Seat belts and child seats in Portugal (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: Drivers and passengers must use the seat belts fitted to a vehicle. Children under 12 and under 135 cm need an approved child restraint and must travel in the rear seat, with limited exceptions.

RuleWhat applies
Seat belt compulsory in front seatsPassenger carsYes [1]
Seat belt compulsory in rear seatsPassenger carsYes [1]
Child restraint required untilPassenger carsChildren under 12 years old and under 135 cm in cars with seat belts must be secured in an approved child restraint suited to their size and weight. [2]
Children in the front seatPassenger carsChildren under 12 and under 135 cm must travel in the rear seat, except: a child under 3 in a rear-facing restraint with the front airbag deactivated, or a child aged 3 or over where the car has no belts in the rear or no rear seat. Children under 3 may not be carried in cars without seat belts. [2]
Rear-facing child seat in front with active airbagPassenger carsNo [2]
Fine for not wearing a seat beltPassenger carsFine of EUR 120 to EUR 600 for not using or incorrectly using seat belts and other safety devices, and EUR 120 to EUR 600 for each child carried improperly. [2]

Notes

  • The duty applies to the belts and other devices with which the vehicle is by law equipped. Exemptions are set in regulation, which was not read.
  • Children with serious disabilities may be transported without following the final part of article 55(1) if a specialist doctor prescribes suitable restraints (article 55(4)). Public transport cars, TVDE and patient-transport vehicles have a separate rule (article 55(5)).

Sources

  1. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated text of the law): DL n.º 114/94, de 03 de Maio – Código da Estrada (versão actualizada), artigo 82.º (Utilização de dispositivos de segurança) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated text of the law): DL n.º 114/94, de 03 de Maio – Código da Estrada (versão actualizada), artigo 55.º (Transporte de crianças em automóvel) (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.