Driving in Portugal: How to navigate the roads safely

A getaway to Portugal is a wonderful way to experience the perfect blend of city and coastal life. Whether you plan on soaking up the magic and culture of Lisbon, or exploring the golden sands of the Algarve, it is important to thoroughly research your destination’s driving rules ahead of time. You can also add that extra bit of reassurance to your trip by taking out a standalone excess insurance policy.

Our excess insurance for hire cars hire car cover is there to provide coverage for the excess amount that you would have otherwise been responsible for paying in the event of a claim.

By taking out this coverage, you can be reimbursed your excess in the event of a claim (which could be thousands of pounds) giving you greater peace of mind to enjoy your holiday. To make sure you feel comfortable taking to the Portuguese roads, continue reading our handy guide, which covers everything you need to know about driving in Portugal.

Preparing for driving in Portugal

Before you travel anywhere, you should always make sure that you have done your research and know what is expected on the roads. It is estimated that before going on holiday, 22% of people worry about driving on the other side of the road, while 13% worry that the stress of driving will ruin their holiday. By not planning ahead, you are causing yourself unnecessary stress and worry before both driving in Portugal and whilst driving out there. . Much like other countries in Europe, Portugal has essential items and documentation that you are required to carry by law. To ensure you have a safe and stress-free holiday, let’s take a closer look at Portugal’s driving rules.

Can I drive in Portugal with a British license?

Good news! You can legally drive in Portugal with a full and valid UK driving license when visiting the country. The legal driving age in Portugal is 18, and provisional licenses will not be accepted. If you are planning to explore Portugal on your motorcycle, riders of a two-wheel drive up to 125cc must be aged 16 or over.

Driving in Portugal equipment checklist

Just like in many other European countries, you are required to carry the following items in your car by law. These should be provided by your rental company:

Reflective jackets for each occupant. In case you need to exit your vehicle on the motorway in the event of an accident or breakdown.

Headlamp beam deflectors. These will need to be added to your hire car to prevent dazzling other road users. Your hire car company may provide these as standard – check ahead of time to avoid wasting money!

[Optional] Warning triangle. It is not compulsory for foreign-registered vehicles to carry one; however, there is no harm in taking extra precautions.

Driving in Portugal as a tourist can seem daunting, but you can ease your mind by preparing for all eventualities.

From our experience of travelling in Portugal, these are useful items to carry:

Bottles of water

Snacks (if on a longer journey or especially if travelling with children)

Sunscreen

Holiday first-aid kit (plasters, tweezers, tummy tablets etc)

Phone charger or power bank

Extra supplies of prescribed medication

Map or Sat Nav

Do I need a UK sticker for driving in Portugal?

GOV.UK states that anyone wanting to drive a UK-registered vehicle abroad must have a UK sticker clearly displayed on the rear of their vehicle. However, if you have hired a Portuguese-registered car, a UK sticker will not be required.

Do I need an insurance green card?

Since 2nd August 2021, you are no longer required to have an insurance green card in order to take your car over to Portugal.

Road rules in Portugal

Now that you are fully aware of the equipment and documentation required when driving in Portugal, it is time to learn how to safely navigate their roads. Just like many other European countries, some of Portugal’s driving rules are not too dissimilar to those of the UK. However, as with driving anywhere you are unfamiliar with, it is always important to do your research and never assume that all rules will be the same as what you are used to.

Which side of the road do they drive in Portugal?

In Portugal, all road users are required to drive on the right-hand side of the road.

This can be one of the biggest adjustments when driving abroad, especially when you are so used to driving on the left. If you have hired your car in Portugal, it is worth remembering that it will already be set up for driving on the right, with your driver's seat located on the left-hand side. Before taking to busier roads and motorways, ensure you give yourself plenty of time to get used to this new way of driving.

You can also take the time to get used to your new cars set up by familiarising yourself with any new functions, adjusting your mirrors to suit your preferences, and ensuring your Sat Nav is set up correctly before heading out for a drive.

Do I need to wear a seat belt?

Yes - by law, both drivers and passengers are required to wear a seat belt at all times, no matter where they are seated in the vehicle. The driver is responsible for ensuring that any passengers under 18 are suitably restrained.

Failure to wear your seat belt could result in an on-the-spot fine of €120- €600 for each person breaking the law.

Who has priority?

In Portugal, drivers are expected to give priority to vehicles coming from the right unless road signs indicate otherwise. You must also not enter an intersection - even if signs state you have priority - if you will be unable to leave it without causing obstruction to other road users. Just like in the UK and other European countries, emergency and military vehicles have priority over other road users, and as such, you must always give way.

How do I overtake?

If you wish to overtake another vehicle when driving in Portugal, then you will need to do so on the left-hand side of the road.

When another vehicle is overtaking you, you must keep as far to the right as possible and avoid accelerating.

Road users may also pass stationary trams in larger cities such as Lisbon and Porto, as long as there is an island for passengers boarding and exiting.

It is important to follow the same conduct and care when overtaking in Portugal as you would when driving in the UK, including mirror checks, blind spots, using your indicators, and maintaining a safe distance.

Can you turn right on a red light in Portugal?

It is illegal to turn on a red light unless it is accompanied by a green arrow. If so, you will need to proceed with caution and stop at the red light to give way to other road users and pedestrians. Once you have given way, you must then proceed in the direction in which the arrow is pointing.

How do traffic lights work in Portugal?

Just like in many other European countries, Portugal follows the international three-colour traffic light system.

Similar to France, Portugal’s traffic lights don’t feature an amber light as the lights transition from red to green.

If you see a flashing red light, this indicates that you should stop as you are at a level crossing and oncoming traffic is approaching.

How do I use a roundabout in Portugal?

Much like in France and Germany, road users must always give way to traffic that is already on the roundabout, so approaching from the left. Some roundabouts you encounter in Portugal will only have one lane. If this is the case, you can simply enter the roundabout and take your desired exit. However, if you find yourself at a roundabout with multiple lanes, you will need to stay in the inner lane until you exit. If you do move lanes before you reach your exit, you will need to take the next exit available, regardless of whether it was the one you wanted to take. Otherwise, you will be breaking the law, as it is considered an offence to drive in the right-hand lane and pass an exit without taking it.

What are the speed limits in Portugal?

Just like in Spain and Germany, Portugal follows the metric system for all its road signs for distances and speed limits. This means that you will see these displayed in kilometres and metres instead of miles and yards as they are in the UK. It is important to always be aware of your speed, especially when you are driving in unfamiliar surroundings. Speed limits can quickly change depending on where you are driving and the type of road you are driving on, so it is always best to check that you are driving at the correct speed.

Here is a general guideline for speed limits in Portugal:

Type of Road	Speed Limit KPH	Speed Limit MPH
Built-up areas	50kph (unless otherwise indicated by signage)	30mph
Outside built-up areas	90kph - 100kph (unless otherwise indicated by signage)	55mph - 60mph
Motorways	120kph	75 mph

How much are the speeding fines?

Speeding fines in Portugal can vary depending on how far over the speed limit you were and where you were driving. If you are caught exceeding the speed limit by 20 kph or 30 kph outside a built-up area, you could face a fine of up to €300.

However, if you are caught breaking the speed limit by 60 kph or 80 kph outside a built-up area, you could be issued a fine of up to €2,500 and have your license revoked for up to two years.

Whether you have hired a car for your trip or not, it is your responsibility to pay any fines issued.

Speed cameras in Portugal

There are two types of fixed speed cameras in Portugal, one which monitors your average speed, and another which checks your current speed at that specific location.

You will usually be alerted to their presence by a blue road sign illustrating a radar, lorry, car, and bike.

The cameras are usually located approximately 200 metres to 1 kilometre after the road sign, depending on the speed limit of the road.

You are forbidden from using any device that searches for speed cameras in Portugal.

This includes GPS systems, smartphone apps like Google Maps, and radar detection equipment that can alert you to a speed camera’s location.

Road users are also prohibited from using devices that could interfere with police transmissions.

If you will require your GPS system to navigate around Portugal, you must ensure the function alerting you to a speed camera’s presence is turned off.

Those found to be using this function could face a hefty fine, confiscation of the device, and points on their license.

Do children require a car seat?

Yes - if you are travelling with a child under 12 years old and measuring under 1.35m, they must be adequately secured in a restraint system adapted to their size and weight.

Children under 12 years old may also only sit in the rear of the vehicle.

The only exception to this rule is if the car only has two seats or is not fitted with seatbelts. If you are caught transporting a child without a car seat, you could be faced with a fine ranging from €120 - €600.

Parking in Portugal

Parking in an unfamiliar country can be stressful, as parking in the wrong place is a sure way to earn yourself a fine or a ticket.

To avoid this, it is always worth researching the parking rules and regulations of your destination.

Here are some important tips for parking while visiting Portugal:

No parking zones are indicated by white or blue signs with a red line across them

Yellow and red lines on curbs also indicate no parking

It is illegal to park closer than five metres from a junction

You are prohibited from parking 25 metres before or five metres after a bus stop

It is forbidden to park six metres from a tram stop

You should always park facing the same direction as traffic on one-way streets

Do not park in the middle of a street with your hazards on

Your car can be towed away if you park across driveways that give access to properties

Some paid parking areas require you to use a blue disc, which can be obtained from local police stations. These serve as a time indicator to show when your vehicle arrived in a Blue Zone parking area. Blue badge holders can still use their UK badge to access disabled parking spaces in Portugal.

If you are found to be illegally parked in Portugal, it is your responsibility to cover any costs, including fines, impounding fees, and vehicle release.

Portugal tolls

Just like in many other European countries, Portugal’s motorways do require you to pay a toll. The amount you pay depends on the type of vehicle you are driving and how far you are planning to drive on the toll road for.

For example, if you are driving on the toll road from Algarve to Lisbon, this will be just under €20.

Toll booths in Portugal generally accept both cash and card payments. If you want to save time waiting to pay, you can also use an electronic toll system like Via Verde, where the toll fee will automatically be debited from your bank.

Alternatively, you can use EASYtoll, which is a system that allows you to enter your card details at the toll point and have your car’s registration plates photographed. Once this has been done, the system will then deduct the toll fee whenever the registered vehicle passes through a toll booth. You can avoid further unnecessary charges on your days out by researching which roads in Portugal require toll payments.

Availability and cost of fuel in Portugal

Filling up your car abroad can often seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Unleaded petrol, diesel, and LPG are all readily available at service stations throughout the country.

Prices for fuel are, on average, cheaper than the UK and are usually displayed in litres.

To help, you can quickly identify which side the fuel cap or tank is on by glancing at the fuel gauge. This can help you save time and avoid confusion when pulling into the pump.If you are wanting to fill up your car with diesel, you will need to look for the pump that is marked with ‘gasóleo.’

However, if it’s unleaded petrol you need, the pump will read ‘gasolina sem chumbo.’ By learning these phrases, you can avoid feeling out of your depth and any mishaps, such as misfuelling your hire car, which would be covered by your car hire excess insurance policy. Just like in the UK, fuel prices can vary from area to area, so it is always best to research the current prices before travelling.

Final thoughts

Your time in Portugal should be spent making memories and not ruined by worrying.

Doing your research ahead of time means that you can build up your confidence before your travels, so when it is time to take to the roads, you know what to expect.

Remember to remain calm and know that you have everything you need to enjoy a safe and happy trip.

About the author

Jon spent years travelling Europe and Asia before settling down in the UK when he met his wife.

He’s hired cars across the globe and is passionate about helping people save money with excess insurance.

Since co-founding Reduce My Excess, Jon has found that he can use the knowledge he picked up from his travels by sharing it in online guides and articles.

He hopes to save people from making the mistakes he learnt from over the years by giving them the travel information they need before they head off on their holidays.