Rental terms & conditions

1. Contracting parties and role of vehicle partners

Your contracting party for the rental booking is Mate Bus, Buenos Aires, Argentina (“Mate”, “we”, “us”). Mate is responsible to you for arranging the rental vehicle booked by you in accordance with these terms.

Mate does not own vehicles. To fulfil your booking, Mate arranges a checked vehicle from local partner rental companies or private owners (each a “vehicle partner”). The vehicle partner hands over the vehicle, holds the security deposit and provides the breakdown assistance through its insurance.

At pick-up you sign the vehicle partner's handover protocol (condition report). The handover protocol documents the condition of the vehicle and the practical handover details. Where the handover protocol and these terms deviate in your favour, the more favourable provision applies; otherwise these terms govern your relationship with Mate.

2. Booking and lead time

Bookings can be made online at least 21 days before the desired pick-up date. The minimum rental period is 5 days and the maximum rental period is 60 days.

Trips start in Argentina with pick-up in Buenos Aires or Córdoba (Villa Carlos Paz). Drop-off is possible at the pick-up location or, as a one-way trip, in Mendoza, Salta, Bariloche or Montevideo (Uruguay), as offered during booking.

Your booking becomes binding once you have completed payment. Reservations that have not been paid can be discarded free of charge at any time.

3. Prices and payment

All prices are stated in US dollars (USD). The total price shown at the end of the booking process includes the rental for the selected period, the selected cover option and the selected extras.

The full price is payable in advance at the time of booking by card. Payments are processed by our payment provider Stripe. Mate does not store your card data.

Costs not included in the price, such as fuel, tolls, parking fees, traffic fines and charges arising under these terms (for example for missing fuel, heavy cleaning or late return), are borne by you.

4. Vehicle category (“or similar”)

Vehicles are booked by category, not by specific model. The exact model, colour and equipment may vary within the booked category.

• ●Mate Classic: Renault Kangoo or similar, manual transmission, for 2 people.
• ●Mate Grande: Toyota HiAce or similar, automatic transmission, for 2 people.

5. Vehicle confirmation

After your booking, Mate secures a suitable vehicle from a vehicle partner. Once the vehicle partner has locked in the vehicle, Mate confirms the exact vehicle and the pick-up details to you by email, at the latest 7 days before pick-up.

If Mate is unable to secure a vehicle of the booked category, Mate will cancel the booking and refund 100 % of the amount paid.

6. Cancellation by the customer

You can cancel your booking at any time using the link on your booking page. The refund depends on the time of cancellation:

• ●100 % refund if you cancel at least 21 days before pick-up, or at any time as long as no partner vehicle has been confirmed yet.
• ●50 % refund if you cancel between 20 and 7 days before pick-up and the vehicle has already been confirmed.
• ●No refund if you cancel less than 7 days before pick-up or if you do not show up for pick-up (no-show).
• ●Unpaid reservations can be discarded free of charge.

7. Cancellation by Mate

Mate may cancel the booking if no suitable vehicle can be secured, if the vehicle becomes unavailable for reasons beyond Mate's control (for example an accident or serious damage before your trip), or if you do not meet the driver requirements at pick-up.

If Mate cancels for reasons not attributable to you, you receive a 100 % refund of the amount paid. Where possible, Mate may first offer you an alternative vehicle of the same or a higher category at no extra cost. If the booking cannot be fulfilled because you do not meet the driver requirements or do not present the required documents, the rules for cancellation by the customer apply.

8. Changes to a booking

Requests to change dates, locations, vehicle category or extras can be sent to us via the contact details on your booking page. Changes are subject to availability and may lead to a price adjustment. There is no entitlement to a change.

Shortening the rental period after the vehicle has been confirmed is treated as a partial cancellation under section 6. Early return of the vehicle does not entitle you to a refund for unused days.

9. Driver requirements

Every driver must meet the following requirements and present the corresponding documents at pick-up:

• ●Minimum age of 21 years. Some vehicle partners require a minimum age of 26; Mate assigns a suitable partner based on the driver age you provide.
• ●A valid driving licence held for at least 1 year.
• ●An International Driving Permit, recommended and, depending on the issuing country, required for driving licences not issued in Latin America.
• ●A valid passport.
• ●Only the main driver and additional drivers booked as an extra may drive the vehicle.

10. Online check-in and documents

Before your trip you complete the online check-in via your booking page. This includes the driver data and photos of the driving licence and passport of each driver. The check-in allows Mate and the vehicle partner to prepare the rental contract and speeds up the handover.

You must bring the original documents to pick-up. If the documents presented do not match the check-in data or the requirements in section 9, the vehicle may not be handed over.

11. Pick-up and return

Pick-up and return take place at the depot of the vehicle partner during the agreed times. The depot address and the handover time are sent to you with the vehicle confirmation.

At pick-up you and the vehicle partner record the condition of the vehicle in the handover protocol. Please check the vehicle carefully and make sure all existing damage is recorded. At pick-up the vehicle partner holds the security deposit on a credit card (see section 13).

The vehicle must be returned at the agreed place and time:

• ●Fuel: return the vehicle with the same fuel level as at pick-up. Missing fuel may be charged by the vehicle partner.
• ●Cleaning: return the vehicle broom-clean inside. Heavy dirt or traces of smoking may be charged by the vehicle partner.
• ●Late return: a return later than agreed without prior agreement may be charged.
• ●Damage that occurred during the rental must be reported at return and is recorded in the return protocol.

12. Use of the vehicle

The rental includes unlimited kilometres. You must treat the vehicle with care, observe the applicable traffic rules and lock the vehicle when leaving it.

The following are not permitted:

• ●Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication that impair the ability to drive.
• ●Letting persons drive who are not registered as drivers.
• ●Off-road driving. Driving on gravel roads is not off-road driving.
• ●Participation in races, driving tests or speed events, towing other vehicles, and commercial passenger or goods transport.
• ●Crossing a border without a border permit arranged before the trip.
• ●Smoking in the vehicle and transporting pets.
• ●Subletting the vehicle or using it for illegal purposes.

13. Border crossings

Crossing the border to Uruguay, Chile or Brazil is only permitted with a border permit (US$130 per trip) arranged before the trip. The border permit is mandatory for a drop-off in Montevideo. Crossing into other countries is not permitted.

You are responsible for complying with the entry, customs and food import rules of the countries you visit and for carrying the required documents.

14. Cover and security deposit

Each rental includes basic damage cover. At booking you can reduce your excess by choosing a higher cover option. The excess is the maximum amount you pay per damage event if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. The security deposit is held on a credit card by the vehicle partner at pick-up and released after a proper return.

• ●Básico (included): excess up to US$1,600; security deposit US$800.
• ●Tranquilo (US$15 per day): excess US$350; security deposit US$350; damage on gravel roads included.
• ●Total (US$25 per day): excess US$0; security deposit US$150 (for fuel and cleaning); damage on gravel roads, to the windscreen and to the tyres included.
• ●Never covered, regardless of the cover option: damage caused by driving under the influence, by unauthorised drivers, by off-road driving (gravel roads excepted), by an unauthorised border crossing or intentionally; interior damage caused by negligence; loss of keys; and fines and tolls. In these cases you are liable for the full damage.

15. Damage, accidents and breakdowns

In the event of an accident, theft, fire or damage caused by wildlife, you must inform the police immediately and obtain a police report, and notify the vehicle partner and Mate without delay. Do not acknowledge liability towards third parties. Write down the names, addresses, vehicle details and insurance details of all parties involved and take photos.

In case of a breakdown, breakdown assistance is provided via the insurance of the vehicle partner. The emergency number is in your handover documents. Mate support is also available via WhatsApp and email. Repairs may only be ordered with the prior consent of the vehicle partner.

16. Fines, tolls and parking charges

You are responsible for all traffic fines, tolls, parking charges and similar fees incurred during the rental period. If such charges are invoiced to the vehicle partner or to Mate after the trip, they may be passed on to you together with a reasonable administrative fee.

17. Liability

Mate is liable without limitation for intent and gross negligence, and for injury to life, body or health. For slight negligence, Mate is only liable for the breach of essential contractual obligations, limited to the typical, foreseeable damage. Mate is not liable for the loss of or damage to items you leave or transport in the vehicle, unless Mate is responsible for it under the preceding sentences.

You are liable for damage to the vehicle and for breaches of these terms within the limits of the cover option selected and in full in the cases that are never covered (section 14).

Mandatory statutory liability, in particular under applicable consumer protection law, remains unaffected.

18. Complaints, governing law and final provisions

If something is not right, please let us know as soon as possible, ideally during the trip, so we can help. Complaints can be sent to hola@matebus.app.

These terms and all contracts concluded under them are governed by the law of Argentina. Mandatory consumer protection rules of the country in which you have your habitual residence remain unaffected.

Should individual provisions of these terms be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected.