Top 5 best motorcycle rentals in Montevideo

Montevideo rewards anyone willing to get behind a set of handlebars. Follow the Rambla de Montevideo as it curves for over 20 kilometres along the coast, and within one ride you can go from the grills of Mercado del Puerto to the sand at Playa Pocitos, then out past the lighthouse at Punta Carretas. A motorcycle lets you string these places together in an afternoon instead of chasing buses between them, and it gets you to corners of the city — quiet lookouts, embassy-lined streets, a hilltop fort across the bay — that most visitors on foot never reach.

The city itself makes this easy. Montevideo is flat, compact, and built around that one long waterfront avenue, so orientation is simple even if you've never ridden here before. Traffic moves at a manageable pace, the pavement is in decent shape, and there's no need to hunt for parking the way you would in a car. It's a forgiving place for a first ride abroad, whether you're on a scooter or something with a bit more engine.

Top 10 things to see in Montevideo by motorcycle

1. Rambla de Montevideo — the ~22 km waterfront avenue that strings together nearly every beach and neighborhood, and the natural spine for any ride here.
2. Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) — a colonial-era grid with Plaza Independencia and Plaza Constitución, best parked up and explored on foot once you arrive.
3. Mercado del Puerto — a 19th-century iron-and-glass market full of parrilla grills, a natural lunch stop on an Old Town loop.
4. Playa Pocitos — the city's busiest urban beach, right off the Rambla, with a café strip for a coastal break.
5. Playa Malvín — a quieter beach further east, good for stretching the coastal run past Pocitos.
6. Parque Rodó — a lakeside park with an old amusement park, a shaded stop between the beaches and downtown.
7. Punta Carretas / Faro de Punta Carretas — the lighthouse and rocky point where the Rambla bends, a favorite lookout stop for riders.
8. Carrasco — a leafy, Art Deco embassy district reached by a longer run east toward the airport.
9. Cerro de Montevideo / Fortaleza del Cerro — a hilltop fortress across the bay with the best panoramic view of the city and port, a short ride west of downtown.
10. Estadio Centenario — the 1930 World Cup stadium and football museum, an easy inland detour from the Rambla.

What do you need to rent a motorcycle in Montevideo?

You'll need a valid motorcycle-category licence — Uruguay doesn't let a standard car licence cover a moped or scooter, so bring the right category from home. An International Driving Permit isn't formally required, but it's worth carrying alongside your national licence just in case. Rental companies will ask for your passport and licence at pickup and usually hold a deposit on your credit card; the exact amount depends on the operator and the bike. The legal driving age in Uruguay is 18, though many rental shops set their own, slightly higher minimum.

How much does it cost to rent a motorcycle in Montevideo?

Expect around 1,200–1,600 UYU per day for a basic scooter or small-cc motorcycle in low season, rising to roughly 1,800–2,600 UYU per day at the height of summer. Larger touring or premium motorcycles (400cc and up) can run 3,000–5,000+ UYU per day.

• Prices climb from December through February, when Southern Hemisphere summer brings the most visitors.
• They drop through the winter months of June to August, when demand is lowest.

When to book a rental motorcycle in Montevideo?

December to February is high season, driven by summer holidays and beach traffic along the Rambla — book ahead if you're arriving then, since good bikes get taken early and prices sit at their peak. June to August is low season, with the calmest demand and the cheapest daily rates. If you'd rather skip both extremes, October–November and March–April tend to bring milder weather without the summer crowds or winter chill. Watch out for Semana de Turismo around Easter too — it's a small but sharp spike in both bookings and prices.

Local traffic rules in Montevideo

Uruguay drives on the right. Helmets are mandatory for riders and passengers alike, and it's actively enforced, so don't plan on skipping one. Speed limits run roughly 45–60 km/h in urban areas and up to about 110 km/h on the Ruta Interbalnearia, with fixed cameras keeping an eye on things. The alcohol limit is zero tolerance — 0.0 g/L, checked with roadside breath tests — so leave the bike if you've been drinking. Handheld phone use while riding is also prohibited, and if you're heading out onto rural rutas after dark, take it easy: they're often unlit and shared with farm traffic.

Types of motorcycles available

On our website you can rent the following types of motorcycles: cruiser, sport, touring, standard, classic, dual-purpose, dirt bikes, street, naked bikes or roadsters, choppers, custom, streetfighter, sport-touring, dual-sport, on-road, off-road, adventure motorcycles, supermoto, scrambler, motorcycle with sidecar, enduro, motocross mx, trail, motards, tricycles, bikes with automatic or manual gears, luxury motorbikes.

Models of motorcycles available

On our website you can hire motorcycles from the following manufacturers: BMW, Harley Davidson, Aprilia, Buell, Cagiva, Ducati, Gilera, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, KTM, Husqvarna, Jawa, MV Agusta, Moto Guzzi, Triumph, Benelli, Bajaj, Indian, Royal Enfield, TVS, Beta, Bimota.

Which insurance is provided?

Most providers include basic third-party liability insurance in the rental price, with options to upgrade to fuller coverage that reduces or removes your deposit liability in case of damage or theft. Always confirm exactly what is and isn’t covered before you set off.

Extra services available

When you make an online motorbike reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, or delivery to your chosen address.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Compare prices from multiple local rental companies in one place;
• Read reviews from previous customers;
• Reserve online with a Best Price Guarantee;
• Friendly support if your plans change.

Most of our motorcycle rental providers have years of experience and will equip you with a well-maintained bike, helmet and insurance for the ride ahead. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a motorcycle locally, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!