Car rental in Bolivia

To keep your driving experience positive when travelling on the roads of Bolivia, you should comply with local regulations. However, there are not many police officers in the country, so you would have to be quite unlucky to receive a fine. This has its pros and cons, as it applies equally to foreign tourists and local drivers. It is a fact that the way some Bolivian drivers observe the rules of the road can cause accidents, so you need to exercise caution and remain vigilant.

The basic rules of the road in Bolivia are:

• drive on the right; overtaking is permitted only on the left;
• seat belts must be worn by everyone in the vehicle, from the driver to passengers in the rear seats;
• dipped headlights must be used in the evening, at night and in poor visibility;
• in the mountainous regions of Bolivia, winter tyres are mandatory in cold conditions;
• the use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited.

The permissible blood alcohol level is 0.5 ‰. However, given the terrain — the foothills and mountainous relief — you should drive extremely carefully on the roads of this country. In addition, the often chaotic movement of vehicles and pedestrians means you must not lose concentration, and alcohol is known to reduce it. In Bolivia, you need to take responsibility for your own safety.

In this respect there is almost complete freedom. You can leave the car anywhere you like where there are no road signs or road markings prohibiting parking.