Driving in Argentina

The primary language for driving around Argentina is Spanish, which is the official language of the country. Knowing a little Spanish is essential, as proficiency of non-Spanish languages, like English, French, German, etc., are generally poor among emergency services, including the traffic police, and to fully understand the road signs.

Since Argentina is almost 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) long and more than 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) wide, and also owing to its sparse population, long distance transportation is of great importance, and like the United States, Argentina is a car-dependent country, with most households owning cars. Several toll expressways spread out from Buenos Aires, serving nearly half the nation's population. The majority of Argentine roads, however, are two-lane national and provincial routes and, though they are spread throughout the country, less than a third of Argentina's 230,000 kilometres (140,000 mi) of roads are paved, as of 2023. Unlike Europe and East Asia, it is not possible to navigate Argentina by public transport only, but usually in big cities like Buenos Aires, it is more practical to use it.

Expressways have been doubled in length (to nearly) and now link most (though not all) important cities. The most important of these is probably the Pan-American National Route 9 Buenos Aires – Rosario – Córdoba freeway. The longest continuous highways are National Route 40, a 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi) stretch along the Andes range and the 3,000 kilometres (1,900 mi) sea-side trunk road National Route 3, running from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

Traffic regulations in Argentina are generally the same as in Europe and the U.S., but the locals often ignore the regulations. On roads and highways it's mandatory to have car lights on, even during daytime.

It is important to travel with a good map (e.g. Argentina Waterproof Road Map from World Mapping Project) and to be well informed about your route distances, road conditions and the estimated travel time. In addition to a good map the website of cochera andina publishes useful information on more than 120 routes in Argentina.

You must have an International Driving Permit (IDP), your foreign country's licence or an Argentinian license to drive in Argentina.

You cannot drive without a licence in Argentina; driving without a license in Argentina can result in jailtime. If you are caught driving without a valid license, you may face fines, vehicle confiscation, and in some cases, imprisonment. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that you have the appropriate license before operating a vehicle in Argentina to avoid any legal complications. Driving without a license in Argentina is a violation of Argentinian traffic regulations.

Applying an Argentinian license is necessary if you wish to stay in Argentina as a permanent resident. To get your Argentine driving license, visit the Dirección General de Transportes. It requires your resident visa, your passport, your DNI (Argentinian national identification number) and your national driving license. A fee of 50 pesos apply. The duration of your Argentine license will be equivalent to the duration of your visa. If you are a permanent resident of Argentina, the duration of your license in Argentina will be five years (and it is renewable).

The minimum age for driving in Argentina is 18. Rental drivers must be over 21. The rental companies will charge the renter's credit card $6000 to be used in the event of an accident. They cancel this charge when the car is returned.

On the rutas, in the provinces bordering other countries, the police frequently stop cars at controles policiales ("police checkpoints") to check insurance and registration papers and drivers' licenses. They do not stop all cars, though; when you come to a control policial, drive slowly and you will usually be waved through without stopping. Near provincial borders, these controles may also involve inspection of the trunk for contraband and a mandatory two-peso fee for "disinfection" or removing insects from the car's underside by driving it over a mechanical sprayer that either sprays water or does nothing. The police have been known to set up roadblocks and demand bribes for passage, particularly around the city of Buenos Aires.

Drive on the right side of the road!

In Argentina, the standard practise according to regulations, is to drive on the right side of the road, similar to the United States. This means that the driver's seat is typically positioned on the left side of the vehicle, and vehicles proceed in the right-hand lane of the road.

If you come from a country where driving is done on the left side of the road, you will need to adjust your driving habits when visiting Argentina. Shifting from driving on the left to driving on the right side of the road can be challenging at first, as it requires adapting to different traffic patterns and adjusting your spatial awareness. When making the transition, it is crucial to be mindful and focus on driving on the right side of the road in Argentina.

Seatbelts are required

As in most other countries, it is a legal requirement to have all passengers in their seatbelts in Argentina.

You are not allowed to turn off your headlights while driving!

In Argentina, it is mandatory to keep your headlights turned on while driving at all times. This requirement applies to both daytime and nighttime driving and is designed to enhance visibility on the roads, improve safety, and reduce the risk of accidents. Driving without headlights in Argentina is considered a violation of Argentinian traffic regulations. If you are caught driving without headlights, you may be subject to fines and other legal consequences. Penalties are generally enforced to encourage compliance with traffic safety measures.

Blood alcohol level

In Argentina, the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers is fairly low at 0.05%. This means that if your BAC exceeds 0.05%, you are considered to be driving under the influence of alcohol and are subject to legal consequences. The police often set up check points on weekend/holiday nights.

Wait until the traffic light is green before you can turn right

It is not allowed to turn right when a traffic light is red, unless a sign explicitly states that it is allowed. For most cases, wait until the traffic light is green before you can turn right.

Speed limits

The speed limits in Argentina are:

• Residential areas: 40 km/h (25 mph)
• Urban areas: 60 km/h (37 mph)
• Suburban main roads: 80 km/h (50 mph)
• Highways: 120 km/h (75 mph)

In Argentina, road signs are similar to those of other South American countries. They are something of a compromise between the Vienna Convention signs used in Europe and the U.S. system. Argentina is right-hand traffic.

While warning signs are mostly based on the US's MUTCD (yellow diamond shape), information, mandatory and prohibitory signs were taken from the Vienna Convention diagrams.

The cost of gasoline/petrol in central and southern Argentina is approximately 6 pesos per liter, as of 2023. In many small towns, particularly in the north, they may ration gasoline to ensure they have enough to sell until the next refuelling truck arrives, in which case you will only be allowed to buy 30 pesos worth of fuel at a time. It's advisable to fill your tank at regular intervals when the opportunity arises. In the Andes, the gasoline consumption of non-turbo charged engines increases due to the altitude.