Traffic regulations

Driving in Chile

Traffic regulations

When driving in Chile it is important to have a sound awareness of traffic regulations and violations to avoid getting caught up in the law.

Cars drive on the right-hand side of the road in Chile, which can cause confusion for expats who are used to driving on the left such as in Australia and the United Kingdom. Right hand turns are mostly prohibited when the traffic light is red. In order to drive you will need an international driving license, which can be obtained in your home country. You may be able to rent a car with your foreign driving license but if police catch you without an international one you may be subject to hefty fines.

Many major motorways in Chile have toll roads and drivers should bring sufficient money to pay for these tolls. On rural roads many cars do not adhere to normal driving practices and you should be aware of speeding vehicles and cars changing lanes without signalling. The speed limit is maximum 120km/h (74.6 mph) on motorways however many do not adhere to this so it is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

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