Driving in Panama vs Paraguay: Key Differences Explained
When comparing driving regulations in Panama and Paraguay, notable distinctions emerge that can impact your journey. From speed limits and lane usage to documentation requirements and road etiquette, each country has unique rules designed to enhance traveler safety. Understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
paraguay:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
panama:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Signals
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Paraguay |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; 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
panama:
Not used in Panama
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
paraguay:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | 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
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
panama:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common; police checkpoints |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
paraguay:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Emergency Services
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days