Indian Drivers in Argentina 2026: 1949 IDP and Zero Alcohol
India
Argentina
Yes, with a 1949 International Driving Permit alongside your Indian licence. Argentina drives on the right, not the left; motorways reach 130 km/h and the alcohol limit is zero, stricter than India's 0.03. Call 911 for emergencies.
Argentina is a rewarding self-drive country for Indian travellers, and two things need sorting before you collect the keys. The first is the side of the road: no, Argentina does not drive on the left. India drives on the left; Argentina drives on the right. The second is the permit. An Indian licence on its own is not enough, and the 1949 IDP is the document to carry.
Licence and permit
The UK Foreign Office describes the 1949 International Driving Permit as mandatory in Argentina, and Canada’s travel advice says to carry one. India and Argentina are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the permit your RTO issues is the right document. Arrange it before departure and carry it with your Indian licence and passport. Our records allow foreign visitors up to six months. For a different route or passport, use the Driving Permit Checker.
From left to right
The reversal catches people on the first day: at a roundabout that flows the other way, pulling out of a fuel stop, or glancing the wrong way at a junction. Spend the first hour on quiet streets rather than central Buenos Aires, and stay deliberate until right-hand driving feels natural. The driver now sits on the left of the car, so every habit about where the kerb is, and which way the mirror should be angled, needs resetting.
Speeds, side by side
| India | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|
| Towns | 70 km/h | 40 km/h on streets, 60 on avenues |
| Rural roads | 80 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Motorways | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
The urban figure is the surprise: national law 24.449 sets 40 km/h on streets and 60 on avenues unless signed otherwise, well below the 70 in our Indian record. On open roads the direction reverses. Rural roads run to 110 and motorways to 130, so the highway pace is higher than you are used to. Trucks are held to 80 on both.
Alcohol: zero, not 0.03
India allows 30 mg per 100 ml. Since Law 27.714 (May 2023) Argentina’s limit is zero, so do not drive after any drink. This is one of the strictest rules on the page, and rental firms and police take it seriously.
What a ticket looks like
Fines are set locally, so the Indian habit of expecting a standard scale does not apply. Indian fines in our records run INR 1,000-5,000 for a phone or red light and INR 1,000-2,000 for speeding up to 10 km/h over. Argentine amounts vary by province and are in pesos, so ask the rental firm how a fine is passed on, and estimate one with the Speeding Fine Calculator.
Distance, fuel and equipment
The national routes are good, but Patagonia is remote and fuel stations can be far apart, so fill up at every chance and download offline maps. Article 40 of the traffic law requires a fire extinguisher and portable warning devices in the car. India also requires a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit, so you are used to a similar kit. The minimum driving age is 17 in Argentina against 18 in India, with parental approval needed under 18.
Emergency numbers
India uses 112, with 100 for police, 101 for fire and 108 for an ambulance. Argentina differs: 911 is the general number, 101 reaches police, 107 the ambulance and 100 the fire service. Notice that 100 is police in India and fire in Argentina, and 101 is the reverse. Save the Argentine set before you travel.
The full breakdown is on our Argentina driving guide.
Sources
- Argentine national traffic law 24.449 (art. 40 equipment; art. 48 zero alcohol as amended by Law 27.714; art. 51 speed limits), InfoLEG: infoleg.gob.ar
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Argentina, safety and security (1949 IDP mandatory): gov.uk
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Argentina, emergency numbers (ambulance 107, fire 100, police 911 or 101): gov.uk
- Government of Canada travel advice, Argentina (carry an IDP): travel.gc.ca
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Argentina 1960, India 1962): treaties.un.org
- WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Argentina profile (110/130 km/h): who.int
- India, Motor Vehicles Act 1988 s.185 (30 mg per 100 ml): indiacode.nic.in
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Frequently Asked Questions
Argentina drives on the right; India drives on the left. The first day at junctions, roundabouts and overtakes is where the old instinct bites, so start on quiet streets.
Yes. The UK Foreign Office describes the 1949 IDP as mandatory in Argentina and Canada advises carrying one. India and Argentina are both parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention, so the permit your RTO issues is the right one. Get it in India before you fly.
Yes, as a visitor, but only with the 1949 IDP carried together with the Indian licence and your passport. Our records allow up to six months for foreign visitors. The licence on its own will not satisfy a rental desk or a police check.
Zero, which is stricter than India's 30 mg per 100 ml. Law 27.714 (May 2023) rewrote article 48 of national traffic law 24.449 to ban driving with any alcohol in the blood.