Driving in Brazil

By the Viamo editorial team · Editor Terje Moy · Last updated July 2026 · 7 min read

Brazil is a continent masquerading as a country, and driving is often the only realistic way to reach its interior, explore the Pantanal's back roads or travel the coast at your own pace. But driving here demands preparation: the distances are staggering, the cities require a different approach to the open highway, tolls appear with unexpected frequency, and the fuel system has its own Brazilian logic. Here is what you need to know before you turn the key.

Licences and legal requirements

Visitors to Brazil may drive on their home country driving licence for up to 180 days from entry, as long as the licence is accompanied by an official translation or an International Driving Permit (IDP). In practice, carrying an IDP is strongly recommended — if your licence is not in Portuguese, an IDP issued by an authorised body in your home country provides the translation that traffic police and car hire companies expect to see.

The minimum driving age in Brazil is 18. If you are hiring a car, most rental companies impose a minimum age of 21 or 23 and a surcharge for drivers under 25, so check the hire firm's policy before booking.

Key legal requirements to keep in your vehicle:

• Your driving licence (and IDP if applicable)
• Vehicle registration document (Certificado de Registro e Licenciamento de Veículo — CRLV) — this should come with a hire car automatically
• Proof of insurance (seguro obrigatório — DPVAT)
• Reflective vest (required in some states)

Brazil has a zero-tolerance drink-driving law: a blood alcohol limit of effectively zero (technically 0.05 g/dL but enforced with breathalyser tests at regular checkpoints). Do not drink and drive. Penalties include fines, licence suspension and criminal charges.

The BR highway network

Brazil's federal highway network is designated with BR prefix numbers (e.g. BR-101, BR-116, BR-364). These are the main arteries of the country:

• BR-101 — runs along the Atlantic coast for most of Brazil's length, connecting cities from Rio Grande do Norte to Rio Grande do Sul. A key route for coastal travel.
• BR-116 — the longest road in Brazil, running inland from Fortaleza in the north to Jaguarão on the Uruguayan border in the south. Often called the Rodovia Presidente Dutra between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
• BR-060/BR-040/BR-050 — key routes connecting Brasília with São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the south-west.
• BR-364 — the main access road into the Amazon basin via Mato Grosso and Rondônia. Quality varies and sections become challenging in the wet season.

State highways are numbered with a two-letter state code prefix (e.g. SP-330 in São Paulo state). Quality is variable — some state roads in the south and south-east are excellent; in the north and north-east, paving and maintenance can be patchy. In remote areas, particularly in Amazônia, roads can become impassable in the rainy season (roughly November to April in most of the north).

Tolls: pedágio

Tolls are called pedágio in Brazil, and they are a significant feature of driving on major highways, particularly in the south and south-east. On busy corridors like the Via Dutra (BR-116 between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) or the Bandeirantes (SP-348), you can expect to pass through multiple toll plazas on a single day's drive, with each charge adding up.

Payment at most toll booths accepts cash (in Brazilian reais); a growing number also accept credit cards. Electronic tags (via automática or the Sem Parar / ConectCar system) are widely used by Brazilian drivers and allow passage through dedicated fast lanes without stopping. If you are hiring a car, ask whether it comes with an electronic tag — using one simplifies toll-paying considerably and avoids queuing. Some hire companies include it in the rental; others charge extra or require a cash deposit.

The toll amounts are set per vehicle category; passenger cars pay the base rate. Toll plazas on some routes charge in both directions; on others, only one direction. Carry sufficient cash for tolls if you are not using an electronic system — ATMs are not always abundant on rural highways.

Fuel: álcool, gasolina and flex vehicles

Brazil's fuel system is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. You will encounter three options at petrol stations:

• Gasolina (petrol/gasoline) — standard unleaded petrol, though by law in Brazil it must contain a percentage of ethanol (currently around 27%). This is what most hire cars will take.
• Álcool (ethanol/hydrated ethanol) — pure sugarcane ethanol, cheaper per litre than gasolina but offering lower fuel economy. Most widely used by Brazilian drivers with flex-fuel vehicles.
• Diesel — for trucks, heavy vehicles and some large SUVs.

Many Brazilian vehicles are flex-fuel, meaning they can run on any mixture of gasolina and álcool. If you hire a flex vehicle, you need to decide which fuel to use — as a rough rule, álcool is economical when its price per litre is less than about 70% of gasolina's price. Otherwise, gasolina is the better value. Ask the hire firm for guidance on which fuel to use and what is currently in the tank.

Fuel stations (postos) are plentiful in cities and along major highways, but spacing out on rural routes — particularly in Mato Grosso and the Amazon region — means you should fill up whenever you can rather than waiting until the gauge drops.

Driving in cities: be realistic

Brazilian cities require a completely different approach from open-highway driving. São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Salvador are large, complex cities with heavy traffic, aggressive local driving styles and significant security considerations.

The main safety concern in cities is vehicle crime, particularly at traffic lights. In many Brazilian cities — including São Paulo and Rio — drivers routinely run red lights at night (known as the pisca-pisca practice, slowing but not stopping) to avoid being approached at stationary traffic. This is technically illegal but widely tolerated by police in certain areas. As a visitor, be alert, keep windows up and doors locked in urban traffic, and do not leave valuables visible in the car.

Driving in a hire car with obvious tourist characteristics (GPS on the dashboard, maps out, hesitant navigation) can attract opportunistic crime. Consider using a mobile phone mount and having your route planned before you set off rather than navigating visibly while stationary. Park only in clearly supervised paid car parks (estacionamentos), not on the street in unfamiliar areas after dark.

City driving at rush hour can be extreme — São Paulo in particular has some of the worst traffic congestion in the world, with queues that can extend for over 100 km on bad days. Allow much more time than mapping apps suggest, or avoid driving into large cities during peak hours altogether.

Long distances: manage your expectations

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, and driving distances between cities are enormous. Some examples:

• São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro: around 430 km, approximately 5–6 hours.
• São Paulo to Florianópolis: around 700 km, approximately 7–8 hours.
• São Paulo to Foz do Iguaçu: around 640 km, approximately 7 hours.
• Rio de Janeiro to Salvador: around 1,650 km, approximately 18–20 hours.
• Brasília to Belém: around 2,100 km — a two-day drive minimum.

Always plan stops well before nightfall. Driving at night on rural highways is significantly riskier than daytime — visibility is lower, livestock can be on the road, and the risk of encountering unmarked vehicles or security situations increases. Many Brazilians driving long distances will stop for the night rather than drive through.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive in Brazil on my foreign licence?

Yes, for up to 180 days from entry. You should carry your original licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) if your licence is not in Portuguese. Car hire companies typically require the IDP.

What does pedágio mean in Brazil?

Pedágio is the Portuguese word for a road toll. Brazil has an extensive toll road network, particularly in the south and south-east. Tolls are paid in cash or via electronic tags (Sem Parar / ConectCar). Some hire cars include an electronic tag — ask when booking.

Is it safe to drive in Brazil?

On open highways in daylight, driving in Brazil is generally manageable, though road standards vary. In cities, vehicle crime at traffic lights is a genuine concern and requires alertness and precaution. Avoid driving in unfamiliar urban areas at night. Always research current conditions for the specific region you are visiting.

What type of fuel should I use in a Brazilian hire car?

Most hire cars run on gasolina (petrol) — but check with the hire company. Some vehicles are flex-fuel and can also run on álcool (ethanol). Ask what is in the tank and what they recommend, as the economics of álcool vs. gasolina vary with current prices.