Driving in Bolivia vs. Brazil: Key Safety Differences
As you prepare for your travels, understanding the nuances of driving regulations in Bolivia and Brazil becomes essential for ensuring a secure journey. While Bolivia allows overtaking on the left, Brazil prohibits it, showcasing the crucial distinctions in lane usage. Additionally, speed limits and alcohol regulations vary significantly, impacting your overall driving experience.
Lanes
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
brazil:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
brazil:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
brazil:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 60-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 80-120 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: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
brazil:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
brazil:
60-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
brazil:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
brazil:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
brazil:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Brazil |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
brazil:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
brazil:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
Documentation
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required every year for passenger vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield or license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
brazil:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in immediate license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
brazil:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
Test Refusal
bolivia:
Can result in license suspension
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 190 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 191 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, especially at night |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
brazil:
190
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
brazil:
191
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines with potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Fines for all unrestrained passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; generally 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
Common Fines: Alcohol
bolivia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay