Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Paraguay

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Paraguay — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

right

Driving Side

steering wheel on the left

0.00

BAC Limit (g/dL)

zero tolerance

—

Motorway Limit

no motorway class

recommended

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

50 km/h

Rural / Open Road

110 km/h

Motorway / Highway

—

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Paraguay

General limit: Zero tolerance (0.00)

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Paraguay can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Paraguay on the Live Map

Paraguay has a WHO-estimated 22.7 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Paraguay.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Paraguay's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

Bolivia Uruguay Brazil Argentina Chile Peru

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Paraguay drive on?

Paraguay drives on the right-hand side of the road (like most of the world).

What is the drink-driving limit in Paraguay?

Paraguay has a zero-tolerance drink-driving law: any measurable alcohol while driving is an offence.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Paraguay?

An IDP is recommended rather than strictly required for most visitors to Paraguay — but rental companies and police may still ask for one, and it is cheap insurance.

Is it safe to drive in Paraguay?

By the numbers, Paraguay has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 22.7 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is well above the global average, so extra care is needed — it ranks 47 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the right. Any alcohol at all is illegal behind the wheel. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.