Car Hire Santiago International Airport (SCL): Terminal 2 International Arrivals

If you’re planning a trip to Santiago, you’ll find booking an Avis hire car from Santiago International Airport is the perfect way to explore the capital of Chile at your own pace.

One of the most largest cities in the Americas, Santiago lies in Chile’s central valley with a stunning backdrop of the Andes mountain range. The political, economic and cultural hub of Chile is located in the heart of the country. For visitors, it means it’s within easy reach of the beaches of the Pacific coast as well as the ski resorts and hiking trails in the mountains around Cajon del Maipo.

It’s also the base for some epic South America road trips from the Pan American Highway drive from Santiago to Santa Cruz to the Route of the Stars which takes in the southern edge of the Atacama Desert as well as the stargazing hub of Vicuña.

Santiago Airport is also a popular route for international business travellers with Chile seen as the gateway to Latin American as well as Asia Pacific markets with Santiago itself a major driver in the financial, retail and manufacturing sectors.

Whether you are travelling to Santiago for business or leisure, our friendly, efficient Avis team at Santiago International Airport is ready to provide the perfect rental car for your trip.

Book direct with Avis and you’ll benefit from flexible booking with free cancellation, a fleet of quality rental vehicles and speedy collection to get you on the road quickly plus we’ve a free loyalty programme with a host of travel benefits you’ll love.

You’ll find our Avis counter at Santiago International Airport located within the central international arrivals hall on the first floor. Follow signs to the baggage claim area and then directions to car rentals. Our hire car parking area is a short walk from the eastern atrium of the international terminal building. On returning your car to the airport, just follow signs to ‘Rent A Car’ which will guide you back to the same parking area.

Santiago International Airport (SCL) also known as Arturo Merino Benitez Airport in honour of the founder of the Chilean air force was first opened in the 1960s and grew steadily expanding in the 1990s with the creation of a new terminal and later a second runway .

In 2015 a new consortium took over the airport charged with a major renovation and expansion programme. This involved upgrades to terminal 1 which serves domestic flights and the building of Terminal 2 which is the international terminal which opened in 2022. The airport has state of the art infrastructure to create a comfortable and easy travel experience for passengers.

Today it serves 63 destinations in 19 countries and is the largest airport in Chile welcoming around 26 million passengers each year.

The airport is located on the north western edge of Santiago in the suburb of Pudahuel with good road access to the city’s ring road as well as Route 68 connecting Santiago to the coastal city of Valparaíso.

If you are driving in Chile for the first time or have just arrived from Europe, make sure you familiarise yourself with the driving rules for Chile before picking up your car. Some key road rules Chile include driving on the right and overtaking on the left.

• Driving in Chile is on the right hand side of the road.
• Overtaking is on the left hand side of the road.
• Seat belts when driving a hire car in Chile are mandatory.
• The use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with the exception of a hands-free system.
• Smoking whilst driving is prohibited as is using headphones.
• Drivers are to carry at all times while driving a car in Chile, a valid drivers licence, registration documents and insurance documents.

Be aware that in Santiago some road lanes are designated for buses and taxis and at peak times the direction of traffic is changed on some routes to help reduced congestion. Speed limits for Santiago are;

• Within city limits: 50-60 km/h (31-38 mph)
• Rural roads: 100 km/h (62 mph)
• Highways outside city limits: 120 km/h (75 mph)

What are the age requirements for renting a car in Santiago, Chile?

The minimum age to rent a car with Avis in Santiago and the rest of Chile is 22. Age restrictions also vary by vehicle and some selected car groups are not available to drivers under the age of 25.

There is currently no maximum age for hiring a rental car, so long as you have had a full, valid, licence for at least 1 year. Some additional steps may be required for those who are over the age of 75 on the date of the scheduled return. When you book, you’ll be told if there are any maximum age restrictions for the vehicle you request. If you’re not sure, please check your booking confirmation email – or call the reservations team. 

What documents do I need to hire a car in Chile?

To hire a car in Santiago, Chile, you just need to bring your:

• Driving licence
• The debit or credit card used to make your booking (if it's a high value vehicle two payment cards must be provided, one of which needs to be a credit card),
• Proof of any discount (such as a frequent flyer or Avis Preferred card),
• Photo ID for international rentals (such as a passport or driving licence) taken in the last 10 years.

Can I pick up my rental car in Santiago and return it to another location?

One-way car rental with Avis makes it easy to go from A to B without driving full circle. That means you can collect your Avis hire car from Santiago International Airport and then return it to another Avis office in Chile. Many of our Avis locations offer a 24-hour drop-off facility, which makes a one-way car hire hassle-free and very user-friendly. Simply check out our many available one-way journeys and start planning your route. When you are ready to book, just specify your destination in the booking panel and we will arrange it for you.

Is it worth hiring a car in Santiago?

While central Santiago around the major tourist sites is walkable and the city has a good public transport network of buses and metro lines you’ll want to hire a car to travel further afield. Renting a car at Santiago International Airport gives you the freedom of independent travel as well as the opportunity to plan a Chilean road trip.

The Avis team at Santiago International Airport are experts on Santiago and central Chile and can offer advice on the best routes to take and make your trip a smooth one from the moment you touch down.

What is parking like in Santiago?

Parking in Santiago ranges from on-street to parking garages. Many hotels also offer parking so check your accommodation before travelling.  If you are travelling in and out of the city, one option is to choose a car park close to a metro station. Many hotels advertise metro or mall parking where you can park to travel into the city or shop locally.

From the Avis car park at Santiago International Airport to the centre of Santiago is a drive of 27km which will take around 30min depending on the time of day. Head south and east from the airport and take Diego Barros Ortiz and Autop. Costanera Nte following signs to the centre of the city. This is a toll route. You can either pay manually at the toll booth or please speak to the rental team at Santiago International Airport about a TAG pass for your trip.

With its stunning backdrop of snow-capped Andean mountains and mix of modern architecture interspersed with historic monuments, not to mention fine dining, culture and the great outdoors, spending time in vibrant Santiago is an immersive experience.

You’ll need to tick off a number of bucket list options, so first climb up to the iconic Cerro San Cristobal, also known as Parque Metropolitano for breathtaking views of the city. Just park your car at the bottom and catch the funicular to the summit. While you are in the park, stop off at the National Zoo, where you can see Chile's national animal: the pudu deer. Head back to the city stopping off for coffee and empanadas – a warm pastry filled with savoury or sweet filing on the way and check out the city centre where you can see the Spanish architectural influence through history in buildings such as  Casa Colorada or the San Francisco Church.

The stunning coastal area of western Chile or the ski slopes and hiking trails of the Andes are within easy reach of the capital Santiago by hire car.

Valparaiso

Drive 1.5hr west of Santiago on route 68 and you’ll reach the colourful port city of Valparaiso. This hilly city is renowned for its vibrant culture, history buildings and fresh seafood. You can visit the former home of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, which is now a museum offering breathtaking views of the Pacific ocean.

Cajón del Maipo

Head to the Andes and the Cajón del Maipo valley, a drive of around 2hr20min for a taste of Chilean mountain life. With a range of ski resorts and winter sports centres to choose from in winter, while in summer there are hiking trails, the chance to bathe in the natural hot springs, enjoy a picnic of local foods and get close to nature in the fresh mountain air of this scenic region.

La Serena

Drive 5hrs north along Route 5 to reach the coastal city of La Serena, start of the Route of the Stars drive across the edge of the Atacama Desert. Discover colonial and neo colonial era architecture, vast sandy beaches and the stunning scenery of the Elqui Valley in this small but culture-rich university town.