Rules for overlanding in Chile

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 19 August 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — Tourists may drive on an Italian licence or on an International Driving Permit — check what applies to the licence you hold. Anyone who becomes resident in Chile can no longer use the Italian one and has to obtain a Chilean licence, sitting the theory and practical tests again plus medical checks, because there is no bilateral agreement in place.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Foreign insurance not accepted — Third-party cover is compulsory and foreign policies are not accepted, so you need a short-term Chilean policy. It is sold by insurance companies near the border crossings, but not at the crossings themselves, so factor that stop into your route. Theft and fire cover is optional and comes with a comprehensive "Casko" policy.
Carnet de passages — A carnet de passages en douane is recommended for a vehicle imported temporarily.
Driving someone else's vehicle — Carry a letter of authority from the owner with the signature notarised.
Zero tolerance on alcohol — Under the law in force since March 2012, up to 0.03 mg/l brings administrative penalties and the loss of your licence, and above that a blood test leads to immediate detention pending trial, since it counts as a criminal offence. Carabineros run random roadside checks from mobile units with an ambulance alongside for blood samples. Drinking alcohol inside a vehicle is prohibited for the driver and passengers alike.
Equipment on board — You must carry a warning triangle, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a reflective vest. Snow chains are compulsory in heavy snowfall.
Helmets, belts and children — Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists, and seatbelts in the front seats of vehicles registered in Chile or abroad. Children cannot travel in the front, and between 6 months and 4 years they need a proper child seat.
Lights when parked — At night, a vehicle left in a poorly lit public place must have its sidelights on.
Road conditions — Surfaces can be in poor shape for the volume of traffic they now carry, crash barriers are mostly absent, and heavy trucks in the cities cause jams and hazards. Chile has one of the highest accident rates in the world. The Panamericana spine and the new urban motorways in the capital are in good condition.

What catches travellers out

Food checks at borders — On entry you fill in a form declaring any fruit, honey, plant products including wooden items, or animal products such as cheese and cured meat. SAG inspectors check every land, port and airport crossing, going through vehicles and all luggage, X-ray included; banned goods are seized and destroyed, and failing to declare them brings substantial fines. If you are unsure what is in your vehicle, tick yes and let them look: nothing is fined that way.
Keep the entry slip — Border police hand you a slip when you enter and you have to show it when you leave. If it is lost or stolen, report it at once and request a free duplicate online.
Park access rules — You must enter trails through the points marked by CONAF, which is also what makes a search possible if you fail to return. Serious breaches of park rules can mean immediate expulsion from the country on top of heavy fines, and walkers have gone missing even in the busier national parks.
Phone IMEI registration — If you stay more than 30 days and buy a Chilean SIM, you must register the IMEI of a phone bought outside Chile or it stops working on the local network. Registration is free through the multiband portal, and the deadline is 30 days from entry.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 19 August 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Chile before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 19 August 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.