Driving in Guatemala vs. Vanuatu: Key Differences Explained
Welcome to our comprehensive comparison of driving regulations in Guatemala and Vanuatu. Discover essential distinctions in speed limits, road etiquette, and documentation requirements that could impact your travels. While Guatemala features more stringent insurance and vehicle inspection mandates, Vanuatu emphasizes relaxed practices, making it crucial to understand local nuances for a safer driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof may be required | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
guatemala:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
guatemala:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
guatemala:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
guatemala:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Possible; or through police stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay