Driving in Costa Rica vs India: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and India, drivers will encounter a host of unique regulations and practices. Notable differences include driving on the right in Costa Rica versus the left in India, distinct speed limits, and the presence of bus lanes. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
india:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
india:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and local languages; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
costa rica:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
costa rica:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
costa rica:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
costa rica:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
costa rica:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
costa rica:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
india:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
india:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay