Mopeds in Portugal (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: A moped (ciclomotor) has a design speed of up to 45 km/h and needs a licence of category AM or a higher category that covers it. A helmet and compulsory insurance apply, and the vehicle must be registered. The minimum age is 14 in the narrow case the rules describe and 16 otherwise.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum age to ridePrivately owned; Moped (ciclomotor)14 years [1]
LicencePrivately owned; Moped (ciclomotor)Licence category AM, or a higher category that covers it (A1, A2, A or B). [1]
Helmet requiredPrivately owned; Moped (ciclomotor)Yes [2]
Insurance requiredPrivately owned; Moped (ciclomotor)Yes [3]
Plate / registrationPrivately owned; Moped (ciclomotor)Must be registered (matrícula) to be in circulation. [3]
Maximum design speedPrivately owned; Moped (ciclomotor)up to 45 km/h (design speed) [3]

Notes

  • 14 applies only to a two-wheeled moped with a combustion engine up to 50 cm3 or an electric motor up to 4 kW, after approved training, with parental authorisation, a medical certificate and school attendance up to year 7 (Article 10). The age is 16 for other two- or three-wheeled vehicles and light quadricycles (Article 20(1)(a)).
  • Higher categories include AM: for example A1 covers category AM vehicles, and category B covers them as well. A moped licence of the older kind that is still valid is equated to category AM (transitional rule, not summarised here).
  • The Code classes the moped (Article 107) among motor vehicles, which is the scope of Article 150(1). Article 150(2) sets a fine of EUR 250 to EUR 1,250 for motor vehicles other than cars and motorcycles.
  • Article 117(1) requires registration for motor vehicles. The plate size and the registration document were not read.

Sources

  1. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation, pgdlisboa.pt): DL n.º 138/2012, de 05 de Julho (Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation, pgdlisboa.pt): DL n.º 114/94, de 03 de Maio (Código da Estrada), Artigos 82.º, 107.º, 109.º, 117.º e 150.º (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated legislation, pgdlisboa.pt): DL n.º 114/94, de 03 de Maio (Código da Estrada), Artigos 107.º, 117.º e 150.º (page 2 of the consolidated text) (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.