Driving in Brazil vs. Peru: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Brazil and Peru, drivers encounter notable variations in traffic regulations and practices. Key distinctions include overtaking rules—where Brazil prohibits left-side maneuvering, while Peru permits it—and differing speed limits on rural roads. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a safe journey in either country.
Lanes
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
peru:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
peru:
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.
peru:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
peru:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often collected by traffic police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
peru:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
peru:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
peru:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
peru:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
peru:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
peru:
Common; often collected by traffic police
Signals
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Peru |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
brazil:
Amber
peru:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
peru:
Not used in Peru
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
peru:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Only at intersections without signs prohibiting |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
peru:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
peru:
Only at intersections without signs prohibiting
Documentation
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory, proof is required during checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Typically displayed on vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
peru:
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
peru:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
peru:
Mandatory, proof is required during checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
peru:
Typically displayed on vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Often used more compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
peru:
Often used more compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 widely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
peru:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
peru:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
peru:
Common; checkpoints used widely
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
peru:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
peru:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 105 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
peru:
105
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
peru:
Varies; use 105 or specific traffic lines
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
peru:
Check with your insurance provider or local service
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
peru:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Peru | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, enforcement can be strict |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, often substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
peru:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
peru:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
peru:
Fines apply, enforcement can be strict
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
peru:
Fines apply, often substantial
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
peru:
Common; traffic police often collect fines immediately
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
peru:
Varies; typically a few days to pay