Driving in India vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of India and Nepal, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact their travel experience. Understanding lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals is vital for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison highlights key contrasts in driving norms, equipping travelers with essential knowledge for safe adventures in both countries.
Lanes
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
india:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Nepal |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
india:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
nepal:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
nepal:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
nepal:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
nepal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
nepal:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
nepal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
nepal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Left
india:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| India | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay