Driving in Argentina: foreign licences, licence exchange, buying, registering, insuring and importing a car

Key rules

1. Who regulates what

Law 24.449 applies directly in federal jurisdiction; provinces and municipalities adhere to it (Decree 26/2019 recitals). The 2025 regulation invites provinces and CABA to "adapt their legal framework" to it (Decree 196/2025 art. 29). Until they do, local codes (for example CABA Law 2148) may say something different, and in practice the local office applies its own code. This page flags each conflict.

2. Licence classes

Law 24.449 art. 16 sets seven classes; the regulation subdivides them (Annex 1 art. 16, as replaced by Decree 26/2019 art. 5). CABA's code repeats the same classes (Law 2148 Annex I art. 3.2.2, as amended by Law 6434).

Professional classes C, D and E require a class B licence held for at least one year (Law 24.449 art. 20; Annex 1 art. 20 point 1, as replaced by Decree 196/2025 art. 6). A first professional licence carries learner status (art. 20 point 2). Class D is refused to applicants with criminal records for the offences listed in art. 20 point 3. A first professional licence cannot be issued to someone over 65 (Law 24.449 art. 20). CABA urban professional licences are valid only inside the City; interjurisdictional transport needs a separate procedure (CABA otorgamiento page).

The CABA "classes and subclasses" web page in the source set downloaded as an empty shell (the content loads by script), so the table above relies on Annex 1 and Law 2148 only.

3. Validity of the licence: national rule, 2025 reform and CABA

There are three overlapping texts and they do not match.

Law 24.449 art. 13 c): licences may be granted for up to five years, with a medical exam at each renewal. From age 65 the validity is reduced (art. 13 e)).

Annex 1 art. 13 c) and e), as replaced by Decree 196/2025 art. 1: the licence is "granted only once". Holders up to 21 can only access classes A and B; holders from 21 to 65 can access all classes, in both cases "for the maximum the law allows". To keep it valid the holder sends a medical fitness certificate from a doctor or health centre registered with the ANSV. Over 65: every three years for classes A, B and G; every two years for C, D and E; over 70, every year. The physical card has no expiry date and is valid while the digital licence is valid (art. 13 b)).

CABA Law 2148 Annex I art. 3.2.6 (as replaced by Law 6486, BOCBA 30 December 2021): CABA licences have a maximum validity by age at the time of application:

CABA's ten year term for young drivers exceeds the five year ceiling of Law 24.449 art. 13 c). The CABA code is a local law and CABA has not, on the sources available, adapted to the "issued once" model of Decree 196/2025 (unconfirmed). CABA expiry dates are not extended for any reason except a weekend or holiday (art. 3.2.6).

New drivers carry a beginner sign for six months (Law 24.449 art. 13 d)). Under the 2025 regulation they also may not drive in city centres, on motorways or semi motorways during those six months, and a serious offence in the first two years suspends the licence (Annex 1 art. 13 d), Decree 196/2025). In CABA the beginner status lasts two years; in the first six months the beginner may not use roads with speed limits above 70 km/h, and the rule applies to anyone driving in CABA whatever jurisdiction issued the licence (Law 2148 art. 3.2.7). A foreigner who exchanges a licence without a legality certificate risks being registered as a beginner (CABA pages; see section 6).

4. Requirements and tests for a new licence

Law 24.449 art. 14 a) (as replaced by Law 26.363 art. 26) and Annex 1 art. 14 (as replaced by Decree 196/2025 art. 2) require:

1. Reading ability (and writing for professional drivers). Under the 2025 regulation an applicant who cannot read and write Spanish may take the exams in English, French, German, Italian or Portuguese; other languages require an exception procedure and a sworn translator (Annex 1 art. 14 a.1).
2. A sworn statement on physical, cardiac, neurological, psychological and sensory conditions (a.2).
3. A theory and practice road safety course, which may be given by public or private establishments authorised by the ANSV (a.3).
4. A medical exam: physical, visual, hearing and psychological fitness (a.4).
5. A theory exam on civic education, driving, signs and law, which may now be taken remotely or in person (a.5).
6. A theory and practice exam on detecting faults in the vehicle's safety elements, on a vehicle of the class sought (a.6).
7. A practical driving test, including hill starts and parking, in a vehicle of the class sought that meets all safety and document rules (a.7).

The exams are eliminatory and taken in that order (Annex 1 art. 14). Before issuing a licence the issuer must obtain a report from the national traffic records register (ReNAT) showing the applicant is not disqualified elsewhere (art. 14). Medical and training providers can now register with the ANSV online and free of charge, and issuers can subcontract tests (art. 14).

In CABA the steps are (CABA otorgamiento page): miBA account; check for unpaid City traffic fines; pay the CENAT; start the procedure online with personal data and a medical sworn statement; take the road safety course (online or in person, valid one year; the ANSV course is not valid in CABA); book an appointment and pay the BUI within 48 hours; medical evaluation in four areas (psychology, vision, hearing, general medicine); multiple choice theory exam; practical exam on a separate track. For the practical test the applicant brings the car with its cédula, insurance proof, VTV or RTO where applicable, and a companion holding a valid licence. CABA also requires that the applicant not be in the Registry of Defaulting Child Support Debtors (Law 269 art. 6), with a single 60 day licence allowed while regularising (CABA pages; Law 2148 art. 3.2.8).

5. Foreign licences: what a visitor can do

The ANSV page on international licences states that a foreigner who arrives and wants to rent or drive a car must carry a MERCOSUR identity document or a passport with the Argentine entry stamp, plus a licence that meets one of these conditions:

• a national or international licence issued under the Washington Convention of 1943 (Inter American Automotive Traffic); the international permit is valid for one year from issue (art. XIII of that convention); the international permit "becomes necessary" if the home country does not require a licence;
• a national licence issued by a party to the Geneva Convention of 1949 (art. 23(1)) or the Vienna Convention of 1968 (art. 41), which allows driving for up to one year from entry (Geneva art. 1; Vienna art. 1 b) iii).

CABA's code says the same: holders of an international licence, or of a licence from a Geneva 1949 or Vienna 1968 country, or recognised under a bilateral or multilateral agreement, need no special permit while the licence is valid (Law 2148 art. 3.2.3, as amended by Law 2861). The national regulation allows the ANSV to issue special permits to foreigners, whether permanent, temporary or transitory residents, "in accordance with international agreements" (Annex 1 art. 16 b), as replaced by Decree 26/2019 art. 5).

Country pages on argentina.gob.ar add:

Which countries are parties to the 1943, 1949 and 1968 conventions is not listed in the sources (unconfirmed). The texts of the bilateral agreements were not downloaded (unconfirmed).

6. Foreign licences: what a resident must do

The one year rule protects visitors. Once a foreigner takes up residence, three national rules push toward an Argentine licence:

• The Licencia Nacional de Conducir for classes A, B and G must be issued by the authority of the address on the applicant's DNI (Annex 1 art. 13 a), Decree 196/2025).
• A holder who changes jurisdiction must apply to the new authority, and the licence lapses 90 days after an unreported change of data (Law 24.449 art. 18; Annex 1 art. 18).
• The ANSV is to set the requirements and procedures for recognising foreign licences, under Law 24.449 art. 4, and may sign agreements (Annex 1 art. 14, Decree 196/2025). The sources contain no ANSV resolution doing so (unconfirmed).

No national text in the sources says in so many words when a resident's foreign licence stops being valid. The La Plata page limits direct exchange to people with less than one year of residence in Argentina (180 days in a calendar year for Colombian licences). CABA requires the foreign licence to be valid ("vigente") at the time of exchange. The safe course is to start the exchange as soon as the DNI arrives and before the first anniversary of entry (unconfirmed).

Scenarios

7. Exchange (canje): CABA and a PBA municipality compared

Sources: CABA cambio de jurisdicción page; La Plata canje page; CABA Disp. DGLIC 533/2016 point 1.3.

Conflicts to note

• The ANSV agreements page lists Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Spain and Italy. Peru appears only on the CABA page (unconfirmed).
• CABA's 2016 procedures manual (Disp. DGLIC 533/2016 point 1.3) allows exchange only for Spain and Italy, only for classes A, B and G, and not for a licence that was itself obtained by exchange with a third country. The current CABA web page lists six countries. The manual has not been updated in the sources (unconfirmed).
• The CABA page for foreigners' specific requirements ("requisitos específicos") could not be downloaded (404) (unconfirmed).
• The CABA manual lets an international permit serve as the legality certificate and translation, if it matches the licence and contains the data needed (Disp. DGLIC 533/2016 point 4.4).

8. Points and fines

Law 24.449 art. 13 f) (as replaced by Law 26.363) requires every licence to carry a fixed and uniform number of points; the ANSV designs the system (Law 26.363 art. 4 h)). The number of points and the deduction table are not in the source files (unconfirmed). CABA runs its own points system with paid courses to recover points (CABA Ley Arancelaria 2026 art. 24: 36.27 UT for partial recovery, rising to 105.56 UT after the fourth loss) (unconfirmed). Renewal in CABA requires "the necessary score" (Law 2148 art. 3.2.9 d)).

Fines are set in fixed units (UF), each equal to the lowest retail price of one litre of premium petrol (nafta especial). They range from 50 to 5,000 UF, and up to 20,000 UF on an exponential scale for the most serious speeding cases (Law 24.449 art. 84, as replaced by Law 26.363 art. 34). A fine for breaching traffic rules can be paid with a 50% discount if the offence is acknowledged voluntarily (art. 85 a)). Actions prescribe after two years for minor offences and five years for serious offences and sanctions (art. 89). Driving with any blood alcohol above zero is prohibited (art. 48 a), as replaced by Law 27.714, BO 3 May 2023). Driving without mandatory insurance, without plates or without the required documents are serious offences (Annex 1 art. 77 e) and f)). The CABA Ley Arancelaria prices licence fees in UF under CABA Law 451 art. 20; the implied CABA UF value in late 2026, derived from the BUI of ARS 42,230 for 36 UF, is about ARS 1,173 (unconfirmed).

9. Car ownership: the registry system

• Constitutive registration. The transfer must be in a public or private instrument and takes effect between the parties and toward third parties only from registration (DL 6582 art. 1). Good faith registration of a car that was not stolen gives title and defeats any claim for recovery (art. 2). A good faith holder of a stolen car can resist the true owner's claim after two years of registration and continuous possession (art. 4).
• Buyer's duty to register. The buyer must request registration within 10 days of the sale. If not, the seller may revoke the authorisation to drive and notify the registry (art. 15). The registry must register within 24 hours of the application (art. 15).
• Seller's protection: denuncia de venta. Until the transfer is registered the seller remains civilly liable as owner. If the seller notifies the registry that the car was handed over, the buyer becomes a third party for whom the seller does not answer; if the buyer does not start the transfer within 30 days, the registry orders a ban on circulation and seizure of the car. From the notice, the buyer becomes liable for patente, taxes and fines (art. 27). The argentina.gob.ar page puts it as: once Form 08 is signed you have up to 30 days (elsewhere on the same page, "30 business days") to file the transfer; after 30 days, if the seller filed a denuncia de venta, the car is barred from circulation.
• Title and cédulas. On first registration the registry issues a "Título del Automotor" in physical or digital form (art. 6, as replaced by DNU 70/2023). The registry also issues one or more identification cards (cédulas), now delivered digitally with the same validity as the physical card; physical cards may be requested and may have a cost (art. 22, as replaced by DNU 70/2023). Holding the cédula proves the right or authorisation to use the car, but does not replace the licence (art. 22). Cédulas do not expire while the owner does not change (art. 23).
• Debts do not block transfers. Regular debts for fines or patentes cannot prevent registration or transfer (art. 9, as replaced by DNU 70/2023). The DNRPA guide still lists patente payment receipts for the last five years in CABA as a transfer document; that guide predates DNU 70/2023 (unconfirmed).
• Dealers registered as habitual traders must register used cars they buy for resale in their own name (art. 9).
• Attachments noted against a car are conditional for 15 days (art. 16) and lapse after three years (art. 17).

Cédula verde and cédula azul. The sources use these names without defining them in the law. The argentina.gob.ar transfer page requires "all the vehicle's cédulas (green and blue)" and lists an "issue of authorised driver cédula" fee. The DNRPA requirements page refers to "identification cards of the vehicle and of authorised persons". The ARCA page on MERCOSUR vehicles accepts, for a car driven by someone other than the owner, a blue cédula in the driver's name or a notarial power, in which case the green cédula proving ownership is required whatever its validity date (citing DNRPA Note DN 62/14). RG AFIP 3109/2011 in its earlier text called the blue card the "Cédula de Identificación para Autorizado a Conducir". After DNU 70/2023 the law speaks only of "cédulas" and their digital version (art. 22).

Which documents must be carried? The texts conflict:

Carry all of them: licence, cédula (digital is enough), insurance proof, VTV/RTO certificate and the latest patente receipt.

10. UIF thresholds when buying a car

The car registries are reporting entities under the UIF regime of UIF Res. 127/2012. UIF Res. 78/2025 (4 June 2025) changed two thresholds:

• Customer profile (source of funds documents) for customers whose car transactions reach ARS 115,000,000 a year (Res. 127/2012 art. 16, as replaced by Res. 78/2025 art. 2), updated each January and July by the six month change in the automotive price index published by ACARA, with updates resuming from January 2026 (art. 3). No profile is needed when the price is paid by transfer or personal cheque from the buyer's own account, or with a bank car loan (art. 16 points 1 and 2).
• A second threshold of ARS 50,000,000 for car purchases in Res. 127/2012 art. 26 inc. 2 (as replaced by Res. 78/2025 art. 4), updated the same way. The source file holds only the amended clause, not the heading of art. 26, so its exact consequence (systematic reporting by the registry is the likely reading) is not confirmed (unconfirmed).

The argentina.gob.ar transfer page states that if the purchase price exceeds ARS 145,494,290 (US$ 93,032.99) the buyer must file the "Legajo Único UIF". This is consistent with the ARS 115,000,000 profile threshold after the 2026 updates, though the update calculation is not in the sources (unconfirmed). The argentina.gob.ar page for initial registration of new cars still shows ARS 2,237,000, which is clearly stale (unconfirmed).

11. Foreigners and companies as owners

Identity documents accepted (argentina.gob.ar transfer and initial registration pages; DNRPA requirements page):

• Argentines: DNI (physical or digital).
• Foreigners without residence (the DNRPA page says "without permanent residence"): passport.
• Foreigners with permanent residence: DNI.
• Nationals of neighbouring countries: DNI, ID card, home country ID card or passport.
• A "DNI en trámite" receipt does not prove identity.

Tax ID of the buyer: CUIT or CUIL, or a CDI obtained with sworn statement Form 663 or Form 622 of AFIP. If the CUIL appears on the back of the DNI no other proof is needed.

So, on the official pages, a non resident foreigner can register a car in their name with a passport and a CDI. Two points remain open: whether a temporary resident whose DNI shows temporary status is treated as "without permanent residence" and must show a passport (unconfirmed); and whether AFIP Form 663 CDI is still issued after RG ARCA 5803/2025 changed the tax ID rules for non residents.

Companies buy through their legal representative or an attorney, with documents proving the representation and sufficient powers (articles, minutes book, powers of attorney) and the company's CUIT (DNRPA requirements page). The UIF profile threshold applies per customer, so a company buying a fleet can cross it through several purchases ("simultaneous or successive" transactions are aggregated, Res. 127/2012 art. 16). Employees who drive a company car carry the cédula; holding it is the authorisation to use the car (DL 6582 art. 22). In PBA, pick ups, vans and trucks actually used in a business can pay the reduced 1.5% vehicle tax instead of the car scale, if the use is proven to ARBA and the stamp tax on the purchase was paid (Law 15.558 art. 33 B) I). In CABA, pick ups and vans pay a flat 2.30% (Law 6927 Annex art. 50 b)).

Step by step

A. Exchanging a foreign licence in CABA (agreement country)

1. Get the DNI with a CABA address. Without it, CABA accepts only a "DNI en trámite" certificate plus passport (CABA page). Time: depends on RENAPER (unconfirmed).
2. Obtain a legality certificate from the issuing authority at home, apostilled, with a Spanish translation where needed. Without it you may be registered as a beginner (CABA page). Cost: home country fees (unconfirmed).
3. Create a miBA account with validated identity. Online. Free.
4. Check CABA traffic fines. Online. Unpaid City fines block the procedure; with a payment plan, the licence lasts as long as the plan (CABA page).
5. Pay the CENAT, ARS 10,150 (US$ 6.49), valid 60 days. Online.
6. Take the renewal talk online, about 50 minutes, valid one year.
7. Start the procedure online: personal data and medical sworn statement.
8. Book the appointment at one of the CABA offices and pay the BUI of ARS 42,230 (US$ 27.00) within 48 hours (the BUI is valid 180 days). Payment through Pago Fácil, Rapipago, Mercado Pago, the electronic payment portal or BUEPP.
9. Attend (30 minutes' tolerance) with DNI, foreign licence, legality certificate and copies. Medical evaluation in four areas.
10. Collect the licence at the office.

Colombian and Peruvian licences cannot be exchanged for classes A or G in CABA (CABA page). Retirees, people with a disability certificate, Malvinas veterans, people without resources and others listed are exempt from the BUI (CABA page; Ley Arancelaria art. 23).

B. New licence in CABA (non agreement country, or expired licence)

Same steps 1, 3, 4 and 5, then: online start; road safety course (within 48 hours you receive a link; valid one year; the ANSV national course is not accepted); appointment and BUI ARS 42,230; medical evaluation; multiple choice theory test; practical test with your own car, its cédula, insurance and VTV, and a licensed companion. A legality certificate for the foreign licence avoids beginner status (CABA otorgamiento page). The same BUI covers grant, renewal, extension and exchange (CABA Ley Arancelaria 2026 art. 21 point 1.1: 36 UF). Re-takes need a new appointment.

C. Exchange in a PBA municipality (La Plata)

1. Check you have less than one year of residence (Colombia: 180 days in the calendar year).
2. DNI argentino.
3. Legality certificate: Spain, apostilled under the Hague Convention; Italy, apostilled at the Italian consulate with official translation; Chile, Colombia, Bolivia per the agreement. Other countries: consular certificate, apostilled and translated.
4. Book online and pay the municipal tariff (tariff page not downloaded) (unconfirmed).
5. Other countries: theory and practical tests.

Other PBA municipalities run their own offices and may differ (unconfirmed).

D. Buying a used car

1. Title report (informe de dominio): online, delivered by email in 24 hours; at the registry where the car is registered, 48 hours (Form 02); at another registry or the DNRPA, 7 business days (Form 57); same day urgent version available. Anyone over 18 with a DNI (foreigners: passport or DNI as above). It shows pledges, theft reports, attachments, and the car's details (informe page).
2. Police physical inspection at an authorised police plant; the result goes online to the DNRPA as Solicitud Tipo 12 and to your email. It checks engine and chassis numbers against the papers. Not the same as VTV (transfer page).
3. Choose the registry: the current one or the one for the buyer's address or garage.
4. Form 08 online (optional pre-load) or on paper.
5. Both parties attend with documents, sign Form 13, pay registry fees and provincial stamp tax.
6. Constancia of transfer issued; total time 48 hours without observations (transfer page). The law gives the registrar 24 hours (DL 6582 art. 15).
7. If the price exceeds ARS 145,494,290, file the UIF Legajo Único through the DNRPA online channel.

Seller's side: file the denuncia de venta if the buyer delays (DL 6582 art. 27).

E. Registering a new car (0 km)

Usually done by the dealer. Documents: identity, CUIT/CUIL/CDI, Solicitud Tipo 01 with certified signature, police inspection (Form 12), factory or import certificate, invoice. Take them to the registry of the buyer's address, complete Form 13, and collect plates and documents after 48 hours (initial registration page). Without this registration the car cannot be driven (same page).

F. Importing a used car as a new permanent resident or returning Argentine

Only a summary; see /guide/living/moving-household-goods-and-pets/.

• Eligible: foreigners obtaining permanent residence and Argentines returning after more than two years abroad (RG 3109/2011 arts. 1 and 2). Temporary residents are not covered by RG 3109 (unconfirmed).
• One used car per person aged 18 or over, registered in the person's name at least three months before entry (art. 2 points 1.2 and 1.2.2).
• Duty free if the customs value is up to US$ 15,000 (ARS 23,458,500 at the 23 Oct 2026 dólar MEP rate); above that, the full value is taxed under Res. ANA 5107/1980 (art. 3).
• The car must arrive between three months before and six months after the person (art. 4).
• Cannot be sold or pledged for two years without customs approval, and the title carries the legend "El vehículo no podrá ser transferido hasta el día/mes/año" (art. 11). Earlier texts also required "Único Autorizado para Conducir" on the cédula.
• The benefit can be used once every seven years (art. 12).
• Procedure: ARCA SITA, "MUELA" multinota, subprocedure 10222 "Nacionalización de vehículos en condición de usados", code 0000.04.04.300V for RG 3109 cases (two years' residence abroad shown by a consular certificate) or 0000.04.04.200P under Res. ANA 1568/92 (more than one year visa'd at the consulate), with Form OM 1781 A, title, residence certificate, DNM certification for foreigners, passports and DNI, CUIL and invoice or sworn value (SITA guide).
• Imported used cars lacking a model configuration licence (LCM or LCA) count their age from the date of manufacture for the first RTO (Annex 1 art. 34 point 5, Decree 196/2025).

Costs and timelines

Car purchase document checklist

The DNRPA transfer guide also lists a sworn statement on patentes signed by the filer and patente payment receipts (CABA: last five years); see the conflict with DL 6582 art. 9 above.

Running costs and legal basis

PBA transfers part of the vehicle tax on 1990 to 2015 models to municipalities (Law 15.558 art. 34). Models older than 2016 have their own scales in PBA (art. 33) that are not reproduced here.

Timeline of norms

Worked examples

Example 1: newly arrived Spanish resident exchanges a licence in CABA

Facts: Spanish national, temporary resident, DNI with CABA address issued in November 2026, valid Spanish class B licence, has been in Argentina for five months.

Calculation: 42,230 + 10,150 = 52,380; 52,380 / 1,563.90 = US$ 33.49.

Without the legality certificate the licence may be issued with beginner status, which in CABA lasts two years and bars roads above 70 km/h for six months (Law 2148 art. 3.2.7). If the same person also wants an international permit for travel abroad, CABA charges another 36 UF, about ARS 42,230 (US$ 27.00), and requires at least one year of validity left on the licence (Ley Arancelaria art. 21 point 2.1; Disp. DGLIC 533/2016 H.1.1.1) (unconfirmed).

If the person were from a country without an agreement (for example the United States (unconfirmed)), the official fee would be the same ARS 52,380, but the procedure adds the road safety course and the theory and practical tests, and needs a car for the test.

Example 2: buying a used car for ARS 25,000,000 in CABA

Facts: a resident buys a 2018 domestic car for ARS 25,000,000 (US$ 15,985.68) from a private seller, paying by bank transfer from the buyer's own account. The car will be registered in CABA. Assume its CABA fiscal value is also ARS 25,000,000 (hypothetical: the real figure comes from the AGIP valuation table under CABA Tax Code art. 420).

Step 1: UIF check. ARS 25,000,000 is below the ARS 145,494,290 Legajo Único threshold on the transfer page and below the ARS 50,000,000 threshold of Res. 127/2012 art. 26 (Res. 78/2025, before 2026 updates). Payment from the buyer's own account would in any case exempt the customer profile (art. 16 point 1). No UIF filing.

Step 2: transfer costs.

Step 3: first year running costs (hypothetical rates clearly labelled).

How the patente is prorated in the year of purchase, and whether the buyer or seller pays the current instalment, is not in the sources (unconfirmed).

Step 4: total. Transfer (version A) ARS 1,125,000 + first year ARS 1,786,192.50 = ARS 2,911,192.50 (US$ 1,861.50) plus F and V, on top of the ARS 25,000,000 price. All in: ARS 27,911,192.50 (US$ 17,847.17) plus F and V. Using version B of the registry fee, the known costs are ARS 2,786,192.50 (US$ 1,781.57).

Same car registered in PBA (comparison). PBA patente for a 2016 to 2026 model valued at ARS 25,000,000: ARS 233,000 + 3.00% × (25,000,000 − 18,700,000) = 233,000 + 189,000 = ARS 422,000 (US$ 269.84) (Law 15.558 art. 33 A)). PBA stamp tax on a private used car sale: 30 per mil = ARS 750,000 (art. 39 point 12 a)), the same as CABA.

Practical traps

1. The one year clock starts at entry, not at residence. Geneva/Vienna licences run for up to one year from entry; MERCOSUR licences likewise; Colombia 180 days per calendar year. A resident who waits for the DNI and then for an appointment can run out of time.
2. No DNI, no licence (mostly). CABA and La Plata both require a DNI with a local address. A "DNI en trámite" receipt is accepted by CABA only together with a passport, and gives a shorter licence (180 days for renewals, two years for grants, under Disp. DGLIC 533/2016).
3. Licence validity tied to residence. For temporary residents, CABA issues the licence only until the residence expires (Disp. DGLIC 533/2016). Renew the residence first.
4. Legality certificate. Without an apostilled (and translated) certificate you may start as a beginner with two years of restrictions in CABA. An international permit can sometimes replace the certificate and translation (point 4.4).
5. The ANSV online course is not valid in CABA. Use the CABA course or an authorised CABA academy.
6. Colombian and Peruvian motorcycle licences cannot be exchanged in CABA; take the tests.
7. Sign Form 08 and register fast. The law gives the buyer 10 days (DL 6582 art. 15); the government page says 30 days. Until registration you are not the owner against anyone (art. 1).
8. Sellers: file the denuncia de venta. Otherwise you remain liable for accidents, fines and patente (art. 27).
9. Do the informe de dominio. Registered pledges and attachments follow the car, and buyers are presumed to know what the registry shows (art. 16).
10. Imported car under RG 3109: two year bar on sale, and the duty free cap of US$ 15,000 is all or nothing: above it, the whole value is taxed.
11. Carry every document. The national, regulatory and registry texts list different "only" documents (see the table above). Police may still ask for all of them.
12. Zero alcohol. Law 27.714 set a zero limit for all drivers.
13. Professional and interjurisdictional driving. A CABA professional licence is urban only. Company drivers crossing provincial lines need the interjurisdictional licence.
14. CABA patente minimum and cap. Even cheap cars pay at least ARS 13,300 a year; the effective rate cannot exceed 6% of the value.

Recent changes

• DNU 70/2023 (BO 21 December 2023), effects from 2024: digital title and cédulas, electronic public registry, fees for digital procedures capped at the registry fee, and regular debts for fines or patentes can no longer block a transfer (DL 6582 arts. 6, 8, 9, 22, as amended).
• Decree 196/2025 (BO 18 March 2025, in force 19 March 2025): digital licence with optional physical card; licence issued once and kept alive by medical certificates; classes A, B and G issued by the authority of the DNI address; remote theory exam; exams in five foreign languages; private medical and training providers registered with the ANSV; ANSV to set rules for recognising foreign licences; delegation of professional C, D and E licences to provinces and CABA by agreement; RTO under the Secretaría de Transporte, at any registered workshop in any jurisdiction, with free pricing and no cap on the number of workshops, 60 month grace for new private cars, 24 or 12 month periods; only licence, vehicle identification and RTO certificate as "required" documents (Annex 1 art. 37); end of the CHAS homologation certificate for car parts; framework for autonomous vehicles (art. 39); all national route tolls to be barrier free (art. 27).
• UIF Res. 78/2025 (4 June 2025): new car purchase thresholds, ARS 115m profile and ARS 50m reporting, updated twice a year from January 2026.
• DNU 461/2025 (BO 8 July 2025): amended Law 24.449 arts. 2 and 96 and added art. 2 bis; rejected by both chambers of Congress (BO 25 August 2025) and the original text restored by Decree 627/2025 (BO 3 September 2025) (Infoleg notes on Law 24.449).
• 2026 tax laws: CABA Laws 6927 (Ley Impositiva) and 6928 (Ley Arancelaria), and PBA Law 15.558, all in force 1 January 2026, set the current patente and stamp tax rates and CABA licence fees.

Pending changes

• ANSV rules for recognising foreign licences (Annex 1 art. 14, Decree 196/2025): not found in the sources (unconfirmed).
• Provincial and CABA adaptation to Decree 196/2025 (art. 29): CABA's code still uses fixed validity periods (unconfirmed).
• Digital licence: the ANSV digital licence page returned 404 when the sources were collected (unconfirmed).
• RTO page: the ANSV RTO page returned 404 (unconfirmed).
• New Annexes R and S (weights and dimensions; dangerous goods) were due within 60 and 120 days of Decree 196/2025 (arts. 26 and 27) (unconfirmed).
• Points system: the national number of points and deduction scale are not in the sources (unconfirmed).
• Variable insurance premium linked to the driver's record (Law 24.449 art. 68; Annex 1 art. 68) depends on SSN and ANSV databases; no implementation in the sources (unconfirmed).
• DNRPA fee schedule could not be downloaded; the 1.5%/2% (argentina.gob.ar) versus 1% (DNRPA guide) conflict remains (unconfirmed).
• Mandatory insurance minimum cover set by SSN not downloaded (unconfirmed).
• Cédula azul status after DNU 70/2023 (unconfirmed).

FAQ

1. Can I drive in Argentina on my home licence? As a visitor, yes, for up to one year from entry if your licence comes from a Geneva 1949 or Vienna 1968 country, a MERCOSUR state, Spain, Italy or Chile, and for 180 days per calendar year if Colombian. An international permit under the Washington 1943 convention is valid for one year from issue (argentina.gob.ar international licences pages).

2. Do I need an international driving permit? The ANSV page says it "becomes necessary" if your home country does not require a licence. Otherwise a licence from a convention or agreement country is enough. A permit is still useful as a translation, and CABA accepts it in place of the legality certificate and translation when exchanging (Disp. DGLIC 533/2016 point 4.4).

3. I have a residence permit. When must I switch to an Argentine licence? No national text in the sources gives a date for residents. La Plata only exchanges directly within one year of residence; CABA requires the foreign licence to be valid. Start as soon as you have a DNI with your local address (unconfirmed).

4. Which licences can be exchanged without tests? The ANSV lists agreements with Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Spain and Italy. CABA also lists Peru. Colombian and Peruvian licences cannot be exchanged for motorcycles or agricultural vehicles in CABA. Licences from other countries require the theory and practical tests.

5. Can I take the tests in English? The national regulation allows the exams in English, French, German, Italian or Portuguese, and other languages with a sworn translator (Annex 1 art. 14 a.1, Decree 196/2025). Whether CABA's offices already offer this is not stated on the CABA pages (unconfirmed).

6. How much does a licence cost in Buenos Aires City? ARS 42,230 (US$ 27.00) for the BUI plus ARS 10,150 (US$ 6.49) for the CENAT, total ARS 52,380 (US$ 33.49) (CABA pages, October 2026). The BUI equals 36 UF under the 2026 Ley Arancelaria (art. 21).

7. How long is a CABA licence valid? CABA's code gives up to 10 years for non professional licences if you are 39 or younger, 6 years to 49, 4 years to 69 and 2 years from 70 (Law 2148 art. 3.2.6). Temporary residents get a licence only until their residence expires. The national 2025 regulation instead treats the licence as issued once, with medical checks for older drivers; CABA has not aligned (unconfirmed).

8. Can a foreigner without a DNI buy and register a car? According to the argentina.gob.ar and DNRPA pages, yes: a foreigner without residence identifies with a passport and gives a CUIT, CUIL or CDI (Form 663 or 622). A "DNI en trámite" receipt is not accepted as identity. Check that the CDI route still works after RG ARCA 5803/2025 (unconfirmed).

9. How long does a transfer take and when must it be filed? 48 hours at the registry if there are no observations (argentina.gob.ar). The law requires the buyer to apply within 10 days (DL 6582 art. 15); the government page says within 30 days of signing Form 08, after which a seller's denuncia de venta leads to a ban on circulation.

10. When does the UIF get involved? When the price exceeds ARS 145,494,290 (argentina.gob.ar transfer page) the buyer files the UIF Legajo Único on the source of funds. The underlying UIF thresholds are ARS 115m (profile) and ARS 50m (reporting) as set in June 2025 and updated twice a year (UIF Res. 78/2025).

11. How often is the technical inspection? Under the national regulation, new private cars have 60 months before the first inspection; then every 24 months up to 10 years of age and every 12 months after. Commercial vehicles at most 12 months. Local authorities may set longer periods for private cars (Annex 1 art. 34, Decree 196/2025).

12. Can I bring my car when I move to Argentina? Only if you are obtaining permanent residence or are an Argentine returning after more than two years abroad: one used car per adult, registered in your name at least three months before entry, duty free up to US$ 15,000 customs value, not transferable for two years (RG AFIP 3109/2011). Visitors from MERCOSUR may drive their own car as tourists for the stay allowed by Migration (ARCA MERCOSUR vehicles page).

13. Can my employee drive the company car? Yes. Holding the cédula proves authorisation to use the car (DL 6582 art. 22), and the employee needs a valid licence for the class. For cross border trips in MERCOSUR, the driver needs a blue cédula in their name or a notarial authorisation together with the green cédula (ARCA MERCOSUR page).

Primary sources

• Law 24.449, updated text
• Decree 779/1995
• Decree 779/1995 Annex 1, updated text
• Law 26.363
• Decree 1716/2008
• Decree 26/2019
• Decree 196/2025
• Decree Law 6582/1958, updated text
• International licences
• ANSV Licencia Nacional de Conducir
• ANSV international agreements
• Transfer of a car
• Initial registration
• Title report
• DNRPA requirements
• DNRPA transfer guide
• ARCA MERCOSUR vehicles
• SITA used vehicle nationalisation guide
• RG AFIP 3109/2011 (current text)
• Renewal by change of jurisdiction and exchange
• Grant of licence
• Validity and classes pages (downloaded empty)
• Law 2148 Annex I (Traffic Code, Title III)
• Disposición DGLIC 533/2016, Annex (procedures manual, BOCBA 5031, 22 Dec 2016)
• Ley Arancelaria 2026, Law 6928 (file named as Ley Tarifaria 6711 on the City site)
• Ley Impositiva 2026, Law 6927
• Ley Impositiva 2026, Law 15.558
• Municipality of La Plata, exchange of foreign licences

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