Border Crossing Argentina to Uruguay at Fray Bentos

I try to find information that can make border crossings easier on my trip and found Life Remotely. Here was plenty of useful information but I reproduces only the short version in respect for the great job they had done. So those who need more information should visit Life Remotely.

Argentina to Uruguay at Fray Bentos: Border Crossing

Border name: Gualeguaychu – Fray Bentos Bridge
Closest major cities: Gualeguaychu, Argentina and Fray Bentos, Uruguay
Cost for visas: $0
Cost for vehicle: $0
Total time: 30 minutes
The Steps

1. Drive over the scenic international bridge. Take photos, but don’t stop. That makes the other drivers angry.
2. Stop on the other side of the bridge to pay the fat $AR60 bridge toll.
3. Drive to the booth that has the «turismo» sign out front.
4. Hand over the passports for everyone in the car. You will be stamped out of Argentina and into Uruguay. (Two officials, one booth, amazing!)
5. At the same booth hand in your Argentinian temporary vehicle permit. They will cancel it.
6. The booth people will give you a pink slip of paper. This is your ticket to leave the border area.
7. Drive forward and park on the right side.
8. The vehicle owner goes into the building on the left. (Explain you are a tourist not just in transit, it might get you to the front of the line).
9. Hand in the driver’s license, passport, the vehicle title and the pink ticket. The official will have you complete a vehicle permit and may ask if you have insurance. He will return all documents and stamp your pink ticket.
10. Return to your car and show the pink ticket to the customs inspectors. They may ask questions about the food you have and/or search your car for meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.
11. Drive ahead a few hundred meters to the check point. The official will inspect your pink slip for the correct number of stamps, and then send you on your way.

The Ferry: You can cross by vehicle ferry from Buenos Aires to Colonia. For three of us, plus the car, the cost was approximately AR$1,200. Prices change based on departure hour and day. There are 3-4 ferries per day, but you must arrive at the terminal 2 hours ahead of schedule to sort the border crossing paperwork. See theferry’s website for full details.

One-Year Permits: By default, you should be given a 1-year vehicle permit when you cross at this border. We were issued one without question. However, it seems that if you need one, they may tell you that the permit is only available in Montevideo and you’ll have to drive all of the way to the aduana in the big city to get the permit extended.