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Country driving guide · 2026

Driving in Argentina

Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Argentina: 8 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.

8

Required

4

Recommended

4

Good to know

Tick before you go

Pre-departure checklist for Argentina

8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.

  • 1949 IDP alongside UK/EU licence

    Argentina recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times.

  • Vehicle ownership and insurance papers

    Carry V5C (or rental contract) plus a Mercosur-valid insurance certificate (Carta Verde) covering Argentina; third-party cover is compulsory.

  • Drive on the right

    Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right-on-red is not permitted unless a green arrow signals it.

  • Speed limits 130/110/40

    Motorway (autopista) 130 km/h, dual carriageway 120 km/h, rural roads 110 km/h, urban 40 km/h, residential 20-30 km/h.

  • BAC limit 0.5 g/L (0.2 in some provinces)

    National limit is 0.5 g/L but Buenos Aires city, Cordoba, Salta and several other provinces enforce 0.0 g/L zero-tolerance.

  • Dipped headlights on rural roads

    Dipped headlights are mandatory at all times on rutas (intercity highways), day and night, even in clear weather.

  • Hi-vis vest, two warning triangles, fire extinguisher

    Cars must carry a reflective vest, two triangles (one for front, one for rear), a 1 kg ABC fire extinguisher, spare wheel, jack and tow rope.

  • Front and rear number plates

    Both plates must be fitted and clearly legible; foreign vehicles missing a front plate are routinely fined at provincial checkpoints.

Documents

1949 IDP alongside UK/EU licence

Required

Argentina recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; carry it with your home licence and passport at all times.

Vehicle ownership and insurance papers

Required

Carry V5C (or rental contract) plus a Mercosur-valid insurance certificate (Carta Verde) covering Argentina; third-party cover is compulsory.

Notarised permission for rental cross-border trips

Recommended

Taking a rental into Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay or Bolivia requires a notarised authorisation letter from the rental company plus extra insurance, arranged 48h in advance.

Driving rules

Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right-on-red is not permitted unless a green arrow signals it.

Speed limits 130/110/40

Required

Motorway (autopista) 130 km/h, dual carriageway 120 km/h, rural roads 110 km/h, urban 40 km/h, residential 20-30 km/h.

BAC limit 0.5 g/L (0.2 in some provinces)

Required

National limit is 0.5 g/L but Buenos Aires city, Cordoba, Salta and several other provinces enforce 0.0 g/L zero-tolerance.

Dipped headlights on rural roads

Required

Dipped headlights are mandatory at all times on rutas (intercity highways), day and night, even in clear weather.

Emergency number 911

Good to know

Dial 911 for police/ambulance; 101 reaches provincial police directly and 103 the fire service.

Required equipment

Hi-vis vest, two warning triangles, fire extinguisher

Required

Cars must carry a reflective vest, two triangles (one for front, one for rear), a 1 kg ABC fire extinguisher, spare wheel, jack and tow rope.

Front and rear number plates

Required

Both plates must be fitted and clearly legible; foreign vehicles missing a front plate are routinely fined at provincial checkpoints.

Tolls

Cashless tolls via TelePase/AUPASS

Good to know

Most autopistas around Buenos Aires and Rosario are now free-flow cashless; rentals usually include a TelePase tag, otherwise pay online within 10 days. Expect roughly ARS 1,500-3,000 (EUR 1-2.50) per 100 km.

Vignette

No national vignette

Good to know

Argentina has no motorway sticker; you pay per-toll-gantry only. No pre-purchase needed at the border.

Money

Peso cash, USD widely accepted

Recommended

Currency is the Argentine peso (ARS); carry US dollars for the favourable 'dolar MEP' card rate. Fuel runs about ARS 1,200-1,400/litre (EUR 0.95-1.10).

Cash declaration USD 10,000

Good to know

Declare cash equivalent to USD 10,000 or more on entry; undeclared amounts can be seized by Aduana.

Environment

Andean passes close in winter

Recommended

Paso Cristo Redentor (RN7 to Chile) and other high passes close frequently June-September for snow; check Gendarmeria's 'pasos fronterizos' status before departure.

Carry extra fuel in Patagonia

Recommended

Petrol stations on RN40 can be 200-300 km apart and run dry; carry a jerry can and top up at every YPF you see south of Bariloche.

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Drive on the right

Required

Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left. Right-on-red is not permitted unless a green arrow signals it.

Speed limits 130/110/40

Required

Motorway (autopista) 130 km/h, dual carriageway 120 km/h, rural roads 110 km/h, urban 40 km/h, residential 20-30 km/h.

BAC limit 0.5 g/L (0.2 in some provinces)

Required

National limit is 0.5 g/L but Buenos Aires city, Cordoba, Salta and several other provinces enforce 0.0 g/L zero-tolerance.

Dipped headlights on rural roads

Required

Dipped headlights are mandatory at all times on rutas (intercity highways), day and night, even in clear weather.