Driving in Brazil vs. Bulgaria: Key Differences Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Brazil and Bulgaria, crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency contacts, this comparison reveals significant distinctions that every traveler should be aware of. Stay informed to navigate safely in these diverse driving environments.
Lanes
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Primarily reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
bulgaria:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
bulgaria:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
bulgaria:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
bulgaria:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
bulgaria:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
bulgaria:
140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
bulgaria:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
bulgaria:
100 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Bulgaria |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Bulgarian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
bulgaria:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
bulgaria:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
bulgaria:
Substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
bulgaria:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Varies by region |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
bulgaria:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
bulgaria:
Varies by region
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Up to €50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Up to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; typically fined and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; fines often paid onsite |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
bulgaria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
bulgaria:
Up to €50
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
bulgaria:
Up to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay