Driving in Brazil

Driving in Brazil can be the best way to access some of the more remote areas of the country and also reaching parts of cities that are not well connected by train or bus services. Hire cars are readily available from major airports and in cities.

There are however, many important considerations before driving in Brazil.

Rules and Regulations

Driving legislation in Brazil is federal and therefore applies to the whole territory. There are not regional differences.

• Drive on the right side of the road, overtake on the left
• The legal minimum age for driving cars and motorcycles is 18 years 
• Mobile cellular telephones may only be used with a "hands-free" system
• In the event of an accident contact the national emergency number Tel: 193
• It's compulsory to wear a seat belt (cinto de segurança) including in the back seats if belts are fitted. If a child is too small to use a seatbelt, a child seat must be fitted
• At traffic islands/roundabouts the vehicle on the roundabout gives way to vehicles entering the roundabout system (this is not the case at other junctions)
• Park in the direction of traffic flow and not facing it

• Right turns at red lights are prohibited unless indicated by a livre a direita sign

• It is an offence for a person to drive wearing flip flops or with their elbow resting on the window sill and protruding from the vehicle

Basic third party insurance is included in the road tax, no other insurance is required by law.

Other things to take into account when driving in Brazil:

• The use of indicators other than for signaling intention to change direction can mean: left- it's unsafe to pass, right- it's safe to pass
• Headlights flashed at oncoming traffic can indicate danger ahead such as an accident or perhaps the presence of police
• Due to the high incidence of car-jacking and robbery at traffic lights, it is tolerated for drivers to not stop at red lights at night in major cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
• Drivers in Brazil may be spontaneous and indicators and mirrors may not always be used. Do not expect prior indication of a turn or other manouevres
• Drivers should keep doors locked and windows closed, particularly at junctions and especially at night

What to Carry in the Car

It is a legal requirement to carry the following in the car at all times:

• Driving licence (Carteira de Habilitação)
• Vehicle licence papers (Certificado de Registro e Licenciamento do Veículo - CRLV)
• Road tax documents (IPVA)
• A first-aid kit
• Fire extinguisher

International licenses are recommended and may avoid the need for an official Portuguese translation at the local Department of Transport office (DETRAN)

Official Organisations and Government Bodies

• Ministry of Transportation (Ministério dos Transportes)
• National Department of Traffic (Departamento Nacional de Trãnsito) 
  • To find a local National Department of Traffic office: Click here and select the state of residence
• National Department of Transportation Infrastructure (Departamento Nacional de Infra-Estrutura de Transportes - DNIT) - this government website (in Portuguese) has downloadable roadmaps as well as regular updates
• Brazilian Federal Highway Police (Departamento de Polícia Rodoviária Federal)
• For information on road travel: Click here (in Portuguese)

Road Tax 

A mandatory motor-vehicle ownership tax (imposto sobre propriedade de veiculos automotores - IPVA) is payable for all motor vehicles in Brazil. This is paid for annually; the month in which it is to be paid corresponds with the final digit of the vehicle's registration number. It is paid in arrears and not for the following year. The process is referred to as licenciamento, and to obtain the road tax statement the driver must pay any outstanding fines for parking or speeding.

• To find out when to expect to pay the tax: Click here (in Portuguese)
• To find out how much is due: Click here (in Portuguese)

This tax is calculated on the vehicle's value and is levied by the state, though the municipality in which the car is registered also receives money. The money is used at state and municipal level for general purposes.

When the payment is due, the car owner will receive a letter from the Brazilian State Transport Department (Departamento Estadual de Trânsito - DETRAN) office indicating the amount due and a due date. This letter will need to be taken to the bank which is financing the car if the owner has a loan outstanding, or in most cases, to the bank with which the owner has an account. Some banks offer an option to pay the IPVA in three monthly payments, and in some states in Brazil it is possible to pay this in monthly instalments. 

The vehicle owner will need to present their vehicle licence document (Certificado de Registro e Licenciamento do Veículo - CRLV) when making the IPVA payment. Once payment has been made, the statement sent by DETRAN will be stamped and must be kept with the other vehicle documents in the car when driving to indicate that the IPVA has been paid. Failure to pay the IPVA incurs a fine. An updated CRLV is sent through the post by the local DETRAN.

• For information on banks where the tax can be paid: Click here and select "bancos" from the left side menu

The Brazilian road tax system includes an automatic minimum third-party insurance system known as DPVAT (personal injury caused by road vehicles/danos pessoais causados por veîculos automotores de vias terrestres). This is sometimes referred to as Seguro Obrigatrio or compulsory insurance. This ensures all vehicles have minimum third-party cover and victims of road accidents will receive damages or compensation for injuries.

• For further information on the DPVAT insurance system: Click here 

Roads in Brazil

Many intercity roads in Brazil are toll roads. Drivers queue and pay at booths before proceeding along these routes.

Statistically, Brazil has some of the worst accident rates in the world. The São Paulo to Santos road along with many stretches of the coastal 101 Highway are especially dangerous routes. There are approximately 40,000 fatalities per year on Brazilian roads.

While some roads may be of very high standard, particularly state roads and toll roads, others, for example inter-city federal roads, may be in poor condition with uneven surfaces, potholes and inadequate signage.

Roads in cities can be in extremely bad condition. Steep hills and the troughs designed to carry the heavy rains in São Paulo as well as speed humps (lombadas) often cause ground clearance issues and can cause significant damage to a vehicle’s lower bodywork.

Animals or fallen trees in the road (due to heavy rain or lightning strikes), broken-down vehicles and accidents on the road can be additional worries.

Petrol/gas stations are generally not difficult to find in cities or on main connecting roads but may be much less common in remote and sparsely populated areas. Poor quality fuel can be an issue, and it is suggested to purchase fuel from a reliable source.

Traffic volume is a major issue in the larger cities and jams or tailbacks can occur outside of rush-hour without warning in many locations.

In an attempt to reduce traffic volume, São Paulo introduced a Rõdizio or rotation system which prohibits certain vehicles (except taxis and public buses) from using public roads on one weekday from 07:00-10:00 and 17:00-20:00. The day is determined by the last digit of the licence plate: 

• Last digit 1 or 2: Monday 
• Last digit 3 or 4: Tuesday 
• Last digit 5 or 6: Wednesday 
• Last digit 7 or 8: Thursday
• Last digit 9 or 0: Friday

Government transport officials police the scheme effectively and send fines by post to offenders. This is considered a serious case and will result in points being deducted from the offender’s licence. The fine can be paid immediately or when renewing road tax.

Speed Limits  

Maximum speed limits in Brazil are as follow:

• Main divided roads and highways: 120 Km/h (74 mph)
• Urban roads: 60 Km/h (40 mph) 

Lower limits may apply depending on conditions, such as steep gradients or winding roads, or near schools or hospitals. If a person is stopped for speeding they will be issued a fine. Road fines can be paid immediately at Banco Do Brazil or when renewing the annual road tax.

Brazilian Point System

A Brazilian driving licence has twenty points. Points are deducted for infractions. A minor speeding offence will typically result in a three-point endorsement. A person driving with their elbow outside the window or with an animal between their legs will lose four points. Not wearing a safety belt will result in the loss of four points. Not wearing prescribed glasses, not driving with a valid driving licence or driving with a suspended licence will result in a seven point endorsement. 

Drinking and Driving

On 19 June 2008, Brazil introduced a "dry law" indicating a nearly zero alcohol tolerance law regarding driving. The tolerated blood alcohol limit is 0.2g/l to allow for alcoholic mouthwashes or certain medicines.

This means that consuming a beer or small glass of wine before driving is now a serious offence. A driver found to have more than the legal limit of alcohol is fined based on the blood alcohol level - the higher the level, the larger the fine. In some cases the driver faces suspension, and a driver that causes an accident, injury or death may also face jail.

Since it's introduction, the law has reduced alcohol related driving incidents considerably in a short period of time. Previously, an estimated 20,000 deaths per year on Brazil’s roads were alcohol related.

Parking

It is generally not safe to park on the street in Brazil. Breaking into and subsequent theft from cars is a significant problem in certain places, including São Paulo. Insurance premiums reflect this. Whenever possible, the vehicle should be parked in secure apartment or office building parking lots. Private parking is another although sometimes costly option.

When finding parking on the street, it is a common practice for individuals to help find a parking place nearby and then guard a vehicle or vehicles. They expect to be paid a few reais for this service and is an unofficial yet valuable source of income for many. It is self regulating and generally trustworthy. Note that rudeness or indicating no intention to pay in advance or upon return could result in damage occurring to the vehicle.

Breakdown Assistance

Many insurance policies include a breakdown recovery service as part of the policy.

Related Information

• For a complete highway code (Cõdigo de Trânsito) in Portuguese: Click here 
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Accidents in Brazil
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Insurance in Brazil
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Roadworthiness & Emissions Tests in Brazil
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Buying & Selling a Car in Brazil
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Registering a Foreign Vehicle in Brazil
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Getting a Brazilian Driving Licence
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Brazil