Self Drive Tours in Brazil
Brazil is not only the largest country in South America, it is also home to a wide variety of landscapes, cultures and natural wonders. A good way to discover as much as possible is through a car rental trip. Take a relaxed drive through Brazil's natural scenery with a rental car and enjoy the impressive sites and dreamy beaches. Our car rental tours in Brazil are perfect for self-discoverers who want to unveil the multi-faceted country and its people on their own.
A real highlight is, for example, our 9-day car rental tour through Santa Catarina. On this road trip you will discover the Atlantic Rainforest, the mountainous landscape of the Serra Catarinense and its beautiful sandy beaches. As a real insider recommendation, we would like to suggest our Bahia road trip, which runs along the Cocoa and Dende coast from Salvador to Itacare. On this car rental trip you will discover secluded beaches, cocoa fazendas and the Atlantic Rainforest and can benefit from a rich offer of outdoor activities.
Below You Will Find Our Most Popular Car Rental Tours in Brazil
Let yourself be enchanted by the diversity of the South of Brazil during this trip by rental car. From Porto Alegre you will start your journey to the most popular wine region in the country and learn about the history of Italian immigration and local wineries first hand. In the interior of the country, you will hike and admire an impressive landscape with canyons 3,000 feet (900 meters) deep and up to 160 miles (250 kilometers) long. You design your daily program and determine the rhythm of your journey. On the way to the "Magic Island" of Florianopolis, many interesting places pull you in every direction. Enjoy the rich cultural and culinary offerings as well as the region's exuberant hospitality.
On this self drive tour through the Northeast of Brazil you will explore the unique coastal section from Recife to Salvador. Bask by picturesque beaches, crystal clear waters, panoramic landscapes, and colonial flair and discover the diverse surroundings and the unique Brazilian way of life on your own.
There is hardly a city in Brazil that is better suited for free roaming for a few days in your own rental car. The "Magic Island" of Florianopolis awaits you during these four days with its countless highlights and ever new and breathtaking views. Discover this unique city of beaches, forests, lagoons, and dunes at your own pace.
Discover on this self drive tour the unique states of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais, from the city of Rio to Belo Horizonte, on your own with a rental car. Let the lush green vegetation between imposing mountain ranges and colonial cities take you under the spell of this area steeped in history. Discover a unique local culture, which is still strongly influenced by the business of mineral resources and huge mines.
On this rental car tour you will experience the wild landscape of Central Brazil in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region around its national park. Deep gorges crisscross the plateau here, allowing numerous waterfalls and canyons to line up. The natural attractions are surrounded by varied vegetation of the Cerrado (Brazilian grasslands), the second largest biome in South America and the most species-rich landscape in the world. Depending on how much you want to hike, a local guide will tailor an optimal itinerary for you upon arrival.
On this nine-day journey of self-discovery you will experience the state of Bahia in its most varied forms. In a rental car you will travel along the Cocoa and Dende coast from Salvador to Itacare. On the way you will discover paradise-like beaches, colonial towns, mangroves, and the Atlantic Rainforest. Active travelers in particular will get their money's worth with various outdoor activities during this tour. Bahia is considered the cultural center of Brazil and impresses all with its Afro-Brazilian traditions in gastronomy and music.
During this journey you will experience the fantastic Costa Verde during your own road trip. The green coast of Brazil with its small bays, beaches, and islands will amaze you. Discover the picturesque colonial town of Paraty and get to know the diverse surroundings on your own. Enjoy paradise and the dreamy beaches of Ilha Grande and go on excursions as you please.
Organization and Routes for Car Rental Tours in Brazil
With our car rental tours you can discover the many facets of Brazil on your own without sacrificing careful planning. Our specialized travel consultants will take care of your request, no matter if it is an existing route or if you want to explore another region. We will book accommodations for you, provide insider tips and suggest excursions. Contact us directly here.
Even before your arrival, your travel consultant will provide you with important information and tips for your car rental trip in Brazil. However, it is recommended that you review the route beforehand and download an offline map on your cell phone. Offline translation and navigation apps that use GPS can also be a great help during the road trip.
Legal Requirements for a Car Rental Trip in Brazil
In order to rent a car in Brazil, renters must be 21 years old and have a valid driver's license issued no less than 2 years before the date of rental.
In addition, renters must present their passports with correct tourist-visa stamps. A credit card for the security deposit, issued in the name of the driver, will be required.
By default, when booking a rental car Aventura do Brasil includes 2 categories of insurance for the renter: collision damage waiver and loss damage waiver (“Risk coverage for the car”), and third-party liability cover (“Risk coverage for third parties,” which includes bodily injury, property damage, and immaterial damage).
All about Security
The rental cars are picked up and dropped off at the airport, so you don't have to drive directly into large cities or their suburbs, but can drive directly onto major access roads. We do not recommend stopping on open roads during your road trip, picking up hitchhikers, or driving through favelas or slums. We also advise against driving longer distances in the dark. If you must park in a public area, seek guarded lots and do not leave any valuables in the car. Road conditions in Brazil are often worse than in your country, so you should adjust your speed accordingly. Brazil also has speed cameras, so keep within the speed limits.
What to Do in Case of an Accident
Should an accident occur during your road trip, please contact your car rental company directly. You will also need to fill out a "Boletim de Ocorrência" (BO) with the police, which is an account of the exact details of the accident. This BO must then be presented to the car rental company.
Useful Tips on Roads and Traffic in Brazil
In Brazil the traffic regulations are largely identical to those in the States and Europe. From our own experience we advise you to drive cautiously in Brazil, so that dangerous situations can be avoided in advance. Be prepared for frequent passing, cut offs and horn honking (which is also an expression of gratitude). In such situations, maintain a calm demeanor and, if possible, yield passage. We also recommend driving carefully at intersections and roundabouts where the right of way is not clearly visible to you.
At gas stations, you generally do not fill up the tank yourself. You wait in the car for the employee who will pump the gas for you. Simply hand the key to the attendant through the car window, open the gas cap and indicate how much you want. Payment is then made at the window, usually by card or cash.
On some major roads and highways there can be toll booths. The toll can only be paid in cash, so you should always have some spare change with you in the car.
Finally, we would like to point out that the tips and advice given here are intended to boost your awareness of common occurrences, not make you feel uncomfortable or over-cautious.
We recommend that you travel through this wonderful country with open arms and common sense.
FAQs about Car Rental Tours in Brazil
What driver's licenses are valid in Brazil?
A US, UK, or another European driver's license is valid in Brazil for up to 180 days after entry.
Renters must present their passports with correct tourist-visa stamps.
What are the requirements to rent a car in Brazil?
The following prerequisites apply for car rental in Brazil:
- A valid driver's license (e.g., US or UK)
- At least 2 years of driving experience
- A credit card for the security deposit, issued in the name of the driver
- Must be at least 21 years old
Are rental car trips in Brazil dangerous?
The road conditions in Brazil are generally much worse than in the States or Central Europe, so your speed should be adjusted accordingly. It is also important to note that not all motorists have functioning headlights in the dark. We advise against driving long distances in the dark!
To avoid danger, we recommend not driving directly in large cities or their outskirts. We arrange for our rental cars to be picked up and dropped off at airports so that you can drive directly on large access roads. No valuables should be left in the vehicle, the doors should be locked and the windows rolled up when exiting. The vehicle should only be parked in guarded lots, at restaurants and shops, at gas stations or at the accommodation site.
Is there a compulsory booster seat in Brazil?
Yes, for children up to 7.5 years of age there is a booster seat obligation in Brazil. This obligation does not apply to transfers with a driver or guide.
What do I have to consider when going to gas stations in Brazil?
In Brazil, you do not pump gas yourself. You wait in the car while the attendant pumps the gas for you. The driver simply hands the key through the car window, opens the gas cap and indicates how much gas to pump. Most cars are equipped with "gasolina comum" or "alcool", but the car rental company will inform you of this when you pick up the car. The easiest way is to always fill up the tank completely: "Favor completar com gasolina comum/alcool" (English: "Please fill it up with ...").
Payment is then made at the window, usually by card or cash.
Are there other traffic regulations in Brazil?
The traffic rules in Brazil are for the most part identical to those in North America and Central Europe. However, we recommend caution at intersections where the right-of-way rules do not seem clear. The same applies to roundabouts. In Bahia, for example, the right of way is given to vehicles entering a roundabout.
Are there tolls booths?
There are many routes where a small toll is charged, which is indicated on signs in front of the toll booth. As the toll can only be paid in cash, you should have some spare change with you in the vehicle when you travel throughout Brazil. This is also useful to pay parking lot attendants with 1 or 2 Reais (a common practice).
Are there any general tips for traffic behavior in Brazil?
From our own experience, we advise you to drive very carefully from the outset to avoid dangerous situations. Often there is a bit of cutting off and close-distance driving, and sometimes motorists use their headlights and/or horns to indicate that they want to pass you. Here we recommend to not be alarmed and simply yield passage. If someone offers you the right of way, do not be afraid to thank them in common Brazilian fashion by honking your horn.