Driving Differences: Brazil vs Paraguay Explained
When comparing the road regulations and driving practices in Brazil and Paraguay, notable distinctions emerge that can influence your travel experience. From lane usage to speed limits and alcohol regulations, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Familiarize yourself with the nuanced driving etiquette and legal expectations to navigate both countries confidently.
Lanes
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
paraguay:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brazil:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| 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
paraguay:
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
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
brazil:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; police checkpoints |
| 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%
paraguay:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 911 |
| 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 | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| 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; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
paraguay:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days