Traffic regulations in South America - Argentina

What should be considered on a motorcycle tour through Argentina? What documents do you need to bring with you? Which special features in road traffic have to be observed. MotoGS WorldTours provides you with answers to your most important questions.
Errors and omissions excepted - all information without guarantee.

Basics:
Argentina is the second largest country in South America and impresses with its cultural and scenic diversity. Argentina's economic and cultural heart beats in the region around Buenos Aires. In the tropical north you will find, for example, the gigantic Iguazu waterfalls. From there we continue west to the Andes, where there are wide plateaus with deserts and bizarre rock formations, but also interesting cities like Salta or Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America. Beautiful national parks like Tierra del Fuego and Los Glacieres with the Perito Moreno and the Fitz Roy invite you to be visited.

To enter Argentina, EU citizens need a passport that is still valid for at least 6 months, even a provisional passport is sufficient. Of course, an identity card is not sufficient for entering Argentina.
Tourists staying in the country for less than 90 days do not need a visa.
A tourist card is handed out on the plane, which every traveler must carry with them at all times and return when they leave the country.
Travelers must carry their tourist card and passport with them at all times during their stay.
Since 2012, all foreign tourists have been fingerprinted and portrait photos taken upon entry.
Make a copy of your passport and keep the copy separate from your passport, just in case.
Almost similar requirements apply to non-EU citizens, but this always depends on your actual country of origin. Therefore, for your own safety, you should check the visa requirements for your home country to enter Argentina at VisaHQ. This website is a very good indicator to find out easily.

Customs regulations for entering Argentina:
If you have food with you, we recommend that you tick “Si” (Yes) on the customs declaration and show the officers everything you have with you. Importing undeclared edibles only creates unnecessary problems. On the other hand, up to 3 liters of alcohol, 500 g of tobacco or 500 cigarettes and 100 cigars may be imported duty-free.
The import of cash up to US$ 10,000 is unrestricted and does not have to be declared.

Language:
The official language in Argentina is Spanish. Very few Argentinians speak English, which is why a basic knowledge of Spanish or a well-functioning translation program is an advantage.

Currency:
The national currency of Argentina is the Argentine Peso (ARS). Note: The Inflation is high in Argentina. You can see the current exchange rate on Oanda, for example.

Security:
Argentina has a very high crime rate. Beware of robberies and pickpocketing, especially in big cities. Inform yourself in detail about safety aspects in order to be able to enjoy your stay to the fullest. Patagonia is one of the safest regions in Argentina.

Vaccinations:
There is currently no vaccination requirement for entry into Argentina. However, it is recommend that you seek adequate advice from a tropical medicine specialist. When traveling to the provinces of Corrientes, Misiones and also to the Iguazú waterfalls, a yellow fever vaccination is recommended in addition to the standard vaccinations (hepatitis A & B, tetanus, etc.).

Vehicle papers and other necessary documents:
Assuming that you do NOT want to bring your own motorcycle or have it brought to Argentina, but simply rent a motorcycle on site in a much less complicated way, then the following documents must also be brought with you.
Of course, you can also have your motorcycle shipped to Argentina or generally to South America by ship or air freight for a certain period of time. Basically no problem. BUT, time-consuming, cost-intensive and always the risk in the neck, for example, everything goes according to plan at customs in the country of arrival. Many motorcyclists and globetrotters have their own motorcycles with them, which of course has a certain charm and is understandable, but there is also a little easier way. What if your own motorcycle is totaled in an accident, for example, what if it was stolen. Always remember, the motorcycle MUST be re-exported for customs purposes. If the motorcycle has not been demonstrably exported within the prescribed time (3 to 6 months, by extension up to 12 months), this is considered an import and this is guaranteed to cause major problems and is very expensive. Confiscation will result and enforcement action for customs fraud. That is why we are dealing here with renting a motorcycle on site.

Your national driver's license is usually sufficient, but to be on the safe side, because many rental stations require it, be sure to bring a international driver's license (usually issued for a period of 3 years) and of course a credit card to make a necessary deposit to deposit with the rental company.
The legal driving age for general motor vehicle driving in Argentina is 18 years. For foreigners who want to rent a motorcycle in Argentina, the rental stations usually require a minimum age of 21 years, sometimes even 25 years.
Young riders surcharges for riders under the age of 25 are often required. You should also have held a motorcycle license for at least 2 years.

Health insurance:
In principle, all travelers to Argentina or abroad in general, regardless of their country of origin, should take out international health insurance. This can also be done easily here via Global Rescue. Surely this type of insurance protection is a bit more expensive than other providers. However, as the name suggests, this type of coverage is built on Rescue. Therefore not comparable. However, this should not be understood as advertising, it is a simple recommendation.

Helmet obligation:
Helmets are compulsory! And this just for your own safety.

First aid kit / warning vests:
It is always advisable to carry a high-visibility vest, a first aid kit in a dustproof package, a motorcycle warning triangle and a small warning light.

Lighting:
Outside of built-up areas, you must ride with your headlights on all year round during the day. It is therefore always advisable to take a set of spare light bulbs with you. Excluded are motorcycles equipped with LED lights.

Speed limits in Argentina:
In town on small roads: 40 km/h
In town on Avenidas: 60 km/h
On rural roads: 110 km/h
On expressways: 120 km/h
On motorways: 130 km/h

Alcohol limit:
The general traffic rules in Argentina also determine how much blood alcohol in the blood riders are still allowed to ride a motorcycle. The general alcohol limit is 0.5‰. For motorcyclists, however, there is a limit of 0.2‰.

Environmental zone:
A restriction of motor traffic by an environmental zone, as the environmental zones are known in Europe, is not known in Argentina.
In other words, there is no information about an environmental zone in Argentina.

Tired of tolls on motorways, tunnels and bridges.
The use of many privately maintained road sections in Argentina are subject to tolls. Payment can be made in cash or, in some cases, electronically. Detailed information on the fees is listed under this Aubasa Autopistas de Buenos Aires S.A. 

Correct behavior in the event of an accident or breakdown:
In any case, it is advisable and important to call the police, even in the case of "minor damage", because the police protocol is the basis for the settlement of the damage.
This is all the more important if, for example, the motorcycle was rented.

Border crossing to neighboring countries with the rented motorbike:
Basically possible, but always dependent on the respective neighboring country. So for example, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. Since a possible border crossing into one of the neighboring countries depends on the respective customs regulations of the countries among themselves, it is absolutely necessary to clarify this question directly with the motorcycle rental station.
In any case, it is important to ensure that all necessary documents, such as the rental company's declaration of approval, insurance confirmation and so on, are handed over after the lessor has given his approval for crossing the border. Crossing the border with a rental motorcycle or rental car is not always possible. For example, crossing the border from Panama to Costa Rica is impossible. That means riding the rental motorcycle in Panama, for example, to the border to Costa Rica, handing it in there, crossing the border on foot and continuing on the Costa Rican side with a new rental motorcycle (licensed in Costa Rica). Of course, all this can only be done if your rental company has drop-off points at the border.

Fines and peculiarities in Argentine road traffic:

• In the case of violations of the traffic regulations, comparatively high fines up to imprisonment are imposed, depending on the severity of the violation.
• It should be mentioned right at the beginning. In Argentina, obeying the right-hand traffic is a top priority. This also means that if you have 2 lanes, you are expected to ride on the right and only use the left lane for the overtaking process and only for the duration of the overtaking process.
• Many countries could still learn something from these characteristics, especially Europe.
• Turning left is not desired at intersections with traffic lights and in oncoming traffic without a left turn lane! Only if there is a left turn lane with a left turn traffic light. You are allowed to turn left, but as mentioned, other road users do not want you to do so.
• Argentines use the hazard lights to park and stop.
• Stopping is also indicated by hand signals with arm held out the window.
• Using the turn signal to the left warns the vehicle behind not to overtake as cars are coming the other way.
• Using the turn signal to the right indicates to the following vehicle that it is safe to overtake.
• U-turns or turning around after riding the wrong way are not permitted under any circumstances
• In one-way streets you can only park on the left side if this is explicitly signposted.
• It is mandatory to have a valid insurance policy with you when riding.
• When parking, keep a distance of 5 m before crossings and pedestrian crossings and 10 m before and after bus stops.
• When parking, you must keep a distance of at least 50 cm to the next vehicle
• There is a ban on parking in front of garage entrances, even in front of your own garage!
• There is an absolute ban on overtaking on bridges, in tunnels, in curves, on intersections and on train crossings.
• Basically, it should be mentioned that traffic in Argentina is relatively orderly, in contrast to other South American countries such as Colombia.

Emergency number in Argentina:
The emergency number is 911

As of 07/08/2023