Renting a Car in Argentina: Tips, Costs & Driving Advice

So you’re planning a trip to Argentina—let me start by saying, you’re going to love it! While I don’t always rent a car when I’m there, it can definitely come in handy depending on the kind of trip you have in mind.

If a rental makes sense for your plans, I’ve got good news: driving in Argentina is pretty straightforward. And honestly, there’s something fun about having the freedom to roll down the windows, turn up the music, and pull over for asado or torta frita whenever you spot a roadside stand.

To help you make the most of it, I’ve pulled together everything you need to know before renting a car in Argentina—plus a few essential tips for keeping things stress-free once you’re on the road.

This website contains affiliate links that might earn a commission for purchases made at no additional cost you.

Road side stop in northern Argentina with our small but mighty rental car.

Table of Contents

Do you need to rent a car in Argentina?

The honest answer is: it depends. Argentina is huge, but also very well connected by planes, buses, and taxis. These options are generally affordable—ranging from moderately priced to downright cheap—so they’re usually the easiest way to get around.

For most trips, a car just isn’t necessary. Take Iguazú, for example: it’s compact, self-contained, and easy to explore without a rental. Renting a car there would be more of a burden than an asset.

But in other cases, a car can make all the difference. If you’re headed somewhere remote, like Cueva de las Manos or Puerto Deseado (as we did), or if you’d rather hop between attractions at your own pace, renting a car is a must.

Northern Argentina, in particular, is made for road trips. Between the main destinations are countless little stops and hidden gems—having your own car turns the journey itself into part of the adventure.

Cars parked in Buenos Aires in front of a Frida Kahlo mural

Should you rent a car in Buenos Aires?

This one’s an easy answer: nope, you don’t need a car in Buenos Aires. The city is huge, but it’s also incredibly dense and well-connected. Between buses, trains, the Subte (metro), and endless taxis, driving yourself would be more of a headache than a help.

Even for popular day trips—like El Tigre or hopping over to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay—you’ll find plenty of easy transit options. My advice? Skip the rental and let someone else do the driving.

What you’ll need before you rent a car

Before you rent a car, make sure you’re eligible to do so! Fortunately, the requirements are pretty straight forward and in-line with what you see in most countries.

Driver’s license: you’ll need a valid driver’s license to rent a car. If your license is written in a language that uses the latin alphabet, you won’t need an International driver’s permit.

Passport: most agencies will need to see your physical passport before they allow you to rent a car.

Minimum age: Legally, you need to be 18 to rent a car in Argentina. However, most agencies require you to be 21 years old. Some even have a minimum age requirement of 25, so make sure you check before reserving a car!

Choosing the right car

There are a lot of options available when it comes to picking a rental car. You’ll need to decide what type of car you want, what features you need, level of insurance, and of course, pick an agency. Here is some general information and recommendations based on my experiences.

Fuel: There are two main types of fuel: diesel and nafta (gasoline). Make sure you know which one you have because you absolutely cannot put gas in a diesel car! More than likely, though, you’ll be using a car with regular gasoline. At the gas station, ask for super.

Transmission: most cars in Argentina have a manual transmission, but automatics are still available at many dealerships. Just note that renting a car with automatic transmission will cost you more.

Mileage: Some cars come with limited mileage. I like to choose the unlimited option so there is one less thing to track while on the road. Keep in mind, though, that mileage will actually be tracked in kilometers (would it be called kilomeraterage…?)

Type of vehicle: Next you’ll need to decide which vehicle class to go for. I’ve never rented anything other than an economy or compact car and have found them sufficient even for places with gravel roads. If you plan on doing any off-roading, you’ll want something more substantial.

Rental car agency: I’m pretty rental agency agnostic. Rentalcars.com has been a great resource to find which agencies have the best prices and reasonably good reviews.

A quick note on hours of operation: in smaller airports and less trafficked destinations make sure you communicate your arrival times and any delays in your travel to the agency. Otherwise they simply may not be there to hand over the car when you arrive.

Insurance: rental companies in Argentina have to provide some insurance coverage. This is usually third-party liability insurance, in which case your vehicle would not be covered. Grab some extra insurance from the rental company or use a travel credit card with a rental car insurance benefit.

TIP: You’ll have to weigh the credit card benefit against a cash discount – usually around 10%. We’ve always opted to pay with our card to get the added coverage, foregoing the cash discount, but it’s up to you.

Money in Argentina is quite complicated | Check out my complete money guide to learn more!

Rain on the windshield looking out at the highway in Patagonia.

Tips for driving in Argentina

Drive with headlights on : A unique driving rule in Argentina is that headlights need to be on at all times. You could get fined for this one!

Speed limits: While there aren’t a ton of speed controls in Argentina, you should nonetheless be careful while driving. The speed limit is usually indicated along the road you’re driving. Generally speaking, the speed limit in residential areas can be as low as 40 km (25 mph), while highways don’t exceed 120 km/hr (75 mph).

Drinking and driving: Let’s start by stating the obvious – drinking and driving is NEVER a good idea. But it’s an especially bad one in Argentina: Driving tolerance policy for alcohol consumption is 0. Don’t risk it.

Parking: parking outside of Buenos Aires is generally not that challenging. Still, you should look for signs that parking is allowed, and if so, whether it is paid or not.

A white line generally means you can park in that spot.
A yellow line means you cannot park in that spot.
Keep an eye out for parking meters or signs. To pay for parking you may need to download an app.
A sign with a big capital letter ‘E’ (for estacionamiento) denotes a paid parking lot
If parking on the street or an unpaid parking lot, keep an eye out for a trapito, a person offering to watch your car. I recommend giving them a few pesos to keep them happy: your car may or may not have a surprise scratch on the side if you don’t.

Driving etiquette (or lack thereof?): Argentine drivers tend to be somewhat aggressive, but definitely less so outside of the city. Stop signs are a suggestion. Most people only slow down, so be careful when crossing an intersection!

Traffic lights are usually respected, but still, be careful. If driving in the city, watch out for pedestrians, bicycles, buses, and sudden stops. Moral of the story: stay alert.

One way streets: these are common even in smaller cities so keep an eye out for signs! Google Maps is pretty accurate, but it has directed me to make a right hand turn into oncoming traffic once or twice…

Toll roads: Tolls are pretty common in Buenos Aires, but uncommon in other provinces. For that reason, your rental car company will probably not offer you a TelePASE to go through tolls without paying for each use. Fortunately, many toll booths accept both cash and card, making it easy to pay.

Checkpoints: occasionally you’ll encounter a random police check point a few miles outside a city. Generally they’ll be demarcated with a few cones and one or two police officers standing by. When you see one, slow down, but only stop if the police officer asks you to do so. If they do, they will likely ask to see your vehicle registration and driver’s license, after which you’re free to go!

Rural/remote roads: Some roads in remote areas are not in great shape. We have had mostly good experiences driving all around Argentina, but we did have one truly awful experience driving from the town of Perito Moreno to the town of Sarmiento along Route 26. I have never seen so many potholes – more like giant, deep craters, tbh – in my life!

Also, animals crossing roads are always a risk in rural areas. Avoid speeding and pay attention, and you’ll be just fine.

Is it safe to drive a car in Argentina?

Yes! I think driving in a foreign country requires extra vigilance and care, but driving in Argentina is very doable if you’re used to driving at home. One word of caution is try to avoid leaving items in your rental car. Car break ins in popular tourist destinations, like Bariloche, and cities aren’t that uncommon, so take the precaution.

How much does it cost to rent a car?

Costs vary substantially by region and season. A week-long rental could be anywhere between $250 – $600. In my experience, the Andean region of Patagonia is the most expensive by far, while northern Argentina and coastal Patagonia were much more reasonable.

Check out prices and availability at Rentalcars.com

What happens if you get into a car accident?

No one wants to imagine getting into an accident, because no matter where you are, it just stinks! If you do, here are a few tips to make the process smoother:

If you’ve been hit by another vehicle, get the other driver’s information, including their driver’s license, insurance, and phone number.
Take pictures of your rental car, the other car, and the surrounding area to document any damage.
Call 911 to file a report or in case of emergency. You can also call the tourist assistance line, 0800 999 5000, if you need help in another language.
Finally contact the rental car agency, as they may be able to provide assistance, and contact your insurance provider.