Driving in Chile
Photo: Felipe.alarcon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Because only Santiago has a good public transport network, and there is only very little of the passenger rail network, driving is a must if you want to see the beauty of Chile. Chile is one of the few countries where it is hard to get a driving licence; you need to prove that you have a national identification number and you have completed basic studies in order to obtain a Chilean driving licence.
UnderstandSimilar to the United States, Chile is a car-dependent country, with most people in Chile owning cars.
PaperworkIf you have a tourist visa, you may drive with the driver's license from your country of origin and an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Car rentalCar rentals are widely available throughout most major cities, but not in smaller towns. Usually a credit card, a valid driver's licence and a passport, all three issued to the same person, are needed to rent a car.
Rules of the roadDriving is on the right. On expressways, keep to the right lane except for overtaking, like in Europe.
Road conditionsChilean roads are generally good compared to most of Latin America. Expressways are virtually always well-maintained, paved, painted, signed, and largely free of potholes, cracks, litter and debris.
ParkingIn 2017, Chile introduced a new law which regulates the price of parking and makes parking companies liable if your stuff is stolen.
FuelPetrol in Chile is normally unleaded and comes in 93, 95, and 97 octane. Diesel is also available at many stations.S. price for equivalent fuel (but still less than in most of Western Europe).
See also
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Driving in Chile" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Felipe.alarcon, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons