How to find a cheap car hire deal in Santiago
Pick up a cheap rental car in Santiago for around $88 a day and drive away happy. We do the hard work for you by searching the best home providers, making it easy to compare prices and book.
Daily home prices in Santiago start from just $26.
Planning a longer trip and want to explore beyond the main attractions? $179 is the best rate for a weekly home.
Consider this your cheat code for when to book. Around two weeks in advance gives you the best window to grab the best price on a Santiago car hire.
Check out the offers available with united rent a car, Rosselot and Street Rent a Car. They're some of the top providers in the city.
The coverage united rent a car or another company includes with your Santiago car hire can vary, so be sure to read the fine print. While some include a collision damage waiver (CDW), others will provide it for an extra charge.
Consider booking a one-way home. You might be able to score a good deal if the provider needs to relocate some of its vehicles. Discover the best available rates by selecting 'Return car to a different location.'
Search for a vehicle with a 'Fair fuel policy.' You'll pick up and drop off your ride with a full tank, so you're only paying for what you use. No hidden refueling charges at drop-off either.
Explore without limits by picking a home with 'Unlimited mileage.' Located under the 'Policies' filter, these rides let you go as far as you like with no extra cost.
Best value car hire options right now
Coming out on top for value is this company, with average prices of $100 a day.
Next up is this provider, offering daily rates of around $94.
The third option also delivers savings with every booking. Expect to pay roughly $69 a day for one of their homes.
After a car that makes sense for most travel plans? The Compact home category is the go-to choice for travellers visiting Santiago.
Flying to Santiago? Think about an airport pick-up
Make arrival day easier by booking a car hire at Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport. If you're flying to Santiago through this hub, simply collect your wheels after landing and get moving. The drive to the city centre is about 16 kilometres and takes around 25 minutes.
Compare car hire types in Santiago
Small: Whether you're cruising narrow city streets or just planning a quick trip, this car category offers big value in a small package. Including mini and economy classes, you can look forward to easy handling and excellent mileage.
Medium: Choose from compact and intermediate cars that combine comfort, space and fuel efficiency. Easy to handle in cities and with enough space for longer drives, they're a great all-rounder.
Large: Offering a more comfortable driving experience and advanced tech features, this Santiago car hire category includes full-size cars. With roomier rear seats and plenty of storage space, they let you load up and take everyone, and everything, with ease.
SUV: When the urge to explore hits, an SUV's all in. It's your perfect road trip companion, ready for highways, backroads, and everything in between. These sports utility vehicles also come with extra space and advanced safety features.
Van: If you're searching for a car for rent in Santiago that fits a small crowd (and all their stuff), a van is the roomy solution. Including commercial vans and trucks, they're a solid pick for group travel, moving or business use.
Insurance and optional extras
Excess insurance covers the cost you'd have to pay if your Santiago car hire is stolen or damaged. While not mandatory, it's worth considering for extra protection. Just remember that not all insurance policies are the same, so make sure you know exactly what's included.
Upgrade your ride with nifty extras like a reverse camera or navigation unit. They can make your trip more comfortable and stress-free when you rent a car in Santiago.
Good to know
Check each supplier's age requirements before booking your car rental in Chile. Rules can differ, and added costs or restrictions may apply if you're a younger driver. At the start of your search, uncheck the 'Driver aged between 25–70' box and enter your age to browse your options.
If you're bringing the kids along, find out if you need to add a child car seat to your Santiago car rental reservation. Whether required by local laws or not, they're always the safest way for little ones to ride.
Come prepared to keep the pick-up process smooth. You'll generally need your physical driver's license (no digital copies) and another form of photo ID. Also bring a credit card that can cover the deposit. If extra requirements apply, your booking will list them.
Take your time getting acquainted with your home. Adjust your seat and mirrors, learn where everything is, and get used to its handling before you set off. And importantly, stick to the right side of the road in Chile.
Make sure you stay within the local speed limits. Most of the time that's around 45kph in built-up areas and 110kph or so on highways, unless signed otherwise.
A blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.03% applies in Chile. The only guaranteed way to stay safe to drive is to avoid alcohol completely.
One of the busiest times to be on the road in this destination is around 8am. Make things easy by driving outside rush hours in general.
Best hotels in Santiago for drivers
Spend less time looking for a parking spot and more time enjoying the comfort of Apart AltoSan Francisco. Around 2 kilometres from central Santiago, it comes with valet parking, luggage storage and a 24-hour front desk.
Alternatively, take advantage of the parking at Bellavista Cosy Apartment. The city centre is roughly 3 kilometres from this option, which also features a fitness centre and tour services.
Explore the full range of hotels in Santiago and pick the stay that suits your plans. Filters make it easy to tailor your search to what you need — like 'Parking,' 'Outdoor parking,' or 'Valet parking.' There's even an 'Electric vehicle (EV) charging station' filter to find hotels with charging access.
After you've locked in a car hire deal in Santiago and the right hotel, the only thing left is to decide where to go first. Get things started with leading attractions such as Gran Torre Santiago, Museo de la Memoria y los Derechos Humanos and Fundación Pablo Neruda.
Hit the road: Where to drive to from Santiago
Keep travelling to Vina del Mar. Around 97 kilometres northwest of central Santiago, you'll find must-do sights like Reñaca beach and Playa El Sol.
Radisson Blu Acqua Hotel & Spa Concon and Hotel Bosque de Reñaca are popular accommodation options with parking in Vina del Mar.
Alternatively, collect your cheap car hire in Santiago and then take off to Valparaiso. Roughly 97 kilometres northwest of Santiago, Murales de Valpo and Mirador are top attractions that make the drive worthwhile.
Valparaiso has some comfortable accommodation options such as Sheraton Miramar Hotel & Convention Centre and Pullman Viña del Mar San Martín. Both give you somewhere to leave your car during your stay.
Extend your journey and road-trip it to Linares, around 274 kilometres south of Santiago. First, swing past Achibueno River, then spend some time at Museo de Arte y Artesanía de Linares.
Drift off to sleep in Linares at either Hotel Real or RESIDENCIAL Victoria Said Deluxe. They have a room waiting for you and a place to park too.
