Car Rental in Montevideo

Why rent a car in Montevideo?

Montevideo is a fascinating city to visit. Youthful and open-minded, but serious about preserving its traditions, it offers a mix of unique architecture, culture, and atmosphere. Located on the Rio de la Plata, the capital city has many beautiful sandy beaches. See Montevideo first, then get in your rental car to explore the rest of the Uruguayan coast, historical destinations like Colonia, and the country’s tropical interior. 

Top ways to enter Montevideo

• Montevideo Airport: Sometimes called Carrasco Airport after the part of the city in which it is located, and also Cesáreo L. Berisso International Airport, it is by far the busiest airport in Uruguay. A hub for Amaszonas Uruguay, it handled more than two million travelers in 2018. The airport is located 18km (11 miles) northeast of the city center and can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes depending on the traffic.
• Punta del Este Airport: Serving the resort city of the same name, it is also known as Capitán de Corbeta Carlos A. Curbelo International Airport. As of August 2019, the airport is served by eight different airlines and offers domestic connections as well as flights to and from Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Located 110km (68 miles) east of Montevideo, the airport can be reached in about 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Airport: Also known as Ezeiza Airport, it handled 11 million travelers in 2018. The airport specializes in inter-continental connections and hosts flights to and from North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Buenos Aires is 588km (365 miles) from Montevideo, a distance that can be traveled by car in about seven hours. Read below about traveling from Buenos Aires to Montevideo by ferry.
• Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery Airport: Named after a famous Argentine aviator, Newbery Airport is the busiest in the country. The airport specializes in domestic connections but also has some flights to and from neighboring countries. In 2018, it handled 13 million travelers for the first time in its history. Read below about traveling from Buenos Aires to Montevideo by ferry.
• By sea: If arriving in Montevideo by ferry, you can conveniently pick up your rental car at Montevideo Port. 

A note on traveling from Buenos Aires to Montevideo by ferry: Traveling between Montevideo and Buenos Aires is often seen as more convenient and time-saving than going overland. There are at least a couple of ferries per day going each way. 

It might be possible to take a rental car on a ferry, but you should ask the ferry company in advance. You should also ask your rental car provider if they permit it. Many won’t, so it might be a better idea to travel without a car and to pick up one after arriving at your destination.

It is also possible to go by ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia, Uruguay, and pick up a rental car there.

If you plan to cross the border between Uruguay and Argentina, check to see if you need a visa to visit either country. 

City facts

• Montevideo has a humid subtropical climate with short, mild winters (June to September) and hot summers (December to March). The average high temperature is 28°C (82°F) in January, the warmest month, and 15°C (58°F) in July, the coldest month. The city experiences relatively high humidity throughout the year.
• Montevideo has often been mentioned as one of the cities with the highest quality of living in South America. It came first in Mercer Quality of Living Survey in 2019, outranking Buenos Aires in Argentina and Santiago in Chile. Factors like relatively high levels of income, personal safety, and a stable political situation contributed to the city’s ranking. 

Top sights and activities

• Plaza Independencia. Independence Square is the most important public space and the beating heart of Montevideo. Many of the city’s landmarks, like Estévez Palace, the Executive Tower (the workplace of Uruguay’s president), Artigas Mausoleum, and Palacio Salvo are located here. Many festivals frequently take place in the square, but even if there are no ongoing events at the time of your visit, the square is still very much worth a visit.
• MAPI - Pre-Columbian and Indigenous Art Museum. For centuries, Uruguay has been a true melting pot. The descendants of Spanish colonists, African slaves, early Italian and other European immigrants, and Arabs, Armenians, and Chinese who came later, have all found a home in this small country. Yet even before the first arrivals from the Old World, Uruguay was already inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous peoples of South America. Although nowadays only 2.5% of Uruguayans identify as having full or partial native ancestry, visitors can learn about the beautiful indigenous culture in this unique museum.
• Football museum. Uruguay is sometimes thought of as a small country, but nothing is further from the truth when it comes to football. A true global powerhouse, Uruguay has won the World Cup of the planet’s most popular team sport twice, in 1930 and 1950. And the country is not resting on old laurels, either - it made the semi-finals as recently as 2010, and Uruguayan players such as Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani, and Diego Godin are modern football superstars. With only 3.4 million people (neighboring Brazil has 210 million), Uruguayans hold a legitimate claim to being the best footballers in the world. The unique football museum tries to explain this incredible success, tells the story of Uruguay’s love of the sport, and lets visitors access the national home stadium.
• Mercado del Puerto. Another attraction that is a whole area rather than a single landmark, the Gate Market is located in the city’s Old Town and is one of its liveliest places to visit. Known for its many restaurants and souvenir shops, it can get a little touristy on a warm summer day, but all the same, remains one of the loveliest parts of Montevideo.
• Solís Theater. Situated in Old Montevideo, just a stone’s throw from the aforementioned Independence Square, the Solís Theater is both the country’s most important performance venue and one of the architectural icons of the Uruguayan capital. Established in the 1850s and significantly renovated at the last turn of the century, it is worth a look even if you’re not attending a show.

Traffic and parking

• Uruguay drives on the right-hand side of the road.
• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 110km/h (68 mph) on some dual carriageway roads, 90km/h (55 mph) on most other dual carriageway roads, 90km/h (55 mph) on some single carriageway roads, 75km/h (46 mph) on most single carriageway roads, and 50km/h (31 mph) in populated and built-up areas.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.00% for both experienced and novice drivers Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines and even imprisonment or deportation.
• Watch out for speed bumps - known locally as lomades, they are frequent in the country, especially when entering/leaving cities, towns, and villages.
• The gas prices are government-regulated and the fee per liter will be the same in every gas station in the country. Also keep in mind that most gas stations don’t accept cash at night - they will only take credit cards.
• While in general Uruguay boasts some of the best roads in Latin America, some rural roads, especially in the country’s interior, might be in a less than ideal shape, so be extra cautious when driving them. Rural and suburban roads can also lack road signs. Cattle crossings can be an issue in the countryside. 
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When you are driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The general emergency number is 911. You can also call 109 for police, 105 for the ambulance, and 104 for the fire department. 

Toll roads

There are a number of toll roads in Uruguay, including some near Montevideo, for example, on the highway connecting Montevideo and Colonia. They are locally known as peajes. The toll depends on the specific road, but in general, the prices are affordable. 

Ideas for day trips

• Beaches. Uruguay has a long beautiful coastline. The good thing is that it can be enjoyed without even leaving the capital! There’s plenty to choose from - Carrasco Beach is popular and always has something going on, the beaches near the neighborhood of Palermo is where the Afro-Uruguay drums of Candombe can often be heard, and Ramirez Beach is laid-back and popular with locals. If you’re still not satisfied, you can always get in your rental car and drive up or down the coast to find a secluded spot just for yourself.
• Punta del Este. Speaking of beaches, some visitors say a visit to the country is incomplete without partying in Punta del Este, Uruguay’s most famous resort town. Those looking for more than parties and beautiful coastline will also enjoy the surreal Casa Pueblo building and the Sea Museum. Located 130km (80 miles) east of Montevideo, Punta del Este can be reached in about two hours.
• Colonia. A beautiful colonial town as suggested by its name, Colonia’s architecture hasn’t changed much since the settlement was established. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the city is made up of a maze of narrow streets and impressive buildings. Other attractions include a lighthouse and an old bullfighting ring. Colonia is 180km (111 miles) east of Montevideo and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to reach.
• Santa Teresa National Park. Made up of a forested coastline and splendid beaches, Santa Teresa is one of Uruguay’s most interesting natural areas. Located in the Rocha Department, the park claims to have more than two million wood and plant species and is also home to a wide variety of wildlife. Do not be alarmed if you see soldiers inside the park, as there is an army base inside its territory, and they are actually in charge of maintaining it. The park is in the southeast of the country, near the border with Argentina, so can be visited on your way to Buenos Aires if you’re headed there by car.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Montevideo is the Hyundai i20, followed by the Chevrolet Corsa and the VW Gol. The most popular rental car types are economy, compact, and intermediate.

Further destinations

• Tacuarembó. Located deep inside Uruguay’s northern interior, Tacuarembó has a very different atmosphere than cities on the coast. A center of the gaucho and tango cultures, its attractions include the Gaucho and Indian Museum, the El Hongo public artwork, and the nearby Valle Edén, a mountainous area with subtropical vegetation. Located 395km (245 miles) north of Montevideo, Tacuarembó takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach.
• Buenos Aires. Perhaps the most famous city in South America, Argentina’s capital is full of landmarks such as the National Fine Arts Museum; Casa Rosada, also known as the Argentine White House; and the Teatro Colón, one of the world’s most famous opera houses. The number one attraction of this iconic city, however, is the unique atmosphere of its boulevards, cafes, and tango milongas. You can drive from Montevideo to Buenos Aires in about seven hours, but taking a ferry might be faster (read more about it in the ‘Top Ways to Enter’ section). Either way, you’ll have to cross an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. Also, check to see if you need a visa to enter Argentina as the country has a different visa policy than Uruguay.
• Rio Grande do Sul. The southernmost region of Brazil, right on the other side of the border with Uruguay, can be a fascinating place to explore. The capital city of Porto Alegre is a truly modern metropolis, German and Italian culture still survives in small towns and villages, and scenic areas like the Caracol Falls are awesome to explore. Chui, the nearest Brazilian city, is 325km (202 miles) northeast of Montevideo and can be reached in about four hours. Like with Argentina, ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit you crossing the border and check to see if you need a visa to enter Brazil.

Car rental prices in Montevideo

• Small cars - from $27 per day
• Large cars - from $35 per day
• Medium cars - from $31 per day
• SUVs - from $41 per day
• Vans - from $79 per day
• Premium cars - from $38 per day
• Convertibles - from $329 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Try these tips to see if you can land a great rental car in Montevideo:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Montevideo is the cheapest in June when renting a car is about 46% cheaper than the yearly average and 70% cheaper than renting in December.