Driving in Paraguay vs. Portugal: Key Differences Explained
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the road regulations in Paraguay and Portugal is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience. While both nations prioritize safety, notable contrasts exist in speed limits, lane usage, and documentation requirements. This comprehensive comparison will guide you in navigating these unique driving environments effectively.
Lanes
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Rarely, usually prohibited. | Prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
portugal:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
portugal:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
paraguay:
N/A
portugal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
paraguay:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities. | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
paraguay:
40 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
paraguay:
110 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
paraguay:
No
portugal:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
paraguay:
N/A
portugal:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
portugal:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
paraguay:
Common
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Paraguay | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; standard symbols used as well | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed where not prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent than in some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
portugal:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police checkpoints | Common, especially during holidays |
Limits: Professional Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
paraguay:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Emergency Services
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
paraguay:
911
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
paraguay:
911
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
paraguay:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Paraguay | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply; amount varies | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; amount varies | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines and penalties | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; usually within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay