Uruguay operates 8,776 kilometers of national roads maintained by the Dirección Nacional de Vialidad, with 90 percent paved. Route 1 connects Montevideo with Colonia del Sacramento, covering 177 kilometers along the Río de la Plata coast. Route 3 runs north from Montevideo through Paysandú to Salto, terminating at the Salto Grande Dam on the Brazilian border after 586 kilometers. Route 5 connects Montevideo to Rivera, crossing through Durazno and Tacuarembó across 510 kilometers. Route 9 links Montevideo with Chuy at the Brazilian border through Punta del Este, Maldonado, and Rocha, measuring 337 kilometers. Route Interbalnearia runs parallel to the Atlantic coastline from Montevideo to Punta del Este, completed in 2001 as a faster alternative to Route 9. The government charges tolls on major highways through electronic collection systems operated by private contractors under concession agreements signed between 2001 and 2004.
Car rental operates through international chains Avis, Hertz, Budget, Europcar, and local companies Punta Car, Multicar, and Dollar Uruguay. Montevideo airport hosts twelve rental counters in the arrivals hall. Downtown Montevideo rental offices cluster along Avenida 18 de Julio between Plaza Independencia and Cordón neighborhood. Colonia del Sacramento maintains five rental agencies within two blocks of the ferry terminal. Punta del Este rental locations concentrate on Avenida Gorlero and near the airport at Laguna del Sauce. Minimum rental age is 21 years at most agencies, 23 years for vehicles exceeding 2000cc engine capacity. International driving permits are accepted alongside valid licenses from most countries. Uruguay recognizes licenses from Mercosur member states, United States, Canada, European Union nations, Australia, and Japan for visits under 180 days. Rental rates range from 1,200 to 2,500 Uruguayan pesos daily for economy vehicles, 3,000 to 5,500 pesos for mid-size sedans, 4,500 to 8,000 pesos for SUVs. Insurance is mandatory by law and included in quoted rates, covering third-party liability at minimum.
Traffic moves on the right side. Speed limits are 45 kilometers per hour in urban areas, 90 kilometers per hour on rural roads, 110 kilometers per hour on designated highways including Route 1 and Route Interbalnearia. Police enforce limits through fixed radar installations and mobile units. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers. Children under 12 years must sit in rear seats. Daytime running lights became mandatory in 2016 for all vehicles. Blood alcohol limit is 0.0 grams per liter for drivers with less than two years license tenure, 0.3 grams per liter for experienced drivers. Uruguay penalizes drunk driving with license suspension ranging from 90 days to permanent revocation depending on blood alcohol concentration and prior offenses.
Gas stations operate under brands ANCAP (state monopoly refiner), Shell, Petrobras, Esso, and Texaco, with ANCAP accounting for 51 percent of retail locations. Montevideo contains 87 stations. Route 1 to Colonia maintains stations every 30 to 50 kilometers. Route Interbalnearia hosts stations at Atlántida, Piriápolis, and before Punta del Este. Rural routes 5 and 7 through interior departments show spacing up to 80 kilometers between stations. Regular gasoline costs approximately 62 pesos per liter as of 2024. Premium gasoline reaches 68 pesos per liter. Diesel sells for 48 pesos per liter. ANCAP stations accept cash and major credit cards. Most stations offer full service with attendant pumping. Self-service stations exist in Montevideo but remain uncommon nationally. Operating hours vary from 6:00 to 22:00 in small towns, 24 hours in Montevideo and along major routes.
Parking in Montevideo downtown requires payment through electronic meters Monday through Friday 8:00 to 20:00, Saturday 8:00 to 13:00. Rates are 30 pesos per hour in red zones covering Ciudad Vieja and Centro, 20 pesos per hour in blue zones extending to Cordón and Parque Rodó, 15 pesos per hour in green zones in outer neighborhoods. The municipality operates this system through Estacionamiento Tarifado Montevideo. Private parking garages charge 80 to 150 pesos for first hour, 40 to 80 pesos each additional hour. Colonia del Sacramento charges 25 pesos per hour for street parking in the historic quarter. Punta del Este implements parking fees January and February only, charging 50 pesos per hour in peninsula zones. Maldonado, Paysandú, and Salto offer free street parking year-round.
Buses form the primary public transport mode. Montevideo operates 140 local bus lines under three private companies: COME, COETC, and CUTCSA. The municipality regulates routes and fares through Intendencia de Montevideo. Single journey costs 49 pesos when paying cash, 35 pesos using a rechargeable STM smart card sold at kiosks and terminals. Buses run from 5:00 to approximately 23:00 on most lines. Night service operates on reduced schedules until 2:00 on major routes. Montevideo contains no metro or tram system. The national bus network connects all departmental capitals through competing private operators.
COT (Compañía Oesteuruguaya de Transportes) runs Route 1 corridor linking Montevideo with Colonia del Sacramento, departing every 60 to 90 minutes from Tres Cruces terminal. Journey time is 2 hours 45 minutes with intermediate stops at San José and Colonia Valdense. One-way fare is 485 pesos. COT provides this service using 44-seat coaches with air conditioning. Núñez, Agencia Central, and Turil operate Route 3 to Paysandú and Salto. Núñez departs six times daily to Salto, taking 6 hours 30 minutes, charging 950 pesos. Agencia Central runs nine daily departures to Paysandú, 5 hours journey, 720 pesos fare. EGA and Turismar dominate Route 9 to Punta del Este and coastal destinations. EGA operates 22 daily buses to Punta del Este during summer season January and February, 12 daily off-season. Travel time is 2 hours 15 minutes direct service, 2 hours 45 minutes with stops at Atlántida and Piriápolis. Fare is 380 pesos one-way.
Tres Cruces bus terminal in Montevideo serves as the national hub, opened in 1994 at the intersection of Avenida Italia and Boulevard Artigas in the Cordón neighborhood. The terminal contains 84 departure bays, 32 ticket counters, and serves 42 bus companies. Facilities include luggage storage charging 120 pesos per bag per day, currency exchange offices, restaurants, and a shopping center with 80 stores. Terminal operates 24 hours daily. Colonia del Sacramento bus terminal sits at Avenida Roosevelt and Manuel Lobo, three blocks from the port. Paysandú terminal is located at Zorrilla and Artigas streets. Salto terminal operates from Bulevar Artigas 67. Punta del Este terminal is at Bulevar Artigas and Calle 32.