Documents to carry while driving in Portugal (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: A driver must carry the driving licence, insurance certificate, ID and the vehicle papers, or show them through a mobile application. The fine is EUR 60 to EUR 300.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Driving licenceCarrying documents while driving | A driver of a motor vehicle on a public road must carry the driving licence (título de condução) and may show it through a mobile application or a digital licence instead. If the data cannot be checked on the spot, the physical document must be shown within five days to the authority named by the officer. [1] |
| Vehicle registration papersCarrying documents while driving | For a car, motorcycle, tricycle, quadricycle, moped, tractor or trailer, the driver must also carry the vehicle's ownership registration document or an equivalent, the vehicle identification document and, where compulsory, the periodic inspection record. [1] |
| Proof of insuranceCarrying documents while driving | The driver of a motor vehicle must carry the insurance certificate (certificado de seguro). It may be replaced by a mobile application that proves the data. [1] |
| Identity documentCarrying documents while driving | The driver of a motor vehicle must carry a legal personal identification document, plus a tax identification document if the tax number is not on it and the driver lives in Portugal. Cyclists carry a legal personal identification document. [1] |
| Fine for not carrying documentsCarrying documents while driving | Breaking the duty to carry the documents is punished by a fine of EUR 60 to EUR 300. Not handing the documents in within five days where that is required carries the same fine. [1] |
Notes
- Read in the updated version of the Código da Estrada on the Lisbon district prosecutor's site, not the Diário da República. Later amendments have not been checked.
Sources
- Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa: DL n.º 114/94, de 03 de Maio (Código da Estrada), versão actualizada, artigo 85.º Documentos de que o condutor deve ser portador (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.