Driving in Argentina vs. Bolivia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Argentina and Bolivia, understanding the distinct driving regulations and practices is essential for a safe journey. Key differences include bus lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signal protocols. While Argentina has more structured enforcement measures, Bolivia offers a unique approach to turns and vehicle documentation, making each country’s driving experience unique.
Lanes
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
argentina:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
bolivia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
bolivia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
bolivia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
bolivia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No, not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines can be issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
bolivia:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
bolivia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
bolivia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
argentina:
Yes
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
Signals
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Bolivia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Only to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Spanish |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
Horn Usage: Allowed
argentina:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
argentina:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
bolivia:
Spanish
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints often used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies, can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service |
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
bolivia:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; may result in points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines may apply, varies by location |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines apply and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly