Motor vehicle insurance
In Portugal, car insurance is compulsory for all motor vehicles that require a legal licence to be driven. Even if the vehicle is parked in a garage or on private land and not driven, it must be insured.
The insurance sticker does not need to be placed on the windscreen of the vehicle.
Find out more about car insurance in Portugal.
Road Tax (Imposto Único de Circulação, IUC)
Every person who owns a vehicle registered in Portugal is subject to payment of road tax, known as the Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC). This tax applies to the ownership of the vehicle and not as a requirement for the vehicle to be able to travel on public roads. Therefore, even if a vehicle is parked in a garage for the entire year without being used, road tax still has to be paid.
Road tax is paid annually in the anniversary month in which the vehicle was first registered. On the Tax Authority website, you can consult the history of road tax paid, print a certificate of road tax paid, or issue a road tax payment form.
In order to drive a vehicle, you do not need to have a sticker (disc) or proof of payment of this tax with you.
Vehicle roadworthiness tests
In Portugal, all vehicles are subject to a mandatory inspection to confirm their safety for use on public roads.
As a rule, roadworthiness tests must be carried out every year by the anniversary date of the vehicle’s first registration at one of the various certified inspection centres.
Light passenger vehicles must undergo their first inspection 4 years after the date of first registration. Other vehicles must undergo their first inspection after 1 or 2 years. Find out more on the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) website.
In addition to regular and periodic inspections (Type A), vehicles may require an extraordinary inspection (Type B) to confirm safety, in the event of:
- changes to the vehicle’s characteristics (e.g. tyre sizes)
- an accident; or
- other causes affecting the safety of the vehicle.
If the vehicle passes the inspection, it will receive a certificate of inspection valid for 1 year. This certificate must always be kept in the vehicle, as it is necessary to provide proof to the authorities.
The inspection certificate sticker (disc) does not have to be displayed in the vehicle windscreen.
Gas-powered vehicles (LPG or NG)
In Portugal, since 2013, cars powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or natural gas (NG) can enter and park in underground car parks and covered workshops.
However, to access underground parks and covered workshops, gas-powered vehicles must display a small green identification sticker in the lower right corner of the windscreen.
Pre-2013 original or converted gas vehicles may continue to be driven on roads by displaying the old blue label on the rear of the vehicle, but may not access or park in underground parks or covered workshops. In order to benefit from such access, they must obtain the green sticker.
How to get the green sticker
- Contact an installer/repairer accredited by the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) to obtain an installed equipment certificate. This certificate is valid for 30 days and applies to new installations on vehicles or a safety check on installations carried out prior to 2013.
- After obtaining the installed equipment certificate, you must schedule an extraordinary inspection (Type B) at a vehicle inspection centre. You must provide the installed equipment certificate at the time of the inspection, together with the vehicle documents. If the vehicle passes the inspection, it will receive a Type-B inspection certificate.
- Then, when you have both certificates, you must request an update of your vehicle’s Registration Certificate/Single Vehicle Document (Documento Único Automóvel, DUA), indicating the new fuel type. You can do this on the IMT platform or, if you prefer, at an IMT service desk. The new Registration Certificate will be sent to the address of the vehicle owner.
- Finally, you can then buy the green sticker at any shop selling vehicle signage items, accessories and spare parts, etc.
Electric vehicles
In Portugal, electric vehicles must display a blue identification sticker (disc) in the bottom right corner of the windscreen to be able to use public roads or park in areas designated for electric vehicles.
For example, this sticker allows the vehicle to use electric vehicle charging areas.
You can request an electric vehicle identification disc at an Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT) service desk or by sending a request by post to an IMT office, together with the necessary documents.
Electric vehicles benefit from reduced rates or even exemption from parking charges in various municipalities in Portugal.
In Lisbon, for example, you can request a green parking disc for EUR 12 per year, which allows you to park anywhere and for as long as you wish at no further cost.
Parking disc for residents
In Portugal, some municipal councils provide discs allowing residents of the municipality to park their vehicles in their area of residence. Costs may vary depending on the municipality.
Check the information provided by the municipal council in your area of residence.
Information on how to apply for a parking disc for residents of the municipality of Lisbon.
Information on how to apply for a parking disc for residents of the municipality of Porto.