CAR RENTING TIPS

• Renting a car it is usually cheaper in Santiago.


• Small companies usually have CDW insurance with deductible (amounts usually runs between USD 200 and USD 700). That amount would be your maximun responsability in case of an accidente. Also small companies do not have ofices in other cities besides Santiago.


• Leaving Chile with a car rental vehicle it is not a simple procedure. You have to get a legal authorization in advance. Permits costs USD 84 for two weeks or USD 167 for 1 month (USD 150 in Patagonia unique fee) and this extra payment will include liability and CDW insurance outside Chile. You have to consider that crossing Chile and Argentina border is not like in Europe, here takes much more time and patient.


• It is very hard to get a car rental company that authorizes their vehicles to cross to Bolivia or Peru, because there have been many cars stolen in those countries and also because the relationship between Chile and them it quite bad.


• Your country's driver licence is necessary to drive in Chile but we would also reccommend to get an international rivers licence. If stopped, police usually will ask for your International drivers licence but nothing so far has `happened to a customer of our company for not having it (that's 15 years esperience)


• If you are planning to rent a car in order to drive in Patagonia, the bestalternative is a pick up truck (because of its higher clearence). A 4x4 would be even better. We recommend to take 2 spare tires and a spray for emergency flat tires, but in the other hand we have had many clients that have travelled in all Patagonia with a simple compact sedan vehicle (you just have to drive slower and with less weight)- Always try to park your vehicle in a safe parking place and do not leave things inside. If you do so, try to leave your staff in the trunk. Also takeout the panel of your radio every time you leave your car alone.


• Chilean roads are quite good. I guess you have heard there is nothing free in life, well let me tell you that there are many and expensive tolls mainly in Santiago and Panamericana (main road that goes from North to South) so you must have plenty of cash in order to pay them.


• Santiago has recently inagurated new modern roads that makes your driving much safer and faster. In order to use this roads you pay new electronic tolls (you pay meanwhile you drive....without stopping) If your rental starts in Santiago is normal that you will pay an extra of aprox. USD 5 daily because of this new underground toll roads. Cars we offer are equipped with a device in order for you to drive as many times as you wish and it is already included in quoted price. evice for driving in "free flow toll roads" are called TAG.