Driving in Argentina vs. Mexico: Key Differences Explored
When exploring the roads of Argentina and Mexico, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for your safety. Key distinctions arise in speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol limits. For instance, while Argentina has stricter regulations on emergency equipment, Mexico permits right turns on red. Prepare for a safe journey by knowing these crucial variances!
Lanes
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
argentina:
0.05%
mexico:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
mexico:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
mexico:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments