United Kingdom → Portugal

Driving in Portugal when you know the UK

Differences first, worst-to-get-wrong first. Rules that match are folded away at the bottom.

Driving to Portugal from the UK: what to check before you go

These are the key destination rules to check first. The comparison below shows every verified difference. Follow local signs and instructions on the road.

Which side of the road do you drive on in Portugal?: In Portugal you drive on the right.
What is the speed limit in Portugal?: 90 km/h on country roads and 50 km/h in towns and cities. Those are the national default limits, which apply where no sign says otherwise.
What is the drink driving limit in Portugal?: The legal limit in Portugal is 0.5 g/l. Drivers who passed their test recently are held to 0.2 g/l.
What do you have to carry in your car in Portugal?: You must carry a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest. A hire car does not always have both. Check the boot before you leave the car park.

Read the full driving rules in Portugal and the required car equipment in Portugal .

Looking to rent a car? Rental agencies often have their own rules on driving ages and equipment, make sure you check with them before you travel.
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What's different (11)

Which side of the road you drive on

Critical

UK · homeLeftChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationRightFrom the RAC's list of the European exceptions: the UK, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta drive on the left, and every other European country drives on the right.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit on country roads

Critical

UK · home60 mph — about 97 km/hSingle carriageway roads.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destination90 km/h — about 56 mphRoads outside towns that are not motorways or reserved roads.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Speed limit in towns and cities

CriticalVaries by region

UK · home30 mph — about 48 km/hEngland and Scotland. Wales uses 20 mph as the default in built-up areas.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Wales20 mph — about 32 km/hThe default in built-up areas. Some roads are signed back up to 30.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destination50 km/h — about 31 mphChecked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

How much alcohol you may have in your blood

CriticalStricter than at homeVaries by region

UK · home80 mg/100ml — about 0.8 g/lEngland and Wales. Scotland uses a lower limit.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Scotland50 mg/100ml — about 0.5 g/lChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destination0.5 g/l — about 50 mg/100mlChecked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

What you must carry in the car

Critical

UK · homeNothing — no equipment is legally requiredNothing is legally required. Drivers arriving from most of continental Europe expect a triangle and a vest to be compulsory here; they are not.Checked 20 Aug 2026

Portugal · destination

Warning triangle
High-visibility vest

A hire car does not always have both. Check the boot before you leave the car park.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Youngest age you may drive

Important

UK · home17 yearsChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destination18 yearsChecked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Turning at a red light

Important

UK · homeNot allowedRed means stop for every direction. A separate green arrow is the only exception.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationOnly where a sign allows itOnly when a green arrow is lit under the red light, and only after stopping first. A plain red light means stop, with no turn allowed.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Largest motorbike or scooter you may ride on a car licence

Important

UK · home

Engine up to 50 cc

A full car licence lets you ride a moped up to this engine size without L plates or a moped test. If you passed your car test on or after 1 February 2001 you must first complete a compulsory basic training (CBT) course. Anything larger needs CBT and the motorcycle tests. The Highway Code's Annex 2 defines the two-wheeled moped class by a maximum design speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) rather than by engine size; that figure is not on the page cited here. Stated for licences issued in Great Britain; the source does not say whether foreign car licences get the same allowance.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Portugal · destination

Engine up to 125 cc
Power up to 11 kW

A category B licence counts as a licence for motorbikes within both limits at once (the A1 class), but only if the holder is 25 or older, or already holds a moped licence. Nothing has to be added to the licence. The IMT page does not say whether this applies to foreign car licences.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Youngest age you may ride the smallest class of scooter

Good to know

UK · home16 yearsCategory AM. CBT, a theory test and a practical test are needed for a full moped licence.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Portugal · destination14 yearsThe normal age is 16. From 14 a moped licence is possible only after a special training course approved by the IMT and passing the test. Under 18 needs written permission from a parent. Mopeds are up to 50 cc.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Smallest motorbike allowed on the motorway

Good to know

UK · home

Engine at least 50 cc
Power at least 4 kW

The rule is set by engine size, not vehicle class: riders of motorcycles under 50 cc (4 kW) must not use motorways, so a machine of exactly 50 cc is allowed. The Highway Code gives the power figure in brackets as the equivalent of the engine size rather than as a separate test. Riders holding only a provisional motorcycle licence must not use motorways either.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Portugal · destination

Engine at least 50 cc
Top speed at least 60 km/h

Article 72 of the Código da Estrada bans mopeds, and motorbikes of 50 cc or less, from motorways and their access roads, so exactly 50 cc is out and the machine must be over 50 cc. It also bans any vehicle that cannot go faster than 60 km/h on a flat road, so the machine must be able to exceed 60 km/h. Both figures are in the article itself. A moped is defined in article 107 of the same code as at most 45 km/h, 4 kW and 50 cc, which the two thresholds above already cover, including electric machines.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Headlights on a motorbike in daytime

Good to know

UK · homeNot requiredDipped headlights in daylight are advised to make the rider easier to see, but they are not required.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Portugal · destinationRequired at all timesArticle 93 of the Código da Estrada says motorbikes and mopeds must ride with the dipped headlight on and the rear light on. It gives no time of day, so this means at all times.Checked 2 Sep 2026 · official source

Known on one side only (26)

Speed limit on the motorway

UK · home70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Whether you need an International Driving Permit

UK · homeNot requiredA full foreign licence is accepted on its own for visits.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Which side you overtake on

UK · homeRightChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit on a dual carriageway

UK · home70 mphChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Speed limit when towing a trailer or caravan

UK · home

Motorway — 60 mph
Dual carriageway — 60 mph
Country roads — 50 mph

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for drivers who passed their test recently

UK · homeNot yet verified

Portugal · destination0.2 g/lEffectively nothing to drink. Do not risk one glass of wine with lunch.Checked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

Age below which a child needs a child seat

UK · home12 yearsUntil age 12 or 135 cm tall, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Height below which a child needs a child seat

UK · home135 cmUntil 135 cm tall or age 12, whichever comes first.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

What the lines and painted kerbs mean

UK · home

Double yellow line — no parking. No waiting at any time, even without an upright sign.
Single yellow line — no parking during signed hours. The hours are on nearby time plates, not on the road.
Double red line — no stopping. Red routes. No stopping at any time.
Single red line — no stopping. Red routes. Applies during the times shown on nearby signs.
White zigzag line — no stopping. Marks the approach to a pedestrian crossing.

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Winter tyres

UK · homeNot requiredChecked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

What a rider must wear or carry

UK · homeNothing beyond a helmetNo law requires protective clothing beyond the helmet. Eye protection is advised, and if worn it must meet an approved standard.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

How you pay for motorways

UK · home

Toll booths
City charges

Almost all motorways are free. The M6 Toll and several bridges and tunnels charge. London and Durham charge to drive in the city centre.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Alcohol limit for professional drivers

UK · homeNot yet verified

Portugal · destination0.2 g/lChecked 16 Aug 2026 · official source

How long you may drive on your own licence

UK · home12 monthsCounted from when you last entered Great Britain.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

When you must switch your headlights on

UK · homeNot requiredHeadlights are required at night and when visibility is seriously reduced.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Who has priority at a roundabout

UK · homeTraffic already on the roundabout goes firstGive way to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Parking on the pavement

Varies by region

UK · homeNo single national answer:

EnglandAllowedExcept London, where it is banned. Discouraged everywhere, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

ScotlandNot allowedChecked 3 Aug 2026

WalesAllowedDiscouraged, and obstructing the pavement can be fined.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Parking facing against the traffic

UK · homeAllowedBy day only. At night you must not park facing against the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

How far you must park from a junction or crossing

UK · home

A junction — 10 m

Advisory rather than a fixed law, except where markings say otherwise.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Riding between lanes of slow traffic

UK · homeAllowedNo law bans filtering. The Highway Code tells riders to take care and keep their speed low when filtering in slow-moving traffic, and tells drivers to expect it.Checked 2 Sep 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Low-emission zones

UK · homeIn many citiesLondon has its own ultra low emission zone. Clean air zones operate in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside, and Scottish cities have separate low emission zones. Most only charge vehicles that miss emissions standards.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Congestion charges

UK · homeIn some citiesLondon and Durham.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Emergency number

UK · home999112 also works and reaches the same service.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Whether police can fine you on the spot

UK · homeYes — visitors must pay at the roadsideFixed penalties are normally paid later, not at the roadside. A driver who cannot give a UK address must pay a deposit on the spot.Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

What you should carry, but do not have to

UK · home

Warning triangle
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
High-visibility vest

Advised, not required. One motorway exception is worth knowing: do not set a warning triangle out on a motorway hard shoulder — get behind the barrier instead.Checked 20 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Typical fines

UK · home

Holding a phone — fine from 200 GBP, 6 points (Drivers who passed their test within the last 2 years lose their licence instead.)

Checked 3 Aug 2026

Portugal · destinationNot yet verified

Same in both (4)

Holding a phone while driving — Not allowed official source
Who must wear a seatbelt — Everyone, in every seat official source
Helmets on a motorbike or scooter — Required for rider and passenger official source
Hands-free phone calls — Allowed official source