Driving in Peru: What You Need to Know Before Renting a Car

Driving in Peru was one of the parts of our trip I was most nervous about — and for good reason. Before our visit, I had read plenty of stories about chaotic traffic, aggressive drivers, police stops, and challenging roads. I wondered whether renting a car would give us more freedom or simply add unnecessary stress to our trip.

After driving from Lima to Paracas, Ica, and Huacachina before returning to Lima Airport, I learned that driving in Peru is absolutely doable, especially if you're an experienced driver. But it's not always easy, and you need to be prepared for a very different driving style.

This road trip was just one part of our larger 16-day Peru itinerary, which also took us to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon.

If you're considering renting a car in Peru, here's what I wish I had known before getting behind the wheel, from what driving is really like to the practical tips that can make your trip less stressful.

Driving In Peru

Renting a Car in Peru

We rented our car in Miraflores, Lima, through Enterprise.

Our car was clean, automatic and came with unlimited mileage. The gentleman at the counter was extremely kind and took the time to explain some important things before we left.

One thing he specifically mentioned was that headlights should be kept on while driving.

I also asked what we should do if we were stopped by police. He reassured us that we shouldn't panic and told us to contact the rental company if there were any problems. That conversation actually made us feel much more comfortable before leaving Lima.

If you're renting a car, I recommend taking a few minutes at the counter to ask about:

  • Insurance and what is covered

  • Roadside assistance

  • Emergency contact numbers

  • Whether mileage is unlimited

  • Fuel policy

  • Whether you can drive outside Lima

  • Any restrictions on where you can take the vehicle

  • What to do if you're stopped by police

  • What to do in case of an accident

Tip: Take photos and video of the car before leaving the rental lot, including the wheels, windshield and any existing scratches or dents.

Do You Need an International Driving Permit?

We traveled with our regular driver's licence plus an international driving permit.

We are from Canada, and international driving permits can be obtained through organizations such as CAA. Requirements and issuing organizations vary by country, so check the rules where you live before your trip.

I would personally rather have the extra document with me than wonder whether I needed it after arriving.

Also keep your passport and rental documents accessible, but don't leave your original passport or other important documents unattended in the car.

International Driving Licence

Download Google Maps Offline

We used Google Maps for our entire drive.

But don't rely exclusively on having cell service.

Before leaving Lima, download offline maps for the areas you'll be driving through. This is especially useful once you're outside the major cities, where your phone signal may not always cooperate.

Our route included:

Lima → Paracas → Ica → Huacachina → Lima Airport

And having navigation available made everything much easier.

You can also save your hotel and major stops ahead of time so you aren't trying to figure everything out while driving.

Driving in Lima Is… an Experience 😂

I'm not going to lie:

Driving in Lima can be hectic.

We experienced both rush-hour traffic and early-morning driving, and each had its own challenges.

The biggest thing I learned was:

Don't try to copy the local driving style.

Drive the way you normally would at home, stay predictable and leave yourself plenty of space.

You may see cars:

  • Changing lanes suddenly

  • Driving between lanes

  • Creating what looks like an extra lane

  • Turning from a lane you wouldn't expect

  • Stopping unexpectedly

  • Pulling over to pick up passengers

And yes, people honk. A lot.

But don't assume every honk means someone is angry. Sometimes it's simply a warning or a way of communicating with another driver.

We also saw drivers use hazard lights when stopping, and traffic simply moved around them.

My advice?

Don't rush. Don't get intimidated. And don't try to "fit in" with the chaos.

If you're an experienced driver, you can adapt.

My husband actually felt that driving in Lima was easier than what he expected driving in Cusco would be.

Outside Lima, Driving Gets Much Easier

Once we got out of Lima, everything changed.

The highways were wide and, in many areas, surprisingly quiet.

Honestly, this part of the drive was much easier than I expected.

Drivers also seemed to handle passing differently than we're used to in Canada. If someone wanted to pass, they generally just passed and kept moving rather than sitting directly behind you for miles.

You may see a driver briefly flash their high beams to indicate that they want to pass or that you should move over.

At night, don't automatically assume that flashing headlights from an approaching vehicle are directed at you. Drivers may be communicating with another vehicle ahead of them.

And again, honking is common.

Sometimes it simply means:

"I'm stopping here."

or

"I'm coming through."

or

"Pay attention."

After a while, you start understanding the language of Peruvian traffic.

Mystery Machine on Our Way To Paracas

Be Prepared for Different Driving Habits

One of the biggest adjustments for us was seeing drivers do things that would be considered unusual — or downright wrong — back home.

For example, you may see vehicles:

  • Driving partly between lanes

  • Using a different lane to turn

  • Changing lanes at the last second

  • Passing in situations that seem unexpected

  • Creating their own "lane" when traffic is heavy

This doesn't mean you should do the same.

Stay in your lane, maintain a safe speed, check your blind spots constantly and expect other drivers to do unpredictable things.

Defensive driving is your best friend.

What If the Police Stop You?

We were stopped by police two or three times during our drive.

Every time, they checked our driver's licence and waved us through.

They were polite, and we never felt unsafe.

Still, I recommend being prepared for a police stop before driving in Peru.

Keep your:

  • Driver's licence

  • International driving permit

  • Passport/identification

  • Rental agreement

  • Insurance documents

organized and accessible.

A note about unofficial payments

This is something we were especially cautious about after hearing stories from other travelers.

Never assume that you should hand over cash simply because someone in uniform tells you that you did something wrong.

If you believe a request for money is unofficial or suspicious, stay calm and ask for the situation to be handled through the proper police process. You can also contact your rental company for guidance.

For example, you can calmly say something along the lines of:

"Okay, let's go to the police station."

Don't argue, don't become aggressive and don't put yourself in danger.

We also made sure not to have a large amount of cash visible in the front of the car or in our wallet, especially if we were stopped. We kept just a small amount of change in the front for everyday expenses, while the rest of our cash stayed tucked safely away in a bag behind us and out of sight.

Important: This is travel-safety advice based on our experience, not a recommendation to refuse a legitimate traffic fine. If you receive an official citation, follow the proper procedure and ask the rental company how it should be handled.

And if anything feels wrong, call your rental company or local authorities rather than trying to resolve the situation yourself.

Peruvian Police in Lima

Don't Carry All Your Cash With You

This is a good travel rule anywhere, not just Peru.

We didn't carry a large amount of cash in one place.

Instead, we kept only a small amount accessible for normal expenses and divided the rest between secure locations.

You don't want to find yourself in a situation where losing your wallet means losing every dollar you have for the rest of your trip.

And definitely don't leave large amounts of cash, passports or valuables visible inside a rental car.

Parking Was Surprisingly Easy

One thing we didn't have much trouble with was parking.

We were able to park without major issues during our stops in Paracas, Ica and Huacachina.

As always, use common sense:

  • Park in legitimate areas

  • Don't leave valuables visible

  • Lock the car

  • Don't leave passports or large amounts of cash inside

  • Follow local parking signs

Returning the Car at Lima Airport

Our final drive was from the Ica/Huacachina area directly back to Lima Airport.

This was probably the most confusing part of the entire drive.

The airport access roads had changed, and Google Maps hadn't completely caught up with the new road layout.

So when you're getting close to Lima Airport, don't blindly follow your GPS.

Follow the road signs.

This is one situation where the physical signs were more useful than our navigation app.

Give yourself extra time, especially if you have a flight to catch.

Would I Drive in Peru Again?

Yes.

Would I recommend it to someone who has never driven before or someone who is extremely uncomfortable with unpredictable traffic?

Probably not.

But if you're an experienced driver and you're comfortable with defensive driving, renting a car can give you a lot of freedom.

For us, driving allowed us to explore Paracas, Ica and Huacachina on our own schedule instead of depending on buses or organized tours.

And once we left Lima, the driving was much easier than I expected.

The key is to remember that you're driving in a different country with different road habits.

Stay alert, don't rush, expect the unexpected and don't try to drive exactly like the locals.

Driving in Lima

Our Peru Itinerary

Driving was only one part of our Peru adventure.

Our larger trip included:

Lima → Cusco → Sacred Valley → Pisac → Chinchero → Moray → Maras → Ollantaytambo → Aguas Calientes → Machu Picchu → Cusco → Lima → Paracas → Ica → Huacachina → Iquitos → Amazon Rainforest

Peru was honestly one of the hardest trips I've ever planned because of the altitude, geography, transportation and the huge distances between destinations.

That's exactly why I put together our detailed itinerary — including where we stayed, transportation, activities and the things I wish I had known before going.

👉 Read my full Peru itinerary here:
https://www.thetravelingmind.com/2026/09/the-perfect-peru-itinerary-16-days-in.html

Where We Stayed in Peru

We stayed at several different properties during our trip, and I've collected the ones we personally stayed at so you can see the options for your own trip.

I use Expedia to organize many of my travel bookings and have created collections featuring hotels we've actually stayed at.

👉 Check out my Peru hotel recommendations on Expedia:
Budget-Friendly Peru Hotels

I prefer recommending places I've personally experienced rather than randomly listing hotels I've never stayed in.

Travel Essentials I Used

If you're planning your own Peru trip, I've also put together some of the travel products and essentials I use.

🛒 Amazon Favorites & Travel Essentials:
Travel Essentials

Some of these may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services I personally use or genuinely think could be useful.

Final Thoughts

Before Peru, I honestly wasn't sure whether renting a car was going to be a terrible idea.

It wasn't.

Was Lima chaotic? Absolutely. 😂

Did we see some driving that made us question the laws of physics? Also yes.

But once we understood what to expect, driving became much less intimidating.

If you're planning to rent a car in Peru, don't let stories about chaotic traffic automatically scare you away.

Just remember:

Drive defensively.
Stay alert.
Download your maps.
Keep your documents organized.
Don't carry large amounts of cash.
Don't leave valuables in the car.
Follow road signs near Lima Airport.
And expect Peruvian traffic to have its own personality. 😂

Most importantly, give yourself time.

You're on vacation. There's no prize for getting there five minutes faster.

Safe travels and enjoy Peru!❤️

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