travel not only in Argentina, but also in other South American countries, you can only cross the border of Mercosur countries with a rented car. Mercosur is a common market of South American countries, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela. You cannot travel to other countries on the continent. The exception is Chile, which requires a special permit to visit. The permit is given 1 time, but it is reusable.
In the north, most of the roads are in good condition, not all are paved. In Patagonia there is a lot of off-roading. In the middle of the country the situation is worse.
Toll roads are mostly in the north of Argentina, with prices from 3 to 25 ARS, that's 0.5-4 USD. Sometimes the sections are very frequent, but in a day the maximum tolls reached 70 ARS (10 USD). There are no toll roads in Patagonia yet.
The cost of a liter of gasoline in Argentina varies by region and fuel type.
So, on average, the rates are as follows:
- gasoline 8000 costs 9,989 ARS
- gasoline 5,000 costs 9.15 ARS
- diesel fuel costs 8.42 ARS
- European standard diesel fuel costs 9.289 ARS
South of Argentina, prices drop, with Ushuaia averaging around 4-5 ARS for gasoline. That's because oil production is high here. There are few gas stations in Patagonia. Travelers have a joke that it's easier to drill a well and extract oil than to find ready-made gasoline. Have an extra canister of reserve, normal GPS maps, and a paper map with gas stations mapped on it. Also gasoline is sold in cafes along the road and even private farms, ask everyone, although you will have to overpay.
And by the way, you don't need an international driver's license. Any valid driving permit will do. And yes, you must be at least 21 years old.
