An Italian Licence in Argentina 2026: Leave the Wine Behind

The permit comes first, because it is what the rental desk checks. An Italian licence does not work on its own in Argentina. You need an International Driving Permit beside it, and in Italy that means getting it through ACI before you leave. It is impossible to obtain once you have arrived. The set you carry is IDP, Italian licence and passport. Our records give foreign visitors up to six months on that combination.

If you are used to an Italian licence being accepted across the EU, Argentina is the reminder that it stops at the border of the Union.

Same side of the road, one rule that is not

Few countries feel less foreign to an Italian driver than Argentina. Surnames, café culture and even the cadence of the traffic carry an Italian echo. Argentina drives on the right, as Italy does, so there is no side switch and no relearning of roundabouts. The motorway ceiling of 130 km/h mirrors the autostrada.

The familiarity is real, which makes it easy to miss the rule that differs: Italy allows 0.5 g/l, while Law 27.714 (May 2023) set Argentina’s limit at zero. A glass of wine with lunch is enough to break it. Provinces set the penalties.

The speeds, side by side

Inside towns the limit falls to a strict 40 km/h, and cameras and patrols concentrate near the big cities. Beyond the capital, the open road is faster than in Italy, at 110, and the distances are far larger.

Arriving and collecting the car

At the rental desk, expect to be asked for all three documents together, and expect the clerk to look at the IDP rather than glance at it. Check the date on the permit and that it matches the licence holder’s name. Ask how the company handles fines that arrive later, since the notice follows the car’s registered keeper. Then read the contract for any restriction on taking the car onto unpaved roads.

Big city, then big distance

Buenos Aires traffic is dense, quick and assertive. It is manageable for an Italian used to city driving, but unforgiving of hesitation. Beyond the capital, the country opens into enormous distances: good long-haul roads, but single-carriageway, with sizeable gaps between fuel and food. Patagonia in the south is remote, so plan your range and carry water. Fill up whenever a station appears rather than waiting for the next.

What the car must carry

Argentine law expects a fire extinguisher, a first-aid kit, a reflective vest, a warning triangle and spare bulbs. Italy requires only the triangle and vest, with an extinguisher and first-aid kit recommended. When you collect a rental, open the boot and count. Missing equipment is an easy reason for a stop.

Fines against Italy’s

A modest speeding fine varies by province. The amounts look small beside Italy’s, which should not tempt anyone: a serious overspeed carries ARS 90,000 and more, plus licence suspension. The Speeding Fine Calculator prices your own case.

Numbers that differ from Italy’s

Argentina’s general emergency number is 911. Separate lines are 101 for police, 107 for an ambulance and 100 for fire. At home you use 112, with 113, 118 and 115. Confirm what you need with the Driving Permit Checker, and read the rules in full on our Argentina driving guide.

Sources

• Ley 27.714, Boletín Oficial, 3 May 2023, amending article 48 of Ley 24.449 (zero alcohol): infoleg.gob.ar