Compare Car Hire Prices in Chile

Search car hire at Chilean airports and city locations, compare prices and choose a car that suits your budget. You’ll also find practical information about TAG toll roads, speed limits, remote fuel stops and driving in Patagonia below.

Popular Chile collection points

Location	Useful for
Santiago Airport	Santiago, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, wine regions and Andes routes
Calama Airport	San Pedro de Atacama and the Atacama Desert
Puerto Montt Airport	Puerto Varas, Lake District, Chiloé and northern Patagonia
Temuco Airport	Pucón, Villarrica and the Araucanía lake region
Balmaceda Airport	Coyhaique and the central Carretera Austral
Punta Arenas Airport	Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine and southern Patagonia
La Serena Airport	Elqui Valley and northern-central Chile

Chile toll roads and TAG

Intercity highways	Toll roads are common on major routes and may use traditional toll plazas or electronic collection.
Santiago highways	Several urban motorways use the electronic TAG system and Free Flow tolling.
Free Flow	Vehicles can pass beneath electronic gantries without stopping at a toll booth.
Rental cars	Ask the rental provider whether the car has an active TAG and how tolls and any administration charges are billed.
No TAG	Driving through electronic toll points without an authorised payment method can result in toll charges and penalties.

Electronic tolling around Santiago continues to expand, so confirm the vehicle's TAG arrangements before leaving the rental location.

Chile driving rules

Drive	On the right
Urban areas	Maximum 50 km/h unless signs show otherwise.
Rural road — one lane each way	Maximum 100 km/h unless signs show otherwise.
Rural road — two or more lanes each way	Maximum 120 km/h unless signs show otherwise.
School zones	Maximum 30 km/h during school arrival and departure periods.
Alcohol	Chile has strict alcohol limits and penalties. The safest option is not to drink before driving.

Long-distance driving in Chile

Atacama Desert	Distances between services can be long. Refuel before remote desert journeys.
Patagonia	Strong winds, rapidly changing weather and long distances can increase journey times.
Carretera Austral	Expect a mixture of paved and gravel sections, roadworks and ferry crossings.
Andes routes	Snow, ice and weather can close or restrict mountain passes, particularly in winter.
Navigation	Download offline maps and check current road conditions before remote journeys.

Fuel in Chile

Petrol	Petrol is commonly referred to as bencina.
Diesel	Diesel is widely available for suitable vehicles.
Cities and main roads	Fuel stations are generally easy to find.
Remote regions	Fuel stops can be widely spaced in Patagonia, the Atacama region and parts of the Carretera Austral.
Best approach	Refuel when the opportunity arises rather than waiting until the tank is nearly empty.

Driving with children in Chile

Under 12	Children under 12 must travel in the rear seats.
Child restraint	Children under 9 must generally use an appropriate child restraint system.
Size threshold	The child-restraint requirement also considers a height of 135 cm and weight of 33 kg.
Rental car	Reserve a suitable child seat in advance if one is required.

Taking a rental car into Argentina

Rental permission	The rental company must approve the border crossing in advance.
Rental agreement	A valid rental contract forms part of the required documentation.
Insurance	Valid international insurance is required.
Customs authorisation	Chile has a specific customs authorisation process for the temporary exit of rent-a-car vehicles to Argentina.
Do not assume	Never arrive at the border expecting to cross without the rental company having arranged the necessary paperwork.

Driving licence requirements

Requirements for foreign driving licences depend on the country that issued the licence and the rental provider's conditions. Carry your original valid licence and passport, and check before travel whether an International Driving Permit or translation is required for your particular licence.

Chile car hire FAQs

Do I need a credit card to hire a car in Chile?

Many rental providers require an accepted card in the main driver's name for the security deposit. Check the exact payment and deposit conditions before booking.

Should I collect my hire car at Santiago Airport or in the city?

Airport collection is convenient if you plan to drive immediately. If you are spending several days in central Santiago first, collecting the car later may avoid unnecessary city traffic, parking and urban toll-road use.

Official Chile driving information

Toll arrangements, mountain-pass conditions and border requirements can change. Check current official information and your rental provider's terms before travel.