Car rental in Montevideo

Car Rental in Montevideo: visiting Uruguay’s historic capital city

Montevideo is truly the metropolis of Uruguay and is well worth a visit for any lover of historic architecture, excellent food, and open squares. Take some time, for instance, to stroll along La Rambla, a 20-kilometer-long walkway along the coast. But don’t just stay in Montevideo during your visit to Uruguay. Be sure to plan some road trips! For instance, head east along the coast to Punta Ballena and beyond! Make the most of your visit by booking your rental car today.

Because of the humidity, the weather in Montevideo feels like it moves through four distinct seasons, even though the temperature on the thermometer suggests that there isn’t a huge amount of fluctuation. There’s no good time of year to avoid the rain, so if you prefer to travel in the cool of winter, head to Montevideo between May and October. The city’s hottest months are December through February.

Spanish is the official language of Uruguay, and although Montevideo is a fairly diverse city, the vast majority of this capital city’s residents also speak Spanish as their native language.

Montevideo is located in the Uruguay Time Zone, UTC-3.

The currency in Uruguay is the peso, and most financial transactions throughout the country take place in cash. Take advantage of frequent ATMs for the most effective form of currency exchange throughout the country. You may find that some stores accept US dollars for more expensive items. Smaller shops and restaurants may have trouble breaking large bills, so try to have almost exact change on hand. Abitab stores will break large bills for free.

Car hire is available in 5 locations throughout Montevideo, including the Carrasco International Airport (also called the Montevideo International Airport, MVD), downtown, and at the port.

Visa Regulations

The vast majority of nationalities are permitted to enter Uruguay without a visa. All visitors will require a passport, except for citizens of most South American countries, who are permitted entry with a national ID card alone. Double-check entry requirements for your nationality before you make any plans to travel to Uruguay. If your country is not on the list of visa-free visitors, ask the next available consulate about how to receive a tourist’s visa.

Driving in Montevideo

Roads are typically quite full throughout Montevideo and road signs are often difficult to find, much less understand. Drive defensively throughout the city as you become accustomed with the rules of the road, and consider renting a car only for the days during which you intend to explore Montevideo’s stunning surroundings.

Right-Hand Driving

• Like most countries in South America, traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road in Uruguay.

Speed Limits

• In the city: 50 km/h
• On highways and rural roads: 90 to 110 km/h
• Though Montevideo’s roads may not be as stressful as Buenos Aires’, you’re still likely to find that traffic congestion occurs often throughout the day. Be sure to add some time to your plans to enter or leave the city by car, particularly in the hours around 9 am and 6 pm.

Other Regulations

1. Street and garage parking can be limited, particularly in the old city. When you do find it, you will likely have to pay a fee, typically ranging between 5 and 10 pesos. Ask your hosts or hotel staff for the best tips on safe and inexpensive parking throughout the city.
2. Your valid domestic driver’s license is sufficient to rent a car and drive throughout Uruguay.
3. A number of the highways to and from Montevideo are tolled. Have some cash on hand to pay these tolls, which are typically fairly inexpensive.
4. The minimum driving age in Uruguay is 18 years, though most rental companies will require that you are at least 23 years old to rent a car, and you are likely to face young-driver surcharges until the age of 25.

Cheap Car Rental in Montevideo

Car hire in Montevideo typically starts at around $20 a day. Here are some of the best deals in Montevideo:

• Hyundai I10 or similar (economy class) – $24/day
• Chana Benni or similar (mini class) – $25/day
• Peugeot 107 or similar (compact class) – $30/day
• Fiat Siena or similar (intermediate class) – $34/day
• Renault Logan or similar (standard class) – $39/day

Note that prices vary depending on the availability of each specific car and the season in which you rent. For the most accurate offers, use the search bar above.

Tips for Renting a Car Inexpensively in Montevideo

There is no significant seasonal variation in price for rental cars in Montevideo. In fact, if you rent from Punta Car at either their airport or downtown locations, you can almost consistently receive an economy car for the low price of $23 a day. Just be sure to book your car within 8 months of your arrival in Uruguay in order to ensure that you receive the agency’s cheapest offers.

You can also often save between $4 and $10 a day by extending your rental period to over a week! Keep an eye out for discounts offered by Economy Bookings that make the price of hiring a car in Montevideo even cheaper.