Traffic rules in Argentina

Traffic rules in Argentina

Before you contact a car rental company in Argentina, rent a car there, and then drive through the pampas, you should familiarize yourself a little with the obscure traffic rules. The written and unwritten laws. Here is a short list with the most important differences to European traffic regulations:

• Turning left is not desirable at beam traffic intersections with oncoming traffic without a left turn arrow! Only if there is a left-turn lane with a left-turn traffic light.
• Argentines use the hazard warning lights to park and stop.
• Stopping is also indicated by hand signals with the arm held out of the window.
• Outside the cities, dipped headlights must also be switched on during the day on country roads and motorways.

Here you can find the traffic signs of the actual traffic rules in Argentina.

Speed limits

Speed ​​limits:

• Downtown on Avenidas: 60 km / h
• In urban areas on normal roads: 40 km / h
• At unlighted intersections: 30 km / h
• Country roads (cars, pickups, motorcycles): 110 km / h
• On country roads (minibus, motorhomes): 90 km / h
• Country road (truck, caravan as trailer): 80 km / h
• Expressways (cars, motorcycles): 120 km / h
• Motorways (cars, motorcycles): 130 km / h
• In front of schools, sports centers and places with high public traffic: 30 km / h

Seatbelts and hazard lights

• In Córdoba city, children under the age of 10 must be seated in the back seat
• Seat belts are mandatory for all vehicle occupants
• Blinking left warns the following vehicle not to overtake because cars are coming
• Flashing to the right indicates to the following vehicle that it is safe to overtake

Alcohol limits

Allowed blood alcohol content / alcohol limit

• Motorists over 21 years old in Córdoba city: 0.4 gr / l
• Motorcyclists: 0.0 gr / l !!!
• for drivers of trucks with trailers in Córdoba city: 0.0 gr / l
• Drivers of trucks up to 3.5 t without a trailer (Categoria C) in Córdoba city: 0.2 gr / l
• Taxi drivers, remises, bus drivers, ambulance / fire engine drivers in Córdoba city: 0.0 gr / l

Other traffic rules

• “U-Turn” is never allowed
• Can I turn left at unlighted intersections? Yes.
• The car can be towed when driving without a license
• The driver’s license category B (category B) corresponds to that of a car driver’s license
• The category A driving license corresponds to that of a motorcycle license
• Can I drive a motorcycle with a car license? No.
• 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 driving
• When parking, keep a distance of 5 m before intersections / pedestrian crossings and 10 m before and after bus stops
• Parking is prohibited in front of garage entrances (also in front of your own garage!)
• Parking is prohibited before the entrance to “Playas” (parking lots), even at night when they are closed
• You shouldn’t actually park cars on the street to offer them for sale
• Towing is not permitted with a tow rope, but only with a fixed tow bar
• Washing cars on public roads is prohibited
• You can only park in the caravan or trailer on paved streets for the night where this is indicated
• There is no overtaking on bridges, in tunnels, in curves, on intersections, on level crossings
• Intermittent red traffic light indicates “STOP”
• When parking you have to keep at least 50 cm distance to the next vehicle
• Helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists and riders
• Mopeds / moped drivers under the age of 18 may only drive alone
• A taxi driver and Remisero are not allowed to drive in shorts and slippers even in summer
• A “remis” (green radio cab) driver must not pick up passengers on the street
• Remis drivers must not have a passenger with them during the day
• A remis driver may only take 3 other passengers with him at night

Here are a few Argentinian specialities from your car rental company

“Living parking meters”, so-called “winkmen” or “car watchers” are annoying. Some of these are urban job creation measures. Mostly, however, only self-created “jobs” with no discernible benefits. Wherever there is a lot of public traffic with cars (in front of banks, clinics, in city centers, in front of discotheques, pubs, etc.) these “Naranjitas”, “Trapitos” or “Chargemen” charge you for parking. Therefore always keep small change. The naranjitas or trapitos have recently been banned for charging “compulsorily” for parking. This is only allowed in designated areas. Nevertheless, they still hang around everywhere. As a result, self-proclaimed caretakers are of course more or less allowed to receive something voluntarily.

The eternal windshield cleaners are no less annoying. They jump in front of the car all the time and start unasked with their imposed service. There are also salespeople who lurk at every corner or traffic light. Or the unskilled juggling artists, fire-eaters and other acrobats who celebrate their unprofessional performances on hot asphalt. Therefore, you should always have a sack full of small change with you to warmly feed all these highwaymen.

Water bottle on the roof of a parked car

Why do parked cars often have a water bottle or similar on the roof? Argentines let other Argentines know that the fair vehicle is for sale. They cannot sell the cluncker to a foreigner, because the (stupid) foreigner usually does not know what the water bottle actually means…. Man, why don’t they just stick a note on the windshield with some grateful information, such as the price or a phone number ?? Because if a potential buyer is actually interested in the rust bucket under the water bottle, he often desperately searches for the seller.