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Chile Car Rental Helpful Guide

Exploring Chile by Car: A Comprehensive Guide to Car Hire 

With its elongated coastline, snow-capped peaks, and vast desert landscapes, Chile offers one of the most diverse geographical terrains in the world. If you're considering traversing this magnificent nation by car, you're in for a treat. Here's your all-inclusive guide to hiring a car and embarking on an unforgettable Chilean journey.

1. Overview of Chile

Located on South America's western edge, Chile stretches from the Atacama Desert in the north to the glacial regions of Patagonia in the south. With the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Andes Mountains to its east, its beauty is nothing short of breathtaking.

2. Hiring a Car in Chile: What to Know

  • Documentation: Along with your domestic driver's license, it's wise to have an International Driving Permit (IDP). While not always asked for, it's a good backup.
  • Age Restrictions: Typically, you need to be at least 21 to rent a car in Chile, with a driving experience of at least 2 years. Some rental companies may have an upper age limit or charge more for younger drivers.
  • Insurance: Always opt for comprehensive insurance, which covers damages, theft, and third-party liability.

3. Chilean Road Customs and Etiquettes

  • Right-hand Drive: Chileans drive on the right side of the road.
  • Seat Belts: Mandatory for all passengers, not just the driver.
  • Alcohol: Chile has strict drink-driving laws. The permitted blood alcohol limit is 0.03%, but it's best to abstain if driving.
  • Police Checkpoints: Regularly set up, especially on major highways. Always have your driving documents ready.

4. Recommended Routes

  • Carretera Austral (Southern Highway): This 1,240 km route takes you through verdant forests, past roaring rivers, and near glaciers. Ideal for those looking for a mix of adventure and natural beauty.
  • Atacama Desert: World's driest desert, this route offers surreal landscapes and starry nights. A drive from Antofagasta to San Pedro de Atacama is particularly enchanting.
  • Wine Routes: Chile is renowned for its wines. Drive through the vineyard-laden valleys of Maipo, Colchagua, and Casablanca for a delightful experience.

5. Type of Car: Influence of Weather and Terrain

  • For Desert Adventures: In the Atacama region, an SUV is recommended due to sandy and sometimes rocky terrains.
  • Patagonian Expeditions: Given the rugged landscapes of southern Chile, a 4x4 is a wise choice, especially during the rainy season.
  • City and Vineyard Tours: A standard sedan or compact car is sufficient for urban areas and the central valleys.

6. Tips for First-Time Visitors

  • Language: Spanish is the official language. Basic Spanish phrases or a translation app can be handy.
  • Currency: Chilean peso (CLP). While major cities have plenty of ATMs, always carry cash when venturing into remote areas.
  • Tolls: Many highways have tolls, and some use an electronic system. Clarify with your rental company if your vehicle has an electronic tag.
  • Fuel Stations: While they're frequent in urban areas, they can be sparse in rural regions. Always refuel when given the chance.

In Conclusion

Chile is a nation of contrasts, with landscapes that change dramatically as you move from north to south. Renting a car offers the freedom to truly immerse oneself in its majestic beauty. 

Our Most popular locations to collect your hire car from in Chile are:

Cheapest car hire in Chile

Chevrolet Spark

4 Adults, 5 Doors

From 30.26 EUR/day
Chevrolet Spark

7 Days rental at 211.83 EUR from 20/05/2024

  1 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Chevrolet Spark

4 Adults, 5 Doors

From 30.26 EUR/day
Chevrolet Spark

7 Days rental at 211.83 EUR from 20/05/2024

  1 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Chevrolet Spark

4 Adults, 5 Doors

From 30.26 EUR/day
Chevrolet Spark

7 Days rental at 211.83 EUR from 20/05/2024

  1 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Suzuki Baleno

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 29.43 EUR/day
Suzuki Baleno

7 Days rental at 206.06 EUR from 20/05/2024

  3 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Suzuki Baleno

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 29.43 EUR/day
Suzuki Baleno

7 Days rental at 206.06 EUR from 20/05/2024

  3 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Suzuki Baleno

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 29.43 EUR/day
Suzuki Baleno

7 Days rental at 206.06 EUR from 20/05/2024

  3 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Suzuki Swift

5 Adults, 3 Doors

From 27.03 EUR/day
Suzuki Swift

7 Days rental at 189.26 EUR from 20/05/2024

  2 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Suzuki Swift

5 Adults, 3 Doors

From 27.03 EUR/day
Suzuki Swift

7 Days rental at 189.26 EUR from 20/05/2024

  2 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Peugeot 208

5 Adults, 3 Doors

From 27.04 EUR/day
Peugeot 208

7 Days rental at 189.31 EUR from 20/05/2024

  2 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Chevrolet Malibu

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 41.37 EUR/day
Chevrolet Malibu

7 Days rental at 289.62 EUR from 20/05/2024

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Malibu

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 41.37 EUR/day
Chevrolet Malibu

7 Days rental at 289.62 EUR from 20/05/2024

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

Chevrolet Malibu

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 41.37 EUR/day
Chevrolet Malibu

7 Days rental at 289.62 EUR from 20/05/2024

  4 |
  Automatic |
  Yes

MG ZS

5 Adults, 5 Doors

From 34.76 EUR/day
MG ZS

7 Days rental at 243.38 EUR from 20/05/2024

  4 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Hyundai Elantra

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 37.61 EUR/day
Hyundai Elantra

7 Days rental at 263.30 EUR from 20/05/2024

  4 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Hyundai Elantra

5 Adults, 4 Doors

From 37.61 EUR/day
Hyundai Elantra

7 Days rental at 263.30 EUR from 20/05/2024

  4 |
  Manual |
  Yes

Top tips when hiring a car in Chile

  • Understand Local Traffic Laws: Familiarize yourself with Chile's driving regulations, including speed limits and rules about seat belts and mobile phone use. Note that in Chile, you drive on the right-hand side of the road, and it's important to be aware of local road signs and signals. Check out our Drive Smart Guide to Driving in Chile. 

  • Check for Insurance Coverage: Ensure your rental includes the necessary insurance coverage for your journey. This often comprises Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection. Consider additional coverage options for greater peace of mind, but also check if your credit card offers rental car insurance as part of its benefits.

  • Inspect Your Rental Car Before Departure: Before leaving the rental lot, thoroughly inspect your vehicle for any existing damage and ensure all its features work correctly. Take photos of any scratches or dents to have documented proof, so you're not held responsible for pre-existing damage.

  • Be Prepared for Toll Roads: Many highways around Santiago and throughout Chile have tolls. Keep some local currency handy for these charges, or inquire about an electronic toll collection system (TAG) with your rental company if you plan on using toll roads frequently.

  • Consider a GPS or Local SIM Card: While exploring Chile's diverse landscapes, having a GPS can be invaluable, especially in remote areas where cell service might be spotty. Renting a GPS from the car hire company or using a smartphone with a local SIM card for navigation can help you stay on course and enhance your travel experience.

 

Popular car hire destinations in Chile

Laws and rules of the road when driving in Chile

  •  

    R

    Road Driving Side

  •  

    50kph

    Urban speed Limit

  •  

    100kph

    Rural Speed Limit

  •  

    100-120kph

    Motorway Speed Limit

  •  

    CLP  940.32/Ltr

    Current Petrol Price

  •  

    30mg

    Drink Drive Limit

  •  

    CLP

    Currency

  •  

    YES

    Tolls

  •  

    21

    Min Rental Age

    18

    Min Driving Age

  •  

    Front and Rear

    Seatbelts

  •  

    Fixed and Mobile

    Speed Cameras

  •  

    Hands Free Only

    Mobile Phones

Compare car rental agents in Chile

Rental Agent
Locations
Rating (/10)
Customer Reviews
Mini (€/day)
Compact (€/day)
Intermediate (€/day)
Standard (€/day)
 United rent a car
9
8.7/10
266
€ 29.43
€ 34.76
€ 33.29
 Clean rent a car
9
7.9/10
81
€ 32.04
€ 37.94
€ 36.24

Car rental agent statistics in Chile

  • Highest Rated Agent Icon
    9.0/10
    Highest rated agent:
    UNITED RENT A CAR
  • Lowest Rated Agent Icon
    7.9/10
    Lowest rated agent:
    CHILEAN RENT A CAR
  • Total Number of Reviews Icon
    347
    Total number of reviews in
    Chile
  • Most Locations Icon
    24
    Most Locations in Chile:
    EUROPCAR
  • Average Wait Time Icon
    17
    Average wait time
    (Min.)
  • Total Rental Companies Icon
    10
    Total rental companies
     

Average prices per day for car hire in Chile

ItemPercent
January€ 61
February€ 66
March€ 61
April€ 59
May€ 53
June€ 57
July€ 65
August€ 61
September€ 58
October€ 57
November€ 58
December€ 61
ItemPercent
January€ 49
February€ 52
March€ 51
April€ 47
May€ 44
June€ 46
July€ 48
August€ 48
September€ 46
October€ 45
November€ 46
December€ 47
ItemPercent
January€ 90
February€ 91
March€ 88
April€ 80
May€ 70
June€ 79
July€ 82
August€ 84
September€ 90
October€ 84
November€ 95
December€ 105
ItemPercent
January€ 77
February€ 82
March€ 78
April€ 67
May€ 66
June€ 69
July€ 68
August€ 65
September€ 64
October€ 69
November€ 72
December€ 71
ItemPercent
January€ 117
February€ 117
March€ 140
April€ 137
May€ 117
June
July€ 164
August€ 167
September€ 163
October€ 158
November€ 154
December€ 131
ItemPercent
January€ 38
February€ 47
March€ 42
April€ 38
May€ 36
June€ 32
July€ 38
August€ 37
September€ 36
October€ 33
November€ 34
December€ 36
ItemPercent
January€ 80
February€ 86
March€ 82
April€ 79
May€ 73
June€ 79
July€ 83
August€ 82
September€ 80
October€ 80
November€ 79
December€ 80
ItemPercent
January€ 62
February€ 70
March€ 58
April€ 55
May€ 56
June€ 55
July€ 72
August€ 60
September€ 60
October€ 62
November€ 63
December€ 68

Select category to see average car hire prices in Chile

*average daily rates based on 7 day rental, search for today's best prices.

Fuel prices in Chile

DieselUnleaded
Apr , 2023

€ 1.23

€ 1.45

May , 2023

€ 1.22

€ 1.48

Jun , 2023

€ 1.23

€ 1.48

Jul , 2023

€ 1.15

€ 1.41

Aug , 2023

€ 1.06

€ 1.36

Sep , 2023

€ 1.09

€ 1.41

Oct , 2023

€ 1.08

€ 1.39

Nov , 2023

€ 1.10

€ 1.38

Dec , 2023

€ 1.09

€ 1.37

Jan , 2024

€ 1.05

€ 1.28

Feb , 2024

€ 0.99

€ 1.25

Mar , 2024

€ 1.00

€ 1.27

Month, YearDiesel €/ltrUnleaded €/ltr
Mar , 2024 1.00 1.27
Feb , 2024 0.99 1.25
Jan , 2024 1.05 1.28
Dec , 2023 1.09 1.37
Nov , 2023 1.10 1.38
Oct , 2023 1.08 1.39
Sep , 2023 1.09 1.41
Aug , 2023 1.06 1.36
Jul , 2023 1.15 1.41
Jun , 2023 1.23 1.48
May , 2023 1.22 1.48
Apr , 2023 1.23 1.45

Car rental price statistics in Chile

  • Average Price Icon
    € 189.21
    Average price:
    (per week)
  • Highest Daily Price Icon
    € 117.37
    Highest daily price:
    BMW X5
  • Total Vehicles Icon
    537
    Total cars available
     
  • Most Popular Car Model Icon
    58
    Most popular model:
    Volkswagen Voyage
  • Locations with Most Cars Icon
    91
    Location with most cars:
    Santiago - Arturo Merino Benitez - Airport
  • Cheapest Daily Price Icon
    € 27.0 per day
    Cheapest daily price:
    CHILEAN RENT A CAR - Concepcion - Downtown
FAQs - How can we help?

There are always some points on which you are not sure when hiring a car, so we have done our best to answer the frequently asked questions. Just click this link and you will find the questions are sorted by category for easy navigation.

Useful links if renting a car in Chile

Other Car Hire Locations in Chile

We specialise in car rentals throughout Chile to find you the best price and that's a promise...

Antofagasta
€37.0
 
 
Mini 3 4 1 from €43.8 per day
Compact 4 5 3 from €53.8 per day
Economy 5 5 2 from €37.0 per day
Puerto Montt Airport
€35.2
 
 
Mini 3 4 1 from €35.2 per day
Compact 4 5 3 from €47.7 per day
Economy 5 5 2 from €37.0 per day
Santiago
€24.7
 
 
Economy 5 5 2 from €24.7 per day
Standard 4 5 5 from €33.8 per day
Compact 4 5 3 from €28.2 per day
Vina del Mar
€34.0
 
 
Economy 5 5 2 from €34.0 per day
Compact 4 5 3 from €37.6 per day
Mini 3 4 1 from €35.2 per day