Car Rental at Almirante Marcos A. Zar Airport (REL)

Your US driver's license is technically valid in Argentina, but you'll need an official Spanish translation. An International Driving Permit (IDP) serves as both translation and backup—it's inexpensive ($20) and widely accepted. Renters aged 21-25 will pay a young driver surcharge of approximately $15-25/day. Always carry both your US license and IDP.

Argentina's toll system uses both cash and electronic tags (Telepase). Routes 3 and 25 near Trelew have toll booths charging roughly 50-200 ARS (about $0.50-2 USD). Renting a Telepase device from your rental company costs $5-10/day but saves time—queues at cash lanes can exceed 20 minutes during peak hours. Ask your rental company to activate it before departure.

Major highways (like Route 3) are paved but can have gravel sections under repair. Secondary roads leading to Puerto Madryn or the Valdés Peninsula are mostly hard-packed gravel—drive at reduced speeds (60-80 km/h max). Watch for guanacos and sheep crossing at dawn/dusk; collisions are common and not covered by standard insurance. Strong Patagonian winds (up to 100 km/h) require firm steering control, especially on exposed sections.

Fuel stations exist in Trelew and along major routes, but distances between stations can exceed 150 km on secondary roads—never let your tank drop below half. Diesel (gasoleo) is the most common fuel type; gasoline (nafta) is also available. Most rental cars in Argentina run on diesel or regular unleaded. Fill up before heading to remote areas like the Valdés Peninsula.

Both seasons present hazards. Winter (June-August) brings icy patches on roads, especially mornings—temperatures drop to -5°C to 5°C, and snow can close mountain passes. Summer (December-February) has relentless Patagonian winds causing sudden gusts that can push smaller vehicles off-road; daytime temps reach 25-35°C. If renting in winter, confirm your car has winter tires (asked for specifically); in summer, keep both hands on the wheel in exposed areas.