Driving in Portugal

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Driving in Portugal

Many of the basic rules of the road in Portugal are very similar to those across the rest of western Europe. Following years of high road death and traffic accident statistics from reckless driving and speeding, Portugal has recently clamped down on drivers not adhering to regulations.

Below is information on:

Rules & Regulations

• Drive on the right in Portugal
• The legal age for driving a car is 18 years
• It is illegal to drive with headphones connected to a sound device
• Mobile cellular telephones (Telemóveis) may only be used with a handsfree system
• It is compulsory to wear seat belts (both front and back seats if fitted) (Cinto de Segurança). It is the driver's responsibility to ensure all passengers wear their belts (and it is the driver who will be fined if the passengers are not belted)
• Children under 12 years of age may not ride in the front passenger seats unless they are over 150cm tall. If possible special child seat belts (Sistema de Retenção para Crianças) should be used
• It is forbidden to carry devices used to evade police vigilance (radar detectors, for example)
• Dogs must be restrained in a moving car
• Suitcases and baggage carried on the vehicle must not exceed the vehicle's length by more than 45cm at the rear and 55cm at the front
• Headlights must always be used in tunnels
• It is illegal to overtake on the right in free-flowing traffic
• It is illegal for a motorbike to carry passengers under the age of seven
• If involved in a car accident the driver is obliged to stop and help injured people, collaborate in avoiding danger and other possible accidents and call the police if there are injured people or the vehicle is blocking the road and cannot be moved (Police Tel: 112)

What to Carry in the Car

It is obligatory to carry the following items in the car at all times. Not having these can result in a fine if pulled over by the police, or failure of the vehicle roadworthiness test, the IPO (Inspecção Períodica Obrigatória).

• A yellow, orange or red reflective danger jacket. The vest must be accessible without leaving the car
• Each car must carry one red reflective warning triangle
• Spare bulbs and the tools required to fit them
• A spare wheel, inflated and the tools necessary to change it
• Approved child seats for children under 12 and/or 150cm

Obligatory paperwork

• It is compulsory for the driver to carry a driving licence (Carta or Título de Condução). Valid Portuguese and EU country driving licences are accepted in Portugal. Certain non-EU licences are accepted for a period of time if accompanied with an International Driving Licence
• Road tax (Imposto Unico de Circulação) must be paid annually 
• It is compulsory to carry vehicle registration documents (Título de Registo de Propriedade) and log book (Livrete), or DUA (All-in-One Vehicle Document - Documento Único Automóvel) 
• If a car is older than four years it is compulsory to have a valid IPO certificate (Documento de Inspecção Periódica Obrigatória) as proof of roadworthiness, along with the corresponding sticker placed in a pocket on the windshield
• It is compulsory for the vehicle to have a garage service record (Livrete de Revisões) 
• It is obligatory to have at least Third Party Car Insurance (Seguro Automóvel Contra Terceiros) and display the corresponding sticker in a pocket on the windscreen

Vehicle registration documents

Note that under arrangements currently being phased in, the car registration documents (Título de Registo de Propriedade), log book (Livrete), and licence plate certificate (Certificado de Matrícula) are being replaced by a single document, the DUA All-in-One Vehicle Document (Documento Único Automóvel).

The Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres, IMTT is the administrative body for the traffic system, road safety and implementing traffic regulations.

• IMTT Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes Terrestres, IP
  At: Ave 40 das Forças Armadas, 1649-022 Lisbon
  Website
• For the Portuguese Road Code Código da Estrada) from the ANSR: Click here (in Portuguese)

Road Tax in Portugal

Road tax (Imposto Único de Circulação, IUC) must be paid annually on the date that the vehicle was first registered. Drivers are required to keep a receipt as proof of payment.

The amount of tax paid is different for vehicles registered before and after July 2007. Owners of cars registered before July 2007 pay an amount of tax directly related to the age of the vehicle and its cubic capacity. The tax on vehicles registered after July 2007 will also take into account the vehicle's CO2 emissions and the power of the engine.

Road tax can be paid at the local Finanças office or via the Internet at e-financas (a password is needed).

• To request a password: Click here (in Portuguese)

Types of Roads

Portuguese roads have been reclassified since the World Expo in Lisbon in 1998 and the European Cup Football Championships in 2004. The aim is to make them easier to understand and more consistent across the country. Many signposts and maps have been updated in the past decade. However, be aware that there may remain some instances where the road may have two names and maps may be out of date.

• The motorway network is the Auto-estrada; road signs are blue
• The regional road signs are white with black lettering

Motorways

• The speed limit (limite de velocidade) on Portuguese Auto-estradas is 120 Km/h for cars and small trucks (LGV) and 100 Km/h for tricycles and vehicles with a trailer
• Motorway entries (entradas) and exits (saidas) are numbered

There are free orange emergency SOS telephones positioned about every three to five kilometres on motorways. To use an emergency telephone, press the SOS button and wait for an answer.

In the event of a motorway breakdown, wear a reflective jacket and place the reflective triangles 30m behind and in front of vehicles to warn other drivers.

• For up to date information on the Portuguese motorways, road works and traffic conditions: Click here
• For the traffic police website: Click here

Motorway tolls

A toll fee (Portagem) is charged on most motorways, paid at the toll booths (Portagens). Each motorway is run by one of several major private companies and has its own pricing structure, so tolls vary. 

A ticket is taken from the Portagem at the start of the route and handed over at the toll booth where the payment is made at the end of the stretch of motorway. 

Frequent users can use the Via Verde (Green Route) system which allows drivers to pay monthly using the Multibanco. An electronic device automatically registers the vehicle when it passes through the tolls and calculates the mileage and cost accordingly. The Via Verde system also offers savings and priority passage at the toll points.

Note: Do not misinterpret the green Via Verde signs at toll booths on motorways. This does not mean that you can drive straight through unless you subscribe to the Via Verde system. If you get to the end of your journey without a valid toll ticket you will be penalised by a fine and have to pay the length of the entire motorway stretch and not just the section you have driven on! Be sure to go through a ticket booth lane.

Main Trunk Roads (Auto vias Principais)

• Dual carriageways (Auto vias) are toll free and have a similar appearance to motorways. The speed limit is 100 Km/h on a normal dual carriageway for cars, LGVs and motorbikes greater than 50cc (bikes under 50cc may not use these roadways)
• Main roads (Vias Públicas) have a speed limit of 90 Km/h, or 60 Km/h for motorbikes under 50cc
• Overtaking (Ultrapassagem) on the right is illegal on these roads and overtaking is banned if there is a solid white line separating the traffic

Rural & Secondary Roads

• Speed limits are 50 Km/h in rural areas and will be sign posted if there are further restrictions – to as low as 20 Km/h in villages and residential areas
• There may be railway crossings with no barriers on these roads
• Mountain passes and bridges will be closed in extreme weather
• Snow tyres and chains are recommended in some areas such as Serra da Estrela in the winter

Speed Limits

Parking in Portugal (Estacionamento)

Parking regulations vary depending on the time of day, day of the week or even the month. Towns and cities have different regulations.

• No Parking signs (Estacionamento Proibido) are often white or blue with a red line across
• Yellow or red painted signs and lines on the curb also indicate No Parking
• Where the words "Proibido Estacionar" appear beside a police code number on a garage door, police have authorisation to tow away the illegally parked vehicle
• It is illegal to park within 5 metres of a road junction, 25 metres before and 5 metres after a bus stop and within 6 metres of a tram stop
• Parking offenders risk getting points on their licence for persistently breaking the law
• Always park facing the same direction as the traffic on one-way streets.
• Some places require a residents or company parking permit (Cartão de Residente) during work hours between 08:00-18:00
• Some places require residents parking permits at all times, particularly in residential zones
• Official parking attendants are normally in uniform

Driving & Drinking

The legal blood/alcohol limit for driving when drinking in Portugal is under 0.5g/l (grams of alcohol per litre of blood) for all drivers. Those tested and found with between 0.5 and 0.8g/l face fines of between €250 and €1,250 and licence suspension between one month and one year. Levels between 0.8g/l face fines of €500 to €2,500.

Those found with 1.2g/l or above face up to one year in prison and a three year driving ban.

Renting a Car in Portugal

A fairly high deposit is usually required when renting a car (Aluguer de Automóveis). The deposit is refunded on return of the vehicle.

To rent a car in Portugal the following documents will be needed:

• Passport (Passaporte)
• Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade)
• Valid Visa Credit Card (Cartão de Credito)
• Proof of address in Portugal (Hotel/Guest House/Residency Card (Cartão de Rêsidencia)
• Official document proving: name, date of birth, address and post code
• Valid driving licence (Carta da Condução)

Breakdown Assistance

The Portuguese equivalent of the AA (Automobile Association) and RAC (Royal Automobile Company) is the ACP (Automóvel Clube De Portugal)

• Tel: 808 502 502 (open 08:00-20:00)
  Website

Like the counterparts elsewhere in Europe it offers:

• Breakdown and accident service (Avaria, Choque e Colisão)
• Help with processing legal documents
• Insurance (Seguro do Automóvel)
• Advice on car importation

Note: If a driver who is not living in Portugal has a breakdown or accident and is a member of an automobile association in their own country (such as the AA or RAC in the UK), they may find reciprocal agreements with garages and institutions in Portugal. Check with the association before departure.

Useful Addresses

• Vehicle Registration Help Office (Gabinete de Apoio ao Registo Automóvel)
  To find an office: Click here 
  Website
• Traffic Police HQ (Comando da Brigada de Trânsito)
  At: Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisbon
  Tel: 213 217 000
• Parking Regulation Enforcers - EMEL (Public Help Desk)
  At: Loja de Municípe, Rua dos Dourados Nº 108, 1100-207 Lisbon
  Tel: 217 803 100
  Website
• Portugal Automobile Club (Automóvel Clube de Portugal or ACP)
  At: Shopping Center Amoreiras, Loja 1122, Av. Engº Duarte Pacheco, 1070-103 Lisbon
  Tel: 213 714 720
  Fax: 213 714 721
  Website

Further Information

• Directorate-General for Traffic (DGV)
• Traffic Police (Guarda Nacional Repúblicana)
• Via Verde official website (in Portuguese)
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on the Green Card System
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Accidents in Portugal
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Insurance in Portugal
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Vehicle Roadworthiness in Portugal
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on the Buying & Selling a Car in Portugal
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page on the Registering a Vehicle in Portugal

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