In Peru a deeply ingrained disregard for road safety can make driving extremely dangerous. Anything from red lights to right of way at roundabouts tend to be ignored. As such you can never expect adhering to the rules yourself to be enough for a smooth journey.
Lack of road safety is coupled with problems of police corruption, and it can be very difficult to know whether fines are legitimate or not. These problems can make taking a taxi more appealing than putting yourself in the hot seat. However if you are willing to accept these issues, buying or renting a car is a reasonably easy process and can give you access to many of the hidden gems of Peru.
Purchasing a car in Peru is a reasonably straightforward process provided you know how to get the correct documents. The first and most important of these is a DIGEMIN stamp. This is also known as a ‘Permiso Especial para Firmar Contratos’ and is something all foreigners need in order to be able to legally sign contracts in Peru.
To get this you will have to go to an assigned DIGEMIN office, which tend be very inconveniently bureaucratic. In order to make the process slightly easier a DIGEMIN form can be printed from the Internet and filled in in advance. A list of designated DIGEMIN offices in Lima can found online.
Also available is a list of locations outside of Lima , however it is not guaranteed that all of these will be able to provide the necessary paperwork. As such it is recommended to phone in advance to check.
Along with the form there is a 16 Soles fee (just under US$6) which is to be payed at the office in question. Make sure to bring along your passport too as this is where the DIGEMIN stamp will go. It is important to note that this stamp is only valid for 30 days, so for example, if you want to sell the car later on, you’ll have to go through the whole process again.
Once you have this stamp you’re now ready to go out and look for a car. Of course there are countless new and used dealerships within Peru along with a vast array of websites. Some worth checking out are:
As with anywhere it is a good idea to get the car checked out by a mechanic before buying it.
When you’ve found the right car you’ll have to sign a vehicle transfer contract along with whoever is selling it. This is followed by a wait of 8-10 days after which you receive an ownership registration card (tarjeta de propiedad). Once this has arrived, the last step is to purchase a new set of license plates, costing around 100 Soles (approximately US$36).
Whilst of course you’ll be needing normal car insurance, especially given the fierceness of Peruvian driving habits, all drivers also need to pay something called SOAT. This cover is aimed at any third parties who might be adversely affected by a car crash, for example pedestrians. Although the cost is the same for everyone it does vary between regions, with Lima being the most expensive.
Car rental prices in Peru tend start at just upwards of US$50 per day but can be as low as US$35. As with anywhere else, obviously prices increase when looking at bigger and better models of vehicle. Large companies such as Avis, Europcar and Hertz offer services in the country, however there are a number of other options available, such as:
When considering prices, it is also necessary to factor in the 18% sales tax along with insurance and petrol costs. As it is not a great petrol producer, Peru does not enjoy the ludicrously low prices of some of its Latin American relatives such as Venezuela. However fuel is still very cheap in comparison with most Western countries.
A legitimate driving license from another country is useable in Peru for up to 6 months after entry. You just have to ensure it remains valid and within date.
However, if you want to continue driving after this time you will need a Peruvian driving license. This requires you to pass both a medical and a written test, but you’ll also have to take a practical exam if you have been driving for less than three years. The medical exam is offered by two different companies, Servimedic and Psicomedicos. Both of these have a number of clinics, it is easiest to reserve a test online which still gives you the option of paying once at the clinic.
The best way to practice for the theory test is by taking the mock test online , however unfortunately this is not available in English.