Documents to Rent a Car in Chile: Complete Guide

Planning a road trip through southern Chile starts with a step many travelers underestimate: gathering the right documents before arriving at the rental agency. According to INE Los Lagos, the region welcomed 462,934 tourist arrivals in the first half of 2024 alone — a 2.5% increase year on year. A significant share of those travelers arrive without knowing exactly which papers they need to rent a vehicle. Showing up at the agency with a missing or expired document can cost you the first day of your trip — and in peak season, leave you without an available car.

Here are the requirements, the differences between Chilean and foreign drivers, what you need if you plan to cross into Argentina, and the most common mistakes we see every season.

What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Chile?

The basic requirements are the same at almost every agency in the country. Before signing the contract, you must present:

• Valid driver's license: It must be current. Expired licenses are not accepted under any circumstances.
• National ID or passport: For Chilean residents, the national ID is sufficient. Foreign visitors must present a valid passport.
• Credit card in the renter's name: Used for the security deposit. Debit cards and cards belonging to another person are not accepted.
• Minimum age: Most agencies in Chile require drivers to be at least 23 years old. Some international chains raise that minimum to 25.

Check your license expiry date before you travel. A common mistake is assuming a license that expired a few months ago is still valid — it is not, and no insurer will cover a claim under those conditions.

If multiple people will drive during the trip, each additional driver must present the same documents and be listed on the contract. Driving without being registered on the contract voids the insurance coverage.

At Loki, you can browse our fleet and choose your vehicle before arriving, which speeds up the signing process when you pick up the car.

Additional Requirements for Foreign Drivers

International tourists need one extra step: presenting the Tarjeta Única de Migraciones (TUM), the physical entry document issued by Chile's investigative police (PDI). This document confirms that your stay in the country is valid at the time of the rental.

According to Rentcars, many agencies also recommend or require an International Driving Permit for travelers whose license is not issued in Spanish or English. If your license is in Japanese, Korean, Hebrew, Arabic, or another language — bring the internationally translated permit as well.

Documents a foreign tourist must bring at the time of rental:

1. Valid passport
2. Physical Tarjeta Única de Migraciones (TUM) — a photo on your phone is not accepted
3. Valid driver's license from your home country
4. International Driving Permit (if your license is not in Spanish or English)
5. International credit card in your name

A practical tip: if you're arriving on an international flight to El Tepual Airport and plan to pick up the car there, you'll already have your TUM before leaving the immigration area. Just keep the physical document — don't put it in your checked luggage.

Permit to Cross into Argentina

Many travelers arriving in Puerto Montt plan to cross the Cardenal Samoré Pass toward Bariloche, or take the Lakes Route through Villa La Angostura. For that you need an additional document most agencies don't mention by default: the cross-border permit for the rental vehicle.

This permit is issued by the rental company and explicitly authorizes the car to leave Chile into Argentina. Without it, Carabineros at the border crossing will not allow the vehicle to exit.

Some companies don't offer this permit at all. Loki does include it as part of the service — which is one of the reasons travelers planning a cross-border itinerary choose to work with specialized local operators. If your trip includes Argentina, let us know at the time of booking so we can coordinate the documents in advance.

The permit carries an additional fee that varies depending on the length of the rental. Always ask before signing the contract, not the morning you leave.

To browse tours and routes that include cross-border itineraries, you can check our options before finalizing your plans.

How Pickup Works at El Tepual Airport

El Tepual Airport (PMC) is the entry point for most tourists arriving in Puerto Montt. Picking up your car directly there saves you the transfer to the city center and puts you on the road immediately.

Here's how airport delivery works:

1. Confirm your arrival time: At least 24 hours before landing, share your flight number and estimated arrival time.
2. Find the Loki driver: Our team waits at the terminal exit with the vehicle ready.
3. Sign the contract on the spot: With your documents ready, the process takes less than 15 minutes.
4. Vehicle inspection: Together with the driver, you inspect the car and record any pre-existing marks on the contract. Take your own photos too.
5. You receive the full set: Signed contract, CDW + DAT insurance policy, and — if applicable — the Argentina cross-border permit.

Airport delivery is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including public holidays. If your flight lands at 2 a.m. after a long connection, the car is still available.

To coordinate pickup or make your reservation in advance, you can do so directly on our website or by phone.

Common Mistakes When Preparing Documents

After more than 10 years operating in southern Chile, we see the same mistakes repeat every season:

• Expired license: Many travelers don't check the expiry date until they're at the agency. Verify it before leaving home.
• Credit card that doesn't belong to the renter: The contract holder and the card holder must be the same person. A family member's or partner's card is not valid for the deposit.
• TUM surrendered at immigration: Some international airports collect the TUM when you exit the country. If you plan to return to Chile during the same trip, take a photo of the document — even though a photo isn't valid for rental, it at least confirms you have the original.
• Unregistered additional drivers: If a partner or friend will also drive, they must appear on the contract. Driving without being registered cancels the insurance coverage.
• Assuming insurance covers Argentina: CDW + DAT insurance covers Chile. For Argentina you need the cross-border permit and, in some cases, additional coverage. Ask before signing.
• Not photographing the car at pickup: If there's a pre-existing mark that wasn't noted in the contract, the visual check on return can result in a charge. Photograph the entire vehicle at the moment of delivery.

Summary: Your Pre-Trip Checklist

Before going to pick up the car, confirm you have:

• Valid driver's license (yours and each additional driver's)
• Valid national ID or passport
• Credit card in your name
• Physical TUM (foreign visitors only)
• International Driving Permit if your license is not in Spanish or English
• Booking confirmation and the agency's contact number
• If crossing into Argentina: arrange the exit permit in advance

The Los Lagos region holds some of South America's most spectacular landscapes — the Carretera Austral, Chiloé, Volcán Osorno, and Lakes Llanquihue and Todos los Santos. Arriving with your documents in order is the difference between starting your trip in 15 minutes or spending your first afternoon sorting out paperwork.

Have questions about which vehicle suits your route? At Loki we've spent more than a decade supporting travelers exploring southern Chile. Our team can guide you on which car fits your itinerary best — whether a compact city car for Puerto Varas or a 4x4 for the Carretera Austral.

Make your reservation in advance and pick up the car directly at El Tepual Airport, with no waiting and unlimited kilometers included from day one.