Full UK/EU licence plus 1949 IDP
RequiredUruguay recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP: carry your photocard licence together with a 1949 IDP from the AA or RAC. Passport must also be in the car.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Uruguay
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Uruguay: 10 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.
10
Required
1
Recommended
5
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Uruguay
10 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Full UK/EU licence plus 1949 IDP
Uruguay recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP: carry your photocard licence together with a 1949 IDP from the AA or RAC. Passport must also be in the car.
Vehicle insurance valid for Mercosur
A standard Green Card is not valid; you need a Mercosur 'Carta Azul' insurance certificate, normally arranged through the rental company or at the border for own vehicles.
V5C or rental contract
Carry the V5C (own car) or the rental agreement showing you are authorised to take the vehicle into Uruguay, especially if crossing from Argentina or Brazil.
Hi-vis vest and warning triangles
Two reflective warning triangles and a hi-vis vest are mandatory in every vehicle, along with a working spare tyre, jack and wheel brace.
Fire extinguisher onboard
A functioning fire extinguisher is legally required in the cabin or boot and is checked at police controls.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right: UK drivers should fit headlamp beam deflectors if bringing their own right-hand-drive car.
Daytime running lights mandatory on highways
Dipped headlights must be on at all times on interurban routes and motorways, day and night, year-round.
Speed limits 90/110 km/h rural and motorway
Urban 45 km/h, rural roads 75-90 km/h, dual carriageways and motorways 110 km/h unless signed otherwise.
Zero-tolerance BAC 0.0 g/L
Uruguay enforces a strict 0.0 g/L blood-alcohol limit for all drivers: even trace amounts mean a heavy fine and licence suspension.
Cash or Telepeaje toll booths
Main routes (Ruta 1, 5, 8, 9, IB) have manned toll plazas charging around UYU 110-140 (EUR 2.50-3.20) per booth; pay cash in pesos or use a Telepeaje tag fitted to rentals.
Documents
Vehicle insurance valid for Mercosur
RequiredA standard Green Card is not valid; you need a Mercosur 'Carta Azul' insurance certificate, normally arranged through the rental company or at the border for own vehicles.
V5C or rental contract
RequiredCarry the V5C (own car) or the rental agreement showing you are authorised to take the vehicle into Uruguay, especially if crossing from Argentina or Brazil.
Required equipment
Hi-vis vest and warning triangles
RequiredTwo reflective warning triangles and a hi-vis vest are mandatory in every vehicle, along with a working spare tyre, jack and wheel brace.
Fire extinguisher onboard
RequiredA functioning fire extinguisher is legally required in the cabin or boot and is checked at police controls.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right: UK drivers should fit headlamp beam deflectors if bringing their own right-hand-drive car.
Daytime running lights mandatory on highways
RequiredDipped headlights must be on at all times on interurban routes and motorways, day and night, year-round.
Speed limits 90/110 km/h rural and motorway
RequiredUrban 45 km/h, rural roads 75-90 km/h, dual carriageways and motorways 110 km/h unless signed otherwise.
Zero-tolerance BAC 0.0 g/L
RequiredUruguay enforces a strict 0.0 g/L blood-alcohol limit for all drivers: even trace amounts mean a heavy fine and licence suspension.
Emergency number 911
RecommendedDial 911 for police, ambulance and fire; highway police (Policía Caminera) patrol the main routes and run frequent document checks.
Tolls
Cash or Telepeaje toll booths
RequiredMain routes (Ruta 1, 5, 8, 9, IB) have manned toll plazas charging around UYU 110-140 (EUR 2.50-3.20) per booth; pay cash in pesos or use a Telepeaje tag fitted to rentals.
Vignette
No motorway vignette
Good to knowThere is no sticker or e-vignette system. You pay only at individual toll plazas as you encounter them.
Emissions / low-emission zones
No low-emission zones
Good to knowUruguay has no LEZ or environmental sticker scheme in Montevideo or other cities, so no registration is needed.
Money
Currency UYU and fuel around EUR 1.70/L
Good to knowCurrency is the Uruguayan peso (UYU); petrol (Súper 95) runs roughly UYU 76 per litre, about EUR 1.70/L: among the highest in South America. Cards widely accepted, but keep pesos for tolls and rural stations.
Cash declaration limit USD 10,000
Good to knowAmounts of USD 10,000 or equivalent and above must be declared to customs on entry or exit. Tipping fuel attendants UYU 20-50 is customary.
Environment
No winter tyres needed
Good to knowNo snow or mountain passes: terrain is flat to rolling. Main seasonal hazard is heavy summer rain (Dec-Mar) causing flash flooding on rural routes.
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Drive on the right
RequiredTraffic drives on the right: UK drivers should fit headlamp beam deflectors if bringing their own right-hand-drive car.
Daytime running lights mandatory on highways
RequiredDipped headlights must be on at all times on interurban routes and motorways, day and night, year-round.
Speed limits 90/110 km/h rural and motorway
RequiredUrban 45 km/h, rural roads 75-90 km/h, dual carriageways and motorways 110 km/h unless signed otherwise.
Zero-tolerance BAC 0.0 g/L
RequiredUruguay enforces a strict 0.0 g/L blood-alcohol limit for all drivers: even trace amounts mean a heavy fine and licence suspension.