Driving Differences: Brazil vs. Dominican Republic
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Brazil and the Dominican Republic, where distinct regulations and practices shape the road experience. Key differences include overtaking rules, speed limits, and the use of emergency equipment. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either destination.
Lanes
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Often not marked. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
dominican republic:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
dominican republic:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No; speed checks are done by police radar |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Possible for traffic infractions |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
dominican republic:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
dominican republic:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
dominican republic:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
dominican republic:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
dominican republic:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
dominican republic:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brazil:
Yes
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
Signals
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Dominican Republic |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used in many situations |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
Horn Usage: Allowed
brazil:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Yes, annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
dominican republic:
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
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Required
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
Use Of Horn: Limited
brazil:
Only in emergency situations
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
Alcohol
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Results in arrest and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
dominican republic:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 911 or designated local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required and recommended as a safety measure |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
dominican republic:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Dominican republic | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines for non-compliance with signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible for common violations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; often within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
dominican republic:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days