More and more charging stations are being installed in Portugal. Most of them are in and around Lisbon.

Low beam headlights are compulsory in poor visibility, after dark, in tunnels and in so-called tidal flow lanes. Traffic coming from the right has the right of way at equal intersections. Traffic driving on a roundabout has the right of way. On narrow mountain roads, traffic driving upwards has priority over descending traffic (or the vehicle that can move to the side or reverse the easiest). Drivers are only allowed to use mobile phones in hands-free mode. In addition, it is prohibited to wear earphones or headphones while driving. Please note! Children under the age of 12 or under 1.35 metres tall may not sit in the front seat; they must sit in the back in a child seat (baby seats can go on the front passenger seat facing forwards).

Rear-mounted loads, such as bicycle carriers with bicycles, may not protrude from the sides of the vehicle and may protrude by a maximum of 45 cm at the rear. All protruding cargo, such as a bicycle carrier, must have a reflective white plate measuring 50 x 50 cm with 3 red diagonal stripes. You are required to warn other road users with your hazard lights in the event of a traffic jam or accident. On toll roads, the lanes that are marked green are reserved for drivers who use an automatic payment system.

A warning triangle and safety jacket are only compulsory in cars with a Portuguese licence plate. It is recommended that you have a high-visibility vest for all passengers.

A motorhome or car-caravan combination may not be more than 4 metres high, 2.55 metres wide and 18.75 metres long (the caravan itself may not be more than 12 metres long).
You are required to fit reflective yellow ECE 70 marking plates with a red border at the back of a car-caravan combination that is longer than 12 metres.

A bicycle helmet is only compulsory on electric bicycles. You are not allowed to talk or communicate by app/SMS on the phone while cycling. The use of earphones or headphones is also prohibited. Children up to 7 years of age may only be transported in a bicycle seat and must wear a bicycle helmet. Cycling side by side is only allowed on the designated cycle paths.

Toll is payable on many motorways in Portugal. You can pay either in cash or by credit card. Please note! On some stretches you can only pay electronically. There are no toll booths on these sections but your licence plate is registered when entering or merging onto the road. You will recognise these sections by the message “Electronic toll only”. There are several payment methods:
You can buy a toll card at a post office, most petrol stations or online. Prepaid cards of €5, €10, €20 or €40 are available. The card's maximum validity is one year. More information: tollcard.pt.
Another option is ‘Easytoll’. This card lets you link your credit card (Mastercard or Visa) to your licence plate. You can register at any EasyToll Welcome Point when crossing the border. The ticket you receive is valid for 30 days and all tolls are then automatically charged to your credit card.
Tip! If you already have a toll badge for the French Télépéage, check whether you can also use it to pay on Portuguese toll roads. More information: bipandgo.com

Lisbon is currently still the only city with green zones, which are in two areas. The green zones are in effect from Monday to Saturday, 07:00 am to 9:00 pm, and are intended to keep older, more polluting out of those areas. More information: green-zones.eu/nl/milieuzone/portugal/lissabon.

Set up your warning triangle at least 30 metres behind the vehicle if your car breaks down on the driving lane and is not visible from at least 100 metres away. All passengers must wear a high-visibility safety vest. In the event of a breakdown, call the emergency number of your breakdown assistance provider. You can also call Portuguese roadside assistance ACP on +351 21 942 91 13 (mobile). Another option is to call roadside assistance at a talking post. It is prohibited to repair or tow your vehicle yourself.