Driving in Argentina vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Argentina and New Zealand, drivers encounter contrasting regulations and practices that shape their travel experience. Notably, Argentina drives on the right while New Zealand adheres to the left. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage differ significantly, underscoring the importance of understanding these variations for safe navigation abroad.
Lanes
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
argentina:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
argentina:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
argentina:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
argentina:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
argentina:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
argentina:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
argentina:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
argentina:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
argentina:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or 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
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
argentina:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
argentina:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
argentina:
Common
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
argentina:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
argentina:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay