Argentina on an Indian Licence — The Side Switch, a Required IDP & Fast Motorways

Argentina is a rewarding self-drive country for Indian travellers, but two things need sorting before you collect the keys, and the first is the side of the road. India drives on the left; Argentina drives on the right. That reversal is the single most likely thing to catch you out, and it does so in the first day — at a roundabout that now flows the other way, pulling out of a fuel stop, or a reflex glance in the wrong direction. Spend your opening hour on quiet streets rather than central Buenos Aires, which is demanding even for locals, and stay deliberate at every junction until “right” feels natural.

The second is documents, and here the rule is firm. Argentina requires an International Driving Permit alongside your Indian licence and passport — this is a requirement, not a suggestion, and it must be arranged in India before departure because you cannot obtain one locally. Rental desks and police do check. Confirm exactly what applies to you with the Driving Permit Checker.

On the road, the speeds are higher than home: motorways run to 130 km/h, rural roads to 110, towns to 40. Interestingly the alcohol limit moves the other way — Argentina’s 0.05 is above India’s 0.03 — but it is genuinely enforced, so treat it with respect rather than as a licence to drink. Speeding fines vary by province at roughly ARS 10,000-30,000 (≈ €10-30), and you can estimate one with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

The other planning point is distance. The long-distance national routes are good, but Patagonia is remote and petrol stations can be far apart, so fuel up at every chance — the consolation is cheap fuel at around $0.88/litre. Your car should carry a warning triangle, reflective vest, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher, and the emergency number is 911. Download offline maps before any long leg, as coverage thins quickly outside the cities.

The full breakdown is on our Argentina driving guide. Sort the IDP early, learn the right-hand side on quiet roads first, and you will find Argentina one of South America’s easier countries to drive.