Please enjoy your hire car in Portugal
Are you going on holiday to Portugal? To see
as much as possible and to get the most out of Portugal, the
best way of transport is certainly by car. But of course you
will have to abide by Portugal's law of driving. Below you
will find some useful information about driving in Portugal.
Documents you need when driving in Portugal:
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Portugal you
must have the following documents with you, which are your
current full driving licence, valid insurance certificate
a minimum Third Party cover, a Green Card is highly recommended.
Failure to produce these documents on request to the authorities
will result in on-the-spot cash fine.
Special rules you must follow:
When driving in Portugal all vehicles must carry a warning
triangle, it is also recommended to carry a fire extinguisher
and a first aid kit in all vehicles. The police are able to
issue and collect 'on the spot fines' for not obeying these
rules. For all passengers it is compulsory to wear both front
and rear seatbelts.
Minimum age:
The minimum age of a driver in Portugal is 18 years. Children
under 12 years of age and must be seated in an approved child
seat to sit in the front of a vehicle.
Parking:
Parking in Portugal is similar to Britain with car parks and
parking meters. Only park your vehicle in the same direction
as traffic flow. Be aware as Illegally parked cars will be
wheel clamped.
A few basic rules:
In Portugal, they drive on the right hand side and overtake
on the left, pay full attention especially at roundabouts.
You must carry your driving licence passport, and vehicle
documents at all times. Use your dipped headlights in reduced
visibility and sidelights should be used when parking in badly
lit areas. Remember not to pass trams when passengers getting
on or off. Only use your horn in emergencies. Please note
that it is forbidden to carry cans of petrol in vehicles.
Speed limits:
Built-up areas: 50 kph (31 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 90 kph (56 mph)
Major roads outside towns: 100 kph (62 mph)
Motorways: 120 kph (74 mph)
Bus:
There is a frequent coach service, which runs between all
Portuguese cities.
Taxi:
The taxi charges are according to distance and all the taxis
metered. Most taxis are usually painted beige although you
should watch out as some taxis are painted in the old colours
of green and black and they still exist. In the city, the
taxis charge a standard meter fare, for the outside of the
city, limits are charged per kilometre they are also entitled
to charge for the return fare. Beware, as there is a surcharge
for carrying luggage in the cities.
Urban:
In Lisbon there is an underground services (Metropolitano)
which is currently being expanded. There are also trams, which
operates in major Portuguese cities. For a good opportunity
to see the city, a tram ride in Lisbon will provide this.
There also is an extensive bus network in Lisbon.
Travel times:
The following chart below gives approximate travel times (in
hours and minutes) from Lisbon to other major cities/towns
in Portugal.
Road
Faro 4.00
Oporto 5.00
Driving in Portugal will be a pleasurable experience as long
as you remember you are in their country and abide by their
laws. Please remember it is not a good enough excuse to plead
ignorance, as you are a foreigner, you are the driver and
it's your responsibility to know the law.