I understand that Canadian visitors must possess a six-month temporary driving permit in order to drive.
I also understand that this permit is issued by the Traffic Department in Brazil, after presentation of an official Portuguese translation of the Canadian driver's licence. The translation must be obtained in Brazil.
I would like to know what is involved with getting this permit? Is it done at the border? Does it take a couple of hours or a couple of days? What is the approximate costs?
Are there any other countries in South America where I can not ride using my Canadian Drivers License and my International Drivers License.

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Hi Lend,

I'm from canada too and nobody ever ask me anything about a special driving permit when I was in brasil.

I left canada with an International Driving Permit and never used it in all Central and South America. Maybe 3 to 4 time the police ask me for one but you just tell them you don't have one. If they don't understand your paper, then they don't know what to do and let you go...

Patrick

The international driving licence is not valid in Brasil, which I discovered after being crunched by a car near Itajai & taken to a police station. The numerous 'normal' roadside checks went by without incident & they were happy with just the international licence.

As I understand it, the Brazillian licence includes a minimal third party insurance & thats part of its renewal fee. Its a good thing the accident wasnt my fault or it could've been *deep* shit time. I persuaded them to let me go by showing my UK licence, international licence and the 'counterpart licence', claiming that with all three documents together it was valid in all countries.

The international licence is valid in all other S.American countries.

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Thanks for confirming that an internation drivers license or Canadian drivers license is not valid in Brazil. I realize that even a library card will get me through most road checks/etc. and will work until something goes wrong. But my question still remains, what would the cost/time/process be to get my Canadian License Translated in Brazil and could I get this done at any Brazil border crossing. A requirement is that this be done in Brazil. The Brazil consulates just keep quoting the requirement, but can not or will not give me any information as to what is involved in meeting the requirement.

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As a Canadian I have been through the hoops to get a Brasil Drivers licence. The CAA International Drivers Permit is not recignized.
The only place in all of Brasil that a Non Brazilian can get a "Temporary Permit" is at DETRAN in Sao Paulo..
1: You need a Valid Canadian Drivers licence,
2: You need the Provincial Ministry of Transportation description of licensing categories. ie Ontario GM
3: Proof of residency in Sao Paulo. (Rent reciept, utility bill, or a sworn statement by a freind that you live at their residence along with their proof of resdency)
4:You will have to have a Portuguese speaker attend DETRAN Foreigners section with you. There you will be given a slip of paper for a recognized "Translation Service by the witch in charge. (Its run by her son)
5: With all the documentation return to DETRAN and then you get another slip of paper to pay the fee at a close by bank.
6: Return to DETRAN and present the documents again.
7: Return in 2 days and pick up your "National Drievers Permit" Good for 1 year
8: Return prior to expiry and you can get a Permanent National Permit.

Now the fun begins as most Police outside of Sao Paulo have never seen this document however the Policia Federal are familiar with it.

Most RTW travellers dont need to do this, however if you own a Brazilian vehicle it can save you a lot of grief should you run into a nasty cop.

If you have a Brazilian vehicle the manditory insurance is included with the yearly registration fee.