Get a driving license

To drive a vehicle on public roads, you must be legally qualified, i.e. you must have a driving licence.

You can obtain a licence to drive a car from the age of 18. There are different categories of driving licence, depending on the vehicle you wish to drive. As a rule, anyone over the age of 18 who has no physical or mental impediments can obtain a licence.
 

Who can get a driving license?

When can you get a driving license?

You may get the driving license of light-duty vehicles from 18 years old. There are different minimum ages for other license’s categories.

From 16 years old

From 18 years old
CategoryAllows to drive
AM
  • Mopeds and motorbikes up to 50 cm3
A1
  • Mopeds with a cylinder capacity up to 125 cm3 and power up to 11 kw
  • Vehicles from the AM category
B1
  • Quadricycles
From 21 years old
CategoryAllows to drive
A2
  • Mopeds with power up to 35 kw
  • Vehicles from the AM and A1 category
B
  • Light-duty vehicles
  • Tricycles with more than 15 kw, if the individual is over 21 years old
  • Mopeds with a cylinder capacity up to 125 cm3 and power up to 11 kw, if the individual is over 25 years old or holds a AM category license or a mopeds driving license.
  • Vehicles from the AM and B1 category
  • Agricultural vehicles from the I and II categories and light-duty industrial machines
BE
  • Light-duty vehicles from the B category with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 3500 kg
  • Agricultural or forest tractors with a trailer or a towed agricultural or forest machine with a maximum weight of 6000 kg
C1
  • Heavy-duty goods vehicles with a maximum gross weight of 7500 kg (that is, vehicles to transport a maximum of eight passengers, besides the driver, to which a trailer with a maximum weight of 750 kg may be linked)
C1E
  • Heavy-duty goods vehicles from the C1 category with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 750 kg (provided that the vehicle’s weight + the trailer or semi-trailer’s weight does not exceed 12.000 kg)
  • Light-duty vehicles from the B category with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 3.500 kg (provided that the vehicle’s weight + the trailer or semi-trailer’s weight does not exceed 12.000 kg)
From 24 years old
CategoryAllows to drive
C
  • Heavy-duty goods vehicles
  • Vehicles from the C1 category
  • Agricultural or forest tractors with or without a trailer and agricultural, forest and industrial machines
CE
  • Set of attached vehicles, comprising a tractor from the C category and a trainer or semi-trailer with a maximum authorized weight over 750 kg
  • Vehicles from the C category
  • Vehicles from the C1 category
  • Vehicles from the C1E category
  • Agricultural vehicles from the I, II and III categories
  • Heavy-duty industrial machines
D1
  • Heavy-duty passenger vehicles with capacity for 17 sits (with a maximum length of 8 meters and a maximum of 16 passengers + driver)
D1E
  • Heavy-duty passenger vehicles from the D1 category with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 750 kg
  • Vehicles with a trainer or semi-trailer from the BE category, provided that the trailer or semi-trailer has a maximum weight of 750 kg
  • Towed industrial machines weighting between 3.500 kg and 7.500 kg
 
CategoryAllows to drive
A
  • Any moped, with or without sidecar
  • Tricycles
  • Vehicles from the AM, A1 and A2 category

If they have had the A2 category license for 2 years, they may get the A category license before 24 years old.

D
  • Heavy-duty passenger vehicles for more than 8 passengers + driver
DE
  • Heavy-duty passenger vehicles from the D category with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 750 kg
  • Light-duty vehicles or agricultural or forest tractors from the BE category with a trailer or semi-trailer with a maximum weight of 750 kg
  • Towed industrial machines weighting between 3.500 kg and 7.500 kg
  • Vehicles from the D13 category with a trailer, semi-trailer or towed industrial machines

What are the documents and requirements to get a driving license?

    • Portuguese Citizen Card or identity card. If you have foreign nationality, submit one of the following documents:
    • Electronic medical certificate which certifies the existence of the physical conditions to drive. The medical certificate is sent by the doctor who carried out the assessment to the Mobility and Transports Institute
    • Psychological assessment certificate and report, which prove you are psychologically able to drive. He psychological assessment certificate and report are issued by a psychologist and must be submitted by the candidate at the driving school.

How get a driving license?

To get a driver's license, you must attend preparation classes at a driving school (private companies) and take the theory and driving tests for the license's category you choose.

Not all schools allow you to take all categories of license. You should choose the one that is most convenient for you.

It is the driving school that enrols the students in the necessary exams to get the license.

Classes and tests in English

If you want to be trained and take the theory test in English, you should make that request when you register with the driving school.

As a general rule, the driving school will ask you to book the theory test with translation, which will be done at the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT) or at a private examination center. In some situations, the exam can be taken on its own, as in the case of exchanging a foreign license for a Portuguese one.

Translation of the test is only foreseen for categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1 and B.

What is the Deadline to get a driving license?

Drivers' applicants do not have a minimum time limit for obtaining the license, but if:

  • two years after enrollment in the driving school, have only been successful in the theoretical test (valid for one year), before the end of the validity of the two years, apply for revalidation of the qualification that allows him to receive training.
  • two years after enrollment in the driving school, have not obtained the qualification, have to submit a new process, with a new medical certificate and psychological assessment report, if required, and start the new training.

What is the Price to get a driving license?

The license’s price depends on the category and driving school you pick.