Driving in Portugal

I hope that you have found this series of articles useful and that you now have all the info you need to bring your car into Portugal on a permanent basis. Just to round up, here’s how to sort out bringing in a scooter or motorbike and how to get your new licence plates. Plus a few tips about the rules of the road…

The procedure for motorbikes and scooters is virtually the same as for cars and other light vehicles except that a test will be required on noise emissions. Present the following documents to the IMTT and Customs and Vehicle Registry as described previously.

• Fill out Form Model 9 and give it to the official representative of the vehicle producer in Portugal for certification (Homologacão)
  
• Take the motorbike or scooter to an IMTT approved test centre (IPO) for a roadworthiness test including noise inspection

You now have you car registered and the details of the vehicle's registration are recorded on the DUA (Documento Uníco Automóvel) or "All-in-One Card". This replaces the Vehicle Ownership Registration (Titulo de Registo de Propriedade) and Log Book (Livrete) card. You need your new licence plates before you get this as the number is required for the DUA.

DUAs and the registration of new or second hand vehicles can be done at a local civil registry office, the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e Notariado). Application for a change in licence plate is made through the IRN office. A new vehicle registration number or matrícula is issued, number plates are made and then fitted before your vehicle can be recorded on the DUA.

Vehicle registration documents must be carried in the car at all times, as I have mentioned before. I cannot stress this enough – there are severe penalties if they are not available when requested by officials such as the police.

Just a few pointers to driving in Portugal: it goes without saying that driving is on the right with overtaking on the left. Bear in mind that you can be fined more than €1,000 for passing a car on the right. As in most countries there is also a large fine for failing to stop at a stop sign.

You will need to give way to traffic from the right unless otherwise stated. Vehicles in roundabouts have priority over those about to enter. Should you break down and attempt to carry out repairs you are by law required to wear a reflective jacket to do so; it is also necessary to put out a warning triangle.

There is a €600 fine for anyone found to be using a mobile phone while driving, and a €300 fine for littering while driving. Remember by the way that fines can be collected on the spot!

It is also possible to lose your licence if you ignore a policeman, cross a white line or jump a red light.

It is mandatory to for all passengers to wear seatbelts in both the front and back seats. Children under the age of 12, or less than one and a half metres tall, are not allowed to sit in the front at all and must have baby or booster seats in the back.

And hopefully you will not need this at all, but the emergency service phone number is 112.

Portugal does not have a great road safety record so please have a care out there!

Carol Dunning
The Overseas Guides Company
Go to the main website at: http://www.portugalbuyingguide.com/