Brazil - Carta Verde - driving from Brazil to Argentina (Iguacu)

I understand when you rent a car and plan to drive from the Brazil to Argentina side of the Iguacu falls, you require a carta verde (i.e. insurance coverage for Argentina). Is this purchased with the car rental agency, downtown Iguacu, at the border?

The coverage is a Mercosur extension of the normal coverage. Sometimes they want to see it at the border... Just request it when you rent your car.

The coverage is a Mercosur extension of the normal coverage. Sometimes they want to see it at the border... Just request it when you rent your car.

When I rented one at Hertz two years ago, they said they did not offer it and I had to go into the city to get one, since it was not offered at the airport (IGU).

I just did not care and crossed the border anyway.

Hertz at Foz airport also told us to get the cv over the border but we couldn't find it - see my reply in the other thread you started rushfan:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south-america/1302411-foz-do-iguacu-rent-taxi-driver-day-brazil-argentinan-side-bacl.html
If you want to be legal research carefully where you can buy one in Argentina
Nb we did see one place but they said they couldn't provide coverage for rental cars

Hertz at Foz airport also told us to get the cv over the border but we couldn't find it - see my reply in the other thread you started rushfan:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south-america/1302411-foz-do-iguacu-rent-taxi-driver-day-brazil-argentinan-side-bacl.html
If you want to be legal research carefully where you can buy one in Argentina
Nb we did see one place but they said they couldn't provide coverage for rental cars

The above doesnt make sense.... not saying that Hertz in Foz didnt say what you are posting, just saying that the Fox Hertz franchise is run by some idiot that doesnt know how to do his job. All serious insurance companies that operate in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are fully aware of the MercoSur extension coverage. Maybe the owner of the Hertz Franchise doesnt want to pay the MercoSur surcharge on his entire fleet... but its clear that he could get his insurance broker to extend coverage for clients that require it... its not that it would be that uncommon for a renter getting a car in Foz to want to drive over to the Argentine side.... :rolleyes:

If you care to invest the time, it seems to me that it would make sense to alert the Hertz corporate office about what sort a bozo is running their operations in Foz. I understand the independently owned & operated concept, alas, I think that Hertz can (and should) do a better job at having those that use their brand at least offer the basic services.... MercoSur coverage is certainly something that needs to be offered. In the end, dont rental car companies make a profit on the insurance they sell..... its a no brainer for me... :mad:

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I'm not sure that any of the rental companies at IGU offer that. Hertz, for example, forbids the crossing to Paraguay on top of all.

Good point, Paraguay is on the exclusion list of many insurers.... I know that for most cases you need to apply for specific additional coverage and its very expensive. Auto theft in Paraguay is rampant and its also the favorite destination for stolen vehicles lifted from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

This is how it really works after experiencing it. Rented a car at AVIS at the airport in IGU. I asked about the carta verde thing; they provided me with a signed authorization document from the rental car company indicating that it was not necessary in Argentina if you travel within 50 km of the Brazil border within Argentina. ^ Thus no issue with the Falls much closer than that on the Argentina side.

This is how it really works after experiencing it. Rented a car at AVIS at the airport in IGU. I asked about the carta verde thing; they provided me with a signed authorization document from the rental car company indicating that it was not necessary in Argentina if you travel within 50 km of the Brazil border within Argentina. ^ Thus no issue with the Falls much closer than that on the Argentina side.

Thanks for coming back to report this... ^

This is how it really works after experiencing it. ..

I have rented from Hertz IGU several times. They have always handed my the Carta Verde without comment (excludes Paraguay). Of course I have a Brazilian license. I did watch an American showing a US license discussing the matter in English and having a problem. I made a quick explanation and he also got his Carta Verde.

YMMV with any car rental agency in that area, IME. It would be smart to carry a copy of the requirement with you so that you'll have either the Carta Verde or a letter for the rental agency.

An additional note: Never, ever leave your car unattended with anything visible inside the car. Car theft and movement to paraguay is rampant in the area. if for some idiotic reason you insist on going to Paraguay, as i have done a few times, do NOT leave your car unattended even for a second!! ALWAYS be with your car in Paraguay.

An additional note: Never, ever leave your car unattended with anything visible inside the car. Car theft and movement to paraguay is rampant in the area. if for some idiotic reason you insist on going to Paraguay, as i have done a few times, do NOT leave your car unattended even for a second!! ALWAYS be with your car in Paraguay.

I am doing a 2 day side trip from Rio to Iguazo in August and staying at the Sheraton. I to am renting a car from Hertz. The car will be parked at the hotel for the most part. What about if I drive to town in Argentina or back to the Falls Park on the Brazil side? Will theft be a danger there as well? I am taking my 6 year old son so will not keep anything in the car but a booster seat.

I am doing a 2 day side trip from Rio to Iguazo in August and staying at the Sheraton. I to am renting a car from Hertz. The car will be parked at the hotel for the most part. What about if I drive to town in Argentina or back to the Falls Park on the Brazil side? Will theft be a danger there as well? I am taking my 6 year old son so will not keep anything in the car but a booster seat.

No issue.

What about going the other way? From the Argentinian side to Brazil? Same 50km from the border within Brazil?

Cheers

will not keep anything in the car but a booster seat.

Even the booster seat should be stored in the trunk when leaving the car. Foz is not particularly unsafe, but storing all items out of sight in the trunk is a general precaution for Brazil.

What about going the other way? From the Argentinian side to Brazil? Same 50km from the border within Brazil?

Cheers

My experience noted above was for my personal experience and paper waiver that I received when renting on the Brazilian side and then driving to Argentina. Check with your Argentinan car rental company.