Getting a Portuguese Driving Licence

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Getting a Portuguese Driving Licence

The Portuguese word for driving licence is Carta de Condução.

A person with a foreign driving licence that cannot be exchanged for a Portuguese one and a person who does not have a foreign driving licence will need to take the full theory, practical and, for some categories of licence, oral, examinations in Portuguese.

• For more on exchanging a driver's licence see AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Portugal

The information below is a basic guide to the process to expect when applying for and taking a Portuguese driving test. For detailed and specific information, enquire at a driving school or the local Directorate-General for Traffic (Direcção Geral de Viação - DGV) office.

• For the contact details of local DGV offices: Click here (in Portuguese)

Vehicles Not Requiring a Driving Licence

• Mopeds: with an engine size of up to 50cc, maximum speed of 45 Km/h, if it has automatic gears. The driver must be over 14 years of age
• Mini-cars and electric cars: with under 1 Kw power. The car must have been registered since 1 March 1992, and the driver must be over 14
• Tractors or agricultural machines: with a maximum speed of 40 Km/h, on farmland, if the driver is over 16 years of age

Driving Licences in Portugal

Categories of licence:

• A Class A or Class A1 driving licence permits the driver to drive a moped or scooter of up to 50cc with gears
• A Class B licence is required to drive a vehicle with a maximum weight of 3.5 tons, and seating no more than nine passengers, including the driver. This includes standard passenger cars, people carriers and microbuses.
  • A class B holder may tow a trailer with a maximum weight of 750 Kg
  • Class B licence holders may drive tricycles and heavy power-driven quadrocycles
  • Class B licence holders may drive a motorcycle of up to 125cc if they have had their B licence for a minimum of two years.

Applying for the Driving Licence

If the driver does not have a full valid licence and wishes to drive a car or light vehicle then a Provisional Licence (Carta de Condução Provisória) must be applied for and a Portuguese driving and theory test must be taken.

• To download the DGV application form: Click here (PDF)

Fill out an Application Form (Ficha de Inscrição) which will enrol the applicant at the chosen school. The applicant will need to supply their name, address and contact details and their date of birth.

The school will require the following documents:

• Passport (Passaporte) or Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade)
• Residency Permit (Cartão de Residência)

The applicant will have to fill out a form which will be supplied by the school and must be stamped by the school and signed by its director. The school will also supply all the necessary handbooks (Guias), highway codes (Código de Estrada) and other information. Driving lesson prices vary from school to school.

• The Portuguese Highway Code is available in English from the DGV: Click here (PDF)

Application for a driving test

Apply at the DGV or through a driving school for the registration Form Nº 1403 INCM. This must be completed and submitted to the DGV. If the applicant is a minor, it must be filled in and signed by a parent or guardian (Authorização do Poder Paternal).

• To download registration Form 1403: Click here (PDF)

The following documents must be provided:

• Proof of identity – Passport (Passaporte), Identity Card (Bilhete de Identidade) or Green Residency Card (Cartão de Residência)
• Two recent matt colour identity photos with the applicant's name clearly printed on the back
• Two stamped self-addressed envelopes
• A medical certificate (Atestado Medico para Condutor de Veículos) filled out and signed by a doctor

It will then be necessary to study for and take the theoretical exam. Once the theory exam has been passed the applicant is entitled to five attempts at the practical exam over the course of two years.

Learner Drivers (Aprendiz de Condução)

Basic driving practice can begin at 16 years of age if certain criteria are met. These are:

• Written consent from parent or guardian
• Must not have a police prohibition order (resulting from joyriding or illegal driving)
• Must have the necessary physical, mental and psychological aptitude
• Must have residency in Portugal for at least 185 days of the year
• Must be able to read and write
• Must be enrolled at a government-licensed driving centre

The learner driver can then register with the DGV and a driving school (Escola de Condução), as described above.

• To find a DGV approved driving school in Portugal: Click here (in Portuguese)

Note: learning to drive and taking the examination in an automatic car does not qualify the driver to a full category B licence.

Getting the provisional licence

Once signed up with a registered driving school the learner must take an "evaluation of knowledge". If successful, the learner must have a minimum of 32 hours driving practice with a school before taking a general theory test. Once this has been completed satisfactorily the candidate is issued with a provisional driving licence valid for three years (Carta de Condução Provisória), which allows them to drive accompanied by an adult (over the age of 21) who has held a full Portuguese driving licence for a minimum of three years. There will also be teaching follow-up by the driving school in preparation for the full test and training from age 18.

• An unlicensed trainee driver may not drive outside of Portugal and is restricted to a speed limit of 90 Km/h on motorways
• The insurance company of the owner of the vehicle must be notified and be in agreement

The practical driving test

The practical exam can only be taken from the age of 18 years by a learner who has completed the accompanied driving training for a period of one to three years.

Exams are taken at a DGV approved Driving Exam Centre (Centro de Exames de Condução) There are approximately 33 centres nationwide (20 public and 13 private). The exam must be taken in the area where you are registered with the DGV.

Take the following documents to the test:

• Passport
• ID Card
• Residency Card or Authorisation to Residency Certificate
• Provisional Driving Licence (Carta de Condução Provisória de Aprendizagem)
• Instruction Manual (Caderneta de Instruendo)

Driving Tests in Portugal are in three parts: Theoretical (Teórica), Technical (Técnica) and the Practical Driving Exam (Prática de Condução).

The theory test contains 30 questions to be answered in 35 minutes of which 27 must be correct. There is also an oral Technical Test which lasts 50 minutes. If the candidate is foreign, and does not have sufficient knowledge of Portuguese an Embassy or Consulate accredited interpreter may be taken to the exam. The Practical Test is the same as in all EU countries and takes place through a 40-55 minute course in traffic.

• For more details from the DGV: Click here (PDF)

If the driver fails the exam a Failure Report (Relatório de Reprovação) will be issued highlighting the reasons for failure. A new driving test appointment must then be booked by the driving school for a test at the same test centre at a later date.

Once all tests have been passed the driving inspector will issue the driver with a Temporary Driving Licence (Guia para Condução Temporária or Carta de Condução Provisória/Temporária) for use until the official full document is issued. This permits the driver to drive anywhere in Portugal.

To get a full driving licence

Take the Guia or Carta de Condução Temporária supplied by the driving inspector and hand it in to the driving school. The school will arrange for and present the new driver with a full driving licence (Carta da Condução) within a few days.

The following will be needed as well as the temporary licence:

• Proof of identity
• Money to pay the tax/fee

Alternatively, the driver may request the licence by post from the DGV, by sending:

• The Guia or Carta da Conduçaõ Temporária supplied by the driving inspector
• A stamped, self-addressed registered envelope
• A cheque for payment of regional/municipal taxes

Note: Drivers who wear spectacles or contact lenses must ensure that this is stated on the licence. It is compulsory to wear them when driving and contact lens wearers must keep a set of spectacles with them at all times while driving.

There are special exemptions for physically disabled people. Please enquire at the DGV or driving school.

Portuguese Driving Licence Renewal

From 1 January 2008, all drivers aged 50 and over are obliged to renew their driving licences. The rules cover several types of vehicle including motorbikes, cars with a weight limit of 3.5 tonnes and vehicles with tow bars, where the age limit is due to be reduced from 65 to 50.

The licence renewal process for commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, buses (vehicles with over 8 seats) and vehicles with towing facilities remains unchanged. Drivers of these vehicles must renew their licences once they reach 40 years of age.

To renew a Portuguese driving licence for the first time, drivers require a medical certificate proving they are fit enough to drive. Renewal requests can be made at the IMTT office  or the nearest citizen's shop (Loja do Cidadão).

Revalidation of a Driving Licence

Under Portuguese law there is an obligation for drivers of 70 or over to take a Re-validation Driving Test (Revalidação do Título de Condução).

Six months before a driver reaches 70 they must apply for the Revalidação do Título de Condução from their nearest DGV office. The following documents are needed:

• A medical document attesting physical and mental ability to drive (Atestado Médico)
• Forms 1403 and 1403A, completed
• Two recent matt colour passport photographs with name printed on the reverse
• Passport and identity card (Passaporte e Bilhete de Identidade) - originals and photocopies
• Original driving licence and photocopy
• Fee

Reissue of Lost, Stolen or Expired Licence

A driving licence may be reissued in circumstances of loss, theft, change of personal details (name, address, etc.) or for re-validation.

The following documents are required:

• Forms 1403 and 1403A duly filled out and signed by the applicant
• Declaration of Responsibility (Form 84 DGV) in the case of loss or theft
• Photocopy of passport (main pages) or ID card and presentation of the originals
• Two colour photographs (3.5 x 2.5cm) with name clearly printed on the back
• Fee in cash or cheque made payable to the DGV
• Photocopy of the original driving licence to be substituted

Further Information

• Directorate-General for Traffic (DGV)
  At: Avenida da Republica 16 5º, 1069-055 Lisbon (HQ)
  Tel: 213 122 100
  Website
• Portuguese Highway Code in English
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Driving in Portugal
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Portugal
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Accidents in Portugal
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Car Insurance in Portugal