Car hire at Balmaceda Teniente Vidal Airport

At Balmaceda Teniente Vidal Airport, you'll get through Customs and Baggage Claims without much hassle. Once in the Arrivals hall, you should easily spot the car hire desks. We highly recommend pre-booking your car hire at Balmaceda Teniente Vidal Airport, as this guarantees the lowest price and your preferred choice of vehicle. This is especially important if you want to drive an automatic car, as most car models in Chile are manual and the provider needs advance notice to supply automatic vehicles.

You'll need your driving license, photo ID, a credit card, and your rental voucher if you've pre-booked. You need to be over 18 years old to rent a vehicle in Chile, but some providers, such as Chilean Rent a Car, only accept drivers that are over 20 years old. Most companies will add a young driver surcharge if you're under 25. Do make sure you have enough funds on your credit card for the security deposit, which will be refunded upon vehicle return. Most providers won't accept a debit card or cash deposit.

There aren't many fuel stations around Balmaceda Teniente Vidal Airport, so plan your tank refill carefully. It's particularly important to return the vehicle with a filled-up tank if you've signed a full-to-full policy - otherwise, the provider may add a hefty surcharge. There aren't any formal petrol stations on Ruta 245 leading up to the airport, though some road-side shops may sell canned fuel. Your best bet is to stop and refill in one of the nearby cities - such as Coyhaique, which is about an hour away from the airport.

Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Balmaceda Teniente Vidal airport to off-airport locations include Advantage, and Europcar.