Driving Differences: Brazil vs Mozambique Explained
Driving in Brazil and Mozambique presents unique challenges and regulations. Key distinctions include driving sides—right in Brazil and left in Mozambique—alongside varying speed limits and road etiquette. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a safe and compliant journey in each country. Equip yourself with knowledge for a smoother travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
mozambique:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
mozambique:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
mozambique:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
mozambique:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Signals
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Mozambique |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on 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
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
mozambique:
Annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
mozambique:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
mozambique:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
mozambique:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 121 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
mozambique:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
mozambique:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,