Driving in Portugal: Rules, Roundabouts, Tolls and Tips

A car is the best way to see the Algarve, the Douro, the Alentejo and the little villages in between. Portuguese roads are generally excellent, but there are a few rules and quirks that surprise visitors: roundabouts, tolls, narrow old towns and some very confident local drivers! Here’s everything you need to know before you pick up the keys.

Quick answer: drive on the right. Speed limits are 50 in towns, 90 on other roads and 120 km/h on motorways. The alcohol limit is 0.5 g/l (0.2 for drivers in their first 3 years). Carry a reflective vest and warning triangle. Get a car with a Via Verde toll transponder. Don’t drive in Lisbon or Porto if you can avoid it.

Do you need a car?

• No: for Lisbon, Porto, Sintra and Cascais. Public transport, trains and Uber or Bolt are easier and parking is a pain.
• Yes: for the Algarve (beyond the main towns), the Douro Valley, the Alentejo, the Silver Coast and road trips. Madeira and the Azores too.
• Best of both: explore the cities without a car, then pick one up as you leave. See our 10-day Portugal itinerary.

Rough driving times give a sense of scale. Lisbon to Porto is about 3 hours on the motorway, Lisbon to the central Algarve about 2.5 to 3 hours, and Porto to the heart of the Douro Valley about 1.5 to 2 hours. Faro to Lagos along the A22 takes about an hour.

Licences and documents

• EU licences are valid as normal.
• UK, US, Canadian and Australian licences are recognised for visitors for up to 185 days. UK photocard licence holders don’t need an International Driving Permit (an old paper licence may), and some rental companies ask other non-EU drivers for one, so check your booking terms.
• Always carry your licence, passport or ID, and the car’s rental papers and insurance. Police can ask to see them.
• Age: most rental firms need you to be 21 or over (sometimes 25 for bigger cars) and charge a young-driver fee.

The key rules

• Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 90 on rural roads, 100 on dual carriageways and 120 on motorways (with a 50 minimum). Speed cameras are common, and fines arrive at your rental company, which passes them on with an admin fee.
• Alcohol: 0.5 g/l, or 0.2 for new drivers (under 3 years) and professional drivers. Portugal takes drink-driving seriously. If you’re wine tasting, have a designated driver.
• Phones: no handheld use at all, including at red lights. It’s treated as a very serious offence, with fines of about €250 to €1,250.
• Seatbelts for everyone, front and back.
• Children: under-12s who are shorter than 135cm must travel in the back in an approved child seat or booster that suits their size. A baby can only go in the front in a rear-facing seat with the passenger airbag switched off. Book seats with your rental car, or bring your own.
• Kit: a reflective vest (keep it inside the car, not the boot) and a warning triangle. Rental cars should have both, so check before you drive off.
• Headlights on in tunnels and in poor visibility.

More on speed and alcohol

These limits were still in force in 2026, though the government is preparing a review of the Highway Code, so check for changes before a long trip. Above 0.5 g/l you face a fine and a possible driving ban, and from 1.2 g/l drink-driving is a crime that goes to court. Police set up roadside checks, especially at night and around festivals. Portugal also has a national network of fixed speed cameras on main roads, plus mobile radar.

Roundabouts

Portugal has a lot of roundabouts (rotundas), and they confuse everyone at first.

• Traffic on the roundabout has priority. Give way to cars coming from your left.
• Taking the first exit? Use the outside (right) lane.
• Going further round? Use the inside lane, then signal and move out before your exit.
• Expect locals to do it differently. Drive defensively and watch for cars cutting across.

Away from roundabouts, a car coming from your right has priority at unmarked junctions, which catches out many visitors on country lanes.

Tolls

Most motorways are tolled, and some only have electronic tolls with no booths. The easy fix: rent a car with a Via Verde transponder, which pays every toll automatically for a small daily fee. Good news: since 2025, several former electronic-toll motorways, including the A22 across the Algarve, are now free. Full details in Portugal tolls explained.

• Free since 1 January 2025: the A22 (Algarve), A23, A24, A25, A13 and the A4 east of Amarante, including the Marão tunnel.
• Still tolled: the A1 (Lisbon to Porto), the A2 (Lisbon to the Algarve) and the A4 between Porto and Amarante, among others.
• Booth tolls: take a ticket when you join and pay by card or cash when you leave. Don’t use the green Via Verde lane unless your car has a transponder.
• Without a transponder: on electronic-only roads you pay later at a CTT post office or a Payshop agent. The charges usually show up about 48 hours after you pass, and you then have 15 working days to pay. It’s easier to take the device.
• Driving your own foreign-registered car? Sign up for EASYToll, which links your number plate to a bank card, or buy a prepaid TollCard. Via Verde also sells devices for visitors.

As a guide, in 2026 the A1 from Lisbon to Porto costs about €25.05 one way for a car, and the A2 from Lisbon to the Algarve about €23.80. Check the current price on the operator’s website before you go.

Fuel

• Prices (autumn 2026): around €2 to €2.20 per litre for petrol (gasolina) and similar or a little more for diesel (gasóleo). Prices change weekly. Motorway service stations charge more than supermarket stations.
• Double-check the pump: diesel is gasóleo, petrol is gasolina 95 or 98. Putting the wrong fuel in a rental is an expensive mistake.
• Many stations are self-service. Some need you to pay inside first.
• Electric cars: chargers are common in the cities and the Algarve, but sparser inland.

Parking

• Lisbon: on-street parking is run by EMEL and paid by meter or app. Spaces are scarce in the centre, so use a car park or leave the car outside the city.
• Porto: similar. Hotel parking is worth paying for.
• Historic towns (Sintra, Óbidos, Évora, Lagos old town): park outside the walls or centre and walk in. Many old streets are residents-only or far too narrow.
• Never leave valuables in the car, especially at beach and viewpoint car parks.

A yellow line along the kerb means no parking, and blue signs mark pay zones. In Sintra, private cars can’t drive up to Pena Palace, so park in town or at the station and take the bus. In Porto, the lower deck of the Dom Luís I bridge has been closed to private cars since 2023.

Low emission zones

Lisbon has had a low emission zone (ZER) around Avenida da Liberdade and the Baixa since 2011, which keeps older, more polluting cars out. Modern rental cars meet the rules, but it’s another reason not to drive in central Lisbon.

Driving culture

• Tailgating is common on motorways. Move over and let them pass.
• Stay out of the left lane except to overtake.
• Country roads can be narrow and winding, often with no shoulder. Take your time, especially in the Douro and the hills.
• Watch for zebra crossings: pedestrians have priority and expect you to stop.

Driving into Spain

Most rental firms let you take the car to Spain for an extra fee, but you must tell them when you book. Dropping the car in Spain usually means a hefty one-way fee.

If something goes wrong

• Emergency: call 112.
• Breakdown: put on your vest before getting out, place the triangle behind the car, and call the rental company’s assistance number.
• Accident: fill in the European accident report form (in the glovebox) with the other driver, take photos and call your rental company.

Renting a car

Compare prices early, especially for summer and automatics, which are much rarer and pricier than manuals. Check the fuel policy (full-to-full is best) and the excess. We compare deals on Discover Cars. See our full Portugal car rental guide.

Smaller cars are easier on narrow village streets. Planning a longer trip? See our Portugal road trip guide.

FAQ

Can I drive in Portugal with a US or UK licence?

Yes. Visitors can drive on a valid UK, US, Canadian or Australian licence for up to 185 days. Carry your passport with it, and check whether your rental company also wants an International Driving Permit.

How do I pay tolls in a hire car?

The easiest way is the rental company’s Via Verde device, which pays every toll automatically. Without one, pay electronic tolls at a CTT post office or Payshop from about 48 hours after you pass, within 15 working days.

What is the drink-drive limit in Portugal?

0.5 g/l of blood alcohol, or 0.2 g/l if you’ve held your licence for less than three years. From 1.2 g/l it’s a crime, so the safest plan is not to drink at all if you’re driving.

Do children need a car seat?

Yes. Children under 12 who are shorter than 135cm must use an approved child seat or booster in the back. A baby can only go in the front in a rear-facing seat with the passenger airbag switched off.

Road trip ideas: Lisbon to the Algarve, the Douro Valley by car and Évora and the Alentejo.

See also: Portugal without a car, campervans in Portugal, parking in Lisbon and parking in Porto.

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