Driving in Portugal

But if you’re planning a road trip to Portugal, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time, as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your trip to the Continent as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Portugal section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

• Need single trip European Breakdown Cover? Get a quote from just £6

In an emergency

Emergency telephones linked to an SOS network are installed at 2km intervals along motorways and IP (itinerários principais) and IC (itinerários complementares). 

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting. 

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French. 

Driving licence laws

Visitors must be aged 18 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to legally drive in Portugal. Riders of motorcycles up to 125cc must be aged 16 or over, as must those riding a moped (not exceeding 50cc).  

Driving licences issued in EU and EEA countries are accepted. International driving permits are recognised, but not required. 

Visitors who benefit from temporary importation facilities may import a vehicle registered abroad for 6 months per year, whether consecutive or not. Vehicles registered in a temporary series can stay in Portugal for 90 days maximum.

In order to stay on the right side of the law, the following documents should always be carried:

• Full, valid UK driving licence
• Proof of ID (passport)
• Motor insurance certificate
• V5 registration document

Yes, you will need a GB sticker on your car to drive in Portugal unless it’s already equipped with EU number plates, which show the country code in a circle of stars on a blue background. 

In addition to required documents, motorists are also required by law to carry the following items when driving to avoid fines:

• Reflective jackets (mandatory to carry in your vehicle and wear if you need to get out the vehicle on the carriageway)
• Warning triangle (not compulsory for foreign-registered vehicles from countries where warning triangles are not compulsory) 
• Headlamp beam deflectors (depending on your car, you will either need deflector stickers or have to adjust the beam manually)
• Crash helmets are compulsory for riders and passengers of mopeds and motorcycles
• Green Card (although not a legal requirement, it could be useful to back up your insurance documents and show you've got the minimum legal level of cover. To find out more, contact your insurance company)

Overtaking and passing

In Portugal, motorists drive on the right and overtake on the left. When being overtaken, motorists should keep as far right as possible and not accelerate. 

You are permitted to pass a stationary tram only if there’s an island for passengers boarding and alighting.

In narrow streets, the vehicle nearest a passing place should pull into it, reversing if necessary. If two vehicles are at an equal distance from a passing place, the lighter vehicle should pull in or reverse. 

On a hill, the vehicle travelling uphill should give way to the one going down. In all circumstances, however, motor vehicles have priority over other vehicles. 

Who has priority?

As a general rule, priority must be given to vehicles coming from the right unless indicated. 

Emergency vehicles and military vehicles have priority over other road users.

Vehicles must not enter an intersection – even if they have right of way – if it’s likely they will be unable to leave it without obstructing other traffic.

Warning of approach

Horns should be used in moderation.

In urban areas, sounding the horn is not allowed during the hours of darkness, except in an emergency. If you need to give a warning, flash your lights instead.

In rural areas, horns should be used whenever required for road safety, where visibility is compromised, or before overtaking another road user.

Towing

Camper vans and cars with caravans are not allowed to exceed 18.75 metres in length, 4 metres in height and 2.55 metres in width. 

Seat belts

It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats of cars equipped with belts. 

The fine for failing to wear a seat belt is set between €120 and €600. 

Traffic lights

The international three-colour traffic light system is used in Portugal. There is no amber signal after the red, and a flashing amber light indicates “caution”. 

A flashing or constant red light indicates “stop” and is used near level crossings and to give warning of an obstacle.

Portugal uses the metric system for all road signs, meaning speed limits and other road signs including distance are indicated using kilometres and metres. These are the general speed limits for private cars:

Special speed restrictions apply to certain classes of vehicle, including mopeds, motorhomes and vehicles with trailers so check before travel.

On the 25 de Abril bridge over the River Tagus, drivers must keep to a speed between 40km/h and 60km/h.

Speeding fines in Portugal range from €60 to €2,500 depending on the speed at which offenders are caught, and the road on which they’re driving. 

Speed camera detectors

Any device that actively searches for mobile speed cameras or interferes with police transmissions is prohibited by law. Fines for use can reach £2,500. 

All children under 12 years of age and measuring under 1.35m, travelling in a car fitted with seatbelts, must travel in the back seats in a special child restraint system adapted to their size and weight, except:

• if the car has only two seats or is not fitted with seatbelts.
• for a child under three, who can travel on the front seat equipped with a rear-facing child restraint system. In this case, the airbag must be deactivated.

Bike helmet law

Bike helmets are not compulsory in Portugal unless riding an electric bike. Children who are passengers on bicycles must also wear a helmet. 

All bikes must have a reflectorised registration plate. 

Camper vans and cars with caravans are not allowed to exceed 2 metres in length, 4 metres in height and 2.55 metres in width.

Loads mustn’t exceed 10 tonnes at a single axle.

Please note: The Department for Transport advises that A-frames are not legal for use by UK campers and caravanners abroad. In practice, this could mean towing your car while it’s fixed to a trailer.*

On-the-spot fines

Police can impose on-the-spot fines to drivers of foreign-registered cars and receipts are given. Most police cars are equipped with portable ATMs to ensure immediate payment. 

Minimum and maximum fines

Fines range from €30 for unauthorised parking to €2,500 for offences including using a radar detector and driving under the influence of drugs. 

Some motoring offences are considered criminal and can also lead to licence revocation, vehicle confiscation and a possible prison sentence.

Confiscation of vehicles

A vehicle can be confiscated for a number of reasons, including when a driver has:

• tested positive for being under the influence of alcohol
• no registration documents
• forged number plates
• refused to pay a fine

The Cross-Border Enforcement Directive

An EU cross-border directive came into effect in the UK in May 2017. This is aimed at tracking down people who commit traffic offences in cars that are registered in an EU member state different to where the offence was committed.

If you commit a driving offence in Portugal or any other EU country, the crime will effectively follow you back home to the UK where you can still be prosecuted

Parking regulations

Cars must be left facing in the same direction as traffic on that side of the road unless otherwise stated with local signage. In urban areas, parking is prohibited:

• within 5 metres (m) of intersections and bends with limited visibility
• on pedestrian crossings
• within 3m of tram stops
• within 10m of other public passenger stops
• in spaces reserved for taxis
• opposite vehicle entrances to buildings
• Outside these areas, parking is prohibited:
• on bridges and level crossings
• in tunnels
• where visibility is limited
• within 20m of intersections
• at night on the carriageway

Paid parking

In main towns and cities like Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Albufeira, parking is limited and subject to fees so check local signage before leaving your car. 

Enforcement of parking regulations

Illegally-parked vehicles are likely to be clamped and, if causing an obstruction to moving traffic, towed away. In both cases, a fine must be paid to cover the offence plus towing and impounding costs. 

Disabled parking access

All EU-issued disabled permits should be recognised in Portugal.

Blue Badge holders must not exceed the time limit as set out in parking bays. 

Legal limit

The general limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%.

For professional drivers (driving a bus, coach, HGV or public service vehicle), as well as for newly-qualified drivers (less than three years' experience), the limit is 0.02%.

Random breath tests

A driver suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be made to undergo a breath test for alcohol or a saliva test for drugs. All road users may undergo a breath test following a collision (including pedestrians). 

A driver can refuse to undergo a breath test but then must provide a blood sample instead. 

Like many other European countries, Portugal has motorways with tolls. You can pay for them with cash or a credit card, although some motorways only accept electronic payment. 

Most motorways accept a payment system known as Via Verde, which sees users attach a magnetic card to their vehicle’s windscreen which automatically works at toll booths. 

There is also a system called Easy Toll in place, which is often easier for visiting motorists. Here, motorists enter their card details at the border point and have a photo of their registration plates taken. The system will then deduct toll payment every time the registered vehicle passes a toll booth.

Portuguese service areas

There are many service areas along the Portuguese motorways.

Availability of fuel

Different types of clean fuel are available in Portugal, including biodiesel 10 and public electric charging points. 

Automatic petrol pumps are found in some large towns. 

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Ireland.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 25, although younger drivers may be able to pay a surcharge
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Some companies may require you to use a credit card for deposit, it is best to check first
• You may not be able to drive outside of Portugal unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• The national speed limit on motorways in Portugal is 120km/h (74 mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it varies between 90km/h and 100km/h. For built-up areas it’s 50km/h.

• Dial 112 in an emergency

• If seat belts are fitted to your car, they must be worn by both drivers and passengers.

• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

UK Government travel advice 

See up-to-date travel advice