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Driving in Brazil-tips, pointers?
Driving in Brazil-tips, pointers?
Hi there,
I will be travelling to Brazil in a few months, staying about 3-4 weeks. (there will be two of us)
We would like to do some driving in Brazil, ideally from Rio to Sao Paulo to stay with some friends for a few days.
Ideally we would like to drive one way, Rio-Sao Paulo and leave the car with the car rental company. Is this possible?
Also, does anyone have recommendations on rental companies? Prices?
What about driving licences?
We have an Irish driving licence, and a Spanish licence between us. Will they be accepted? If not any pointers to whats officially accepted? (Brazilian weblinks would be ok, we speak Portuguese).
Thanks in advance,
bernie
Hi there,
I will be travelling to Brazil in a few months, staying about 3-4 weeks. (there will be two of us)
We would like to do some driving in Brazil, ideally from Rio to Sao Paulo to stay with some friends for a few days.
Ideally we would like to drive one way, Rio-Sao Paulo and leave the car with the car rental company. Is this possible?
Also, does anyone have recommendations on rental companies? Prices?
What about driving licences?
We have an Irish driving licence, and a Spanish licence between us. Will they be accepted? If not any pointers to whats officially accepted? (Brazilian weblinks would be ok, we speak Portuguese).
Thanks in advance,
bernie
Re: Driving in Brazil-tips, pointers?
On Jan 8, 6:20 am, blue box thief
<"bNO"""@runningREMOVEwithTHISbulls . com > wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I will be travelling to Brazil in a few months, staying about 3-4 weeks. (=
there will be two of us)
>
> We would like to do some driving in Brazil, ideally from Rio to Sao Paulo =
to stay with some friends for a few days.
>
> Ideally we would like to drive one way, Rio-Sao Paulo and leave the car wi=
th the car rental company. Is this possible?
>
> Also, does anyone have recommendations on rental companies? Prices?
>
> What about driving licences?
>
> We have an Irish driving licence, and a Spanish licence between us. Will t=
hey be accepted? If not any pointers to whats officially accepted? (Brazilia=
n weblinks would be ok, we speak Portuguese).
>
> Thanks in advance,
> bernie
The last time we drove in Brazil was in 2003 so my info would only be
for reference. The rental car companies in Rio congregate on Avenida
Princessa just outside of the tunnel in Copacabana. Internationa
driving license is good to have but not mandatory I think. But I
remember in 2003 I did get the international license. There will
likely be a drop off charge if you rent one way.
We drove from Rio to Parati and returned the car in Rio, but at GIG
rather than the place we rented in Copa. Between Rio and Sao Paulo
there is likely limited access highway the road condition should be
decent. But you will be driving along traffic clogged roads near both
cities. The things which didn't changed are
1. People in Brazil think they own the road behind the wheel and want
to emulate Ayrton Senna.
2. Do not drive in the city. You will be asking for trouble if you do
because you'll be stuck in slow moving traffic for hours.
3. Driving through towns in non-limited access road you want to be
very careful. They all have road bumps to slow the traffic down going
through town. Frequently the sign for the bump is missing. If you
drive at night and miss the sign it will cause severe car damage.
Think twice about driving at night.
On Jan 8, 6:20 am, blue box thief
<"bNO"""@runningREMOVEwithTHISbulls . com > wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I will be travelling to Brazil in a few months, staying about 3-4 weeks. (=
there will be two of us)
>
> We would like to do some driving in Brazil, ideally from Rio to Sao Paulo =
to stay with some friends for a few days.
>
> Ideally we would like to drive one way, Rio-Sao Paulo and leave the car wi=
th the car rental company. Is this possible?
>
> Also, does anyone have recommendations on rental companies? Prices?
>
> What about driving licences?
>
> We have an Irish driving licence, and a Spanish licence between us. Will t=
hey be accepted? If not any pointers to whats officially accepted? (Brazilia=
n weblinks would be ok, we speak Portuguese).
>
> Thanks in advance,
> bernie
The last time we drove in Brazil was in 2003 so my info would only be
for reference. The rental car companies in Rio congregate on Avenida
Princessa just outside of the tunnel in Copacabana. Internationa
driving license is good to have but not mandatory I think. But I
remember in 2003 I did get the international license. There will
likely be a drop off charge if you rent one way.
We drove from Rio to Parati and returned the car in Rio, but at GIG
rather than the place we rented in Copa. Between Rio and Sao Paulo
there is likely limited access highway the road condition should be
decent. But you will be driving along traffic clogged roads near both
cities. The things which didn't changed are
1. People in Brazil think they own the road behind the wheel and want
to emulate Ayrton Senna.
2. Do not drive in the city. You will be asking for trouble if you do
because you'll be stuck in slow moving traffic for hours.
3. Driving through towns in non-limited access road you want to be
very careful. They all have road bumps to slow the traffic down going
through town. Frequently the sign for the bump is missing. If you
drive at night and miss the sign it will cause severe car damage.
Think twice about driving at night.
Re: Driving in Brazil-tips, pointers?
Just saw this post so the reply is late, maybe too late. I drove from Rio
to Sao Paolo on the coast route in 2002. At the time an int'l license
wasn't necessary but I had one anyway. I had the car for 3 days in Rio and
then for the 2-day trip to Sao Paolo and it cost about $350 US cy. The road
is very good and the scenery beautiful except for all the oil tankers
offshore. Be real careful approaching each town because of the speed bumps.
Although the ocean is pretty I've heard it is quite polluted. I stopped in
Ubatuba for the night, very picturesque and vibrant. It was easy to find
reasonably priced lodging. Before the long steep climb from the coast to
Sao Paolo get gasoline in Santos. I nearly ran out on the way and it would
have been a disaster if I hadn't picked up a hitchiker who told me which
turnoff had a station. It's 2 lanes each way with nowhere to pullover to
the side of the road. All cars, trucks and busses go as fast as they can
and they sound like they have no mufflers. It's similar to, but 10 times
worse than rush hour on hwy 17 between Santa Cruz and San Jose, CA. Sao
Paolo driving was hair raising, about as bad as Mexico City but not as bad
as Cairo. It is a huge city and streets and hiways change names about every
other block. It took me over an hour to find Congonhas Airport from less
than a mile away. A few pictures of that trip are at:
* home.hawaii.rr . com /morepat/rio.htm
> I will be travelling to Brazil in a few months, staying about 3-4 weeks.
> (there will be two of us)
>
> We would like to do some driving in Brazil, ideally from Rio to Sao Paulo
> to stay with some friends for a few days.
>
> Ideally we would like to drive one way, Rio-Sao Paulo and leave the car
> with the car rental company. Is this possible?
>
> Also, does anyone have recommendations on rental companies? Prices?
>
> What about driving licences?
>
> We have an Irish driving licence, and a Spanish licence between us. Will
> they be accepted? If not any pointers to whats officially accepted?
> (Brazilian weblinks would be ok, we speak Portuguese).
>
Just saw this post so the reply is late, maybe too late. I drove from Rio
to Sao Paolo on the coast route in 2002. At the time an int'l license
wasn't necessary but I had one anyway. I had the car for 3 days in Rio and
then for the 2-day trip to Sao Paolo and it cost about $350 US cy. The road
is very good and the scenery beautiful except for all the oil tankers
offshore. Be real careful approaching each town because of the speed bumps.
Although the ocean is pretty I've heard it is quite polluted. I stopped in
Ubatuba for the night, very picturesque and vibrant. It was easy to find
reasonably priced lodging. Before the long steep climb from the coast to
Sao Paolo get gasoline in Santos. I nearly ran out on the way and it would
have been a disaster if I hadn't picked up a hitchiker who told me which
turnoff had a station. It's 2 lanes each way with nowhere to pullover to
the side of the road. All cars, trucks and busses go as fast as they can
and they sound like they have no mufflers. It's similar to, but 10 times
worse than rush hour on hwy 17 between Santa Cruz and San Jose, CA. Sao
Paolo driving was hair raising, about as bad as Mexico City but not as bad
as Cairo. It is a huge city and streets and hiways change names about every
other block. It took me over an hour to find Congonhas Airport from less
than a mile away. A few pictures of that trip are at:
* home.hawaii.rr . com /morepat/rio.htm
> I will be travelling to Brazil in a few months, staying about 3-4 weeks.
> (there will be two of us)
>
> We would like to do some driving in Brazil, ideally from Rio to Sao Paulo
> to stay with some friends for a few days.
>
> Ideally we would like to drive one way, Rio-Sao Paulo and leave the car
> with the car rental company. Is this possible?
>
> Also, does anyone have recommendations on rental companies? Prices?
>
> What about driving licences?
>
> We have an Irish driving licence, and a Spanish licence between us. Will
> they be accepted? If not any pointers to whats officially accepted?
> (Brazilian weblinks would be ok, we speak Portuguese).
>
