Brazil vs Mexico: Key Driving Differences You Should Know
When navigating the roads of Brazil and Mexico, understanding their unique driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include overtaking rules, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance levels. While Brazil enforces stricter penalties for violations, Mexico provides more flexibility in certain traffic scenarios, making it crucial for travelers to be well-informed before hitting the road.
Lanes
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | 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 |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
mexico:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
mexico:
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.
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
mexico:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
mexico:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
mexico:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
mexico:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; $40 to $200, 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 | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
mexico:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments