Driving in Brazil: licence, roads and tolls

Zero alcohol under the Lei Seca, and frequent toll plazas on the concession highways.

• The dry law is absolute. Any measurable alcohol is an offence, roadside checkpoints are common in the cities at weekends, and refusing the test carries the same penalty as failing it.
• Toll plazas are frequent on the highways out of Sao Paulo and Rio; cards and cash are accepted and Sem Parar tags are common in hire cars.
• Avoid intercity driving at night, which is the standard local advice: unlit trucks, potholes and roadside robbery on some routes.
• Motorcycles filter between lanes constantly in every large city - check mirrors before any lane change.
• Fuel comes in two kinds. Ethanol is cheaper per litre than petrol but gives fewer kilometres; a flex-fuel hire car takes either.