Car speed limits in Portugal (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: For a passenger car without a trailer, the general limits in the Highway Code are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h on other public roads, 100 km/h on roads reserved for cars and motorcycles and 120 km/h on motorways. Signs can set other limits.

RuleWhat applies
Built-up areasPassenger car on public roads50 km/h [1]
Outside built-up areas (single carriageway)Passenger car on public roads90 km/h [1]
Outside built-up areas (dual carriageway or expressway)Passenger car on public roads100 km/h [1]
MotorwaysPassenger car on public roads120 km/h [1]

Notes

  • General limit for passenger cars without a trailer in built-up areas. The table also gives 20 km/h in shared-space zones (zonas de coexistência). Article 28 allows other limits on signed roads.
  • Limit for passenger and mixed-use cars without a trailer on public roads other than built-up areas, motorways and roads reserved for cars and motorcycles. With a trailer the table gives 70 km/h. The table is published as an image on the source page.
  • The table column is 'roads reserved for cars and motorcycles' (vias reservadas a automóveis e motociclos), not every dual carriageway. With a trailer the table gives 80 km/h.
  • With a trailer the table gives 100 km/h. Motorway drivers may not travel below 50 km/h, except as Article 26 allows (Article 27(6)).

Sources

  1. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation, pgdlisboa.pt): DL n.º 114/94, de 03 de Maio (Código da Estrada), Artigo 27.º Limites gerais de velocidade (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.