Car prices in Santiago, Chile and other related automobile expenses, has been the result of the free trade agreements Chile has subscribed with all the producing countries world wide. For that prices are competitive, and cheap related to some of our neighbor countries. Second hand markets car prices, on the contrary have a good reselling price. In Chile to drive your car, beside the permit & license plate, for used car we have to do an annually check of our cars in plants determinate by the government” this process is called “Revision Técnica”. Also we have to buy an obligatory insurance.
NEW CAR PRICES (Links for website, prices or contact person given by the own company)
HONDA – HYUNDAI – BMW – TOYOTA – MITSUBISHI – MAZDA – CHEVROLET – CHRYSLER –
VOLVO – VOLKSWAGEN –DODGE –FIAT – JAGUAR – JEEP –KIA – LEXUS –MINI COOPER –
NISSAN – OPEL – PEUGEOT – PORSCHE – MERCEDES BENZ – SUBARU – CITROEN – FORD –
LAND ROVER – SUZUKI – RENAULT
Used car prices devaluate yearly in 16% percent the first year, 10% the second 8% the third and so on. In a period of 3 years depending on the model you choose, and the demand on your car. After your assignment your car will cost on the second hand market approximately 34% less. If you are going to buy a second hand market, we recommend to buy an expat friend, these cars are in much better conditions than what we can find in secondary markets, including dealers shop, websites and newspaper.
SECOND HAND CAR PRICES
Second hand website : Chile Autos Click here
News paper Classified : El Mercurio (Emol for internet version) Click here
*Do not accept a selling if you cant see the final owners face.
* Check the car plate in AUTENTICAR to see if it has been robbed, or has unpaid fines or toll credit.
*The car must be registered at the Civil Registry at your name when bought, we recommend to pay after or at the same time owner signs the Civil Registry Service car selling contract..
*Second hand cars, don’t have to pay taxes.
DRIVER LICENSE
According to Chilean Law N° 20.046 , 2005, foreigners are capable to drive in Chile, with their license emitted in their country of origin or an international drivers permit (IDP) obtained in local car associations of their own country. We recommend to get the IDP, cause you can get it translated in Spanish and if you have any misunderstanding with a local police officer (Chilean police officer are called Carabineros). This license is valid for only twelve months, after that you have to get a Chilean Driver License. However, once you receive your permanent residency (Residencia Definitiva), under Chilean law you must have a Chilean license to drive.
Driver license testing, is really easy, includes physical testing, (eye exam), medical interview for questioning of obvious limiting illness, psychometric exam, practical test (in your own car) and the theory exam, really easy, but is in Spanish.
* The value of this document is approximately CLP$ 25.000 (USD 50)
* Spanish & Korean citizens can homologate their license emitted in their country of origin, (ask the Chilean embassy in your local country)
OTHER EXPENSES
Obligatory Insurance: The cost of this insurance is approximately 7.000 pesos, is intended to protect third parties involved in an accident, mainly pedestrians. The problem is that nobody never use them. But it is obligatory to get the annual car registration certificate of the vehicle.
Annual Mechanical car check (Revision Tecnica). Because of environmental reasons, cars have to be checked annually, in determinate car garage, shops, where they emit a certificate that is also obligatory to obtain the annual car registration certificate. The cost of this revision is CLP 18.000 (USD 36)
Annual car registration certificate. This depends on your car, the year and model, it can be as cheap as CLP 50.000 (USD 100), or go up 1.000.000 (USD 2.000) and more. (To check the cost of your pemit Click Here).
Urban Highway or TAG: Toll charges in urban Santiago, are through a system called TAG. Is a small electronic device stick over your front car window shield, that in contact with toll gantries, your car will be billed at the end of each month.
GAS PRICES
Chile is importer of 95% of its oil. There in only one refinery company Chile that is state owned, and controls the supply of gas oil to privates distributors. We produce high octane fuels, including 93, 95 a 97 octane products , mainly because of environmental motivations. , Prices and quality for that is determined mainly by this refining company, and international oil prices.
Link to see gas prices: Click here (In the website before clicking “Ver Reporte” you have to go to “combustible” and select “Gasolina 95” then go again and “ver reporte” . It’ll appear the minimum price “precio minimo” the maximum price “precio maximo” and average price “precio promedio”.
CARABINEROS DE CHILE
Carabineros is the police institution, that is in charge of traffic laws. is a respected institution and recognized by the honesty of their police men and women, they have the highest indicators of reliability. Don’t ever offer money in any circumstance, specially in a traffic incident or to get you out of a fine, the most probable thing that will happen is that you`ll end arrested for one or two days, and with a big judicial problem.
NO DRINKING AND DRIVING (ZERO TOLERANCE; if not this can happen to you – CLICK HERE)
On mid 2012, the so called law “Tolerancia Cero” was passed by congress, and finally published. Consists that any person, driving and controlled in the streets by police, with a blowing alcohotest machine, that has higher than 0,3 grms. of alcohol per litter in their blood, they will be detained and send to a hospital for a more accurate testing and summoned to the local judge.
DAKAR RALLY
Dakar is the biggest Rally competition around the world and it is held in Chile, since 2009. Starting each year on january after new year, the rally goes through the dessert of Atacama, Patagonia and other places from frontier countries.
For more information check here DAKAR