Driving rules, and the ones that bite.
- Drive onRight
- Motorway limit120 km/h
- Drink drive0.5 g/L · about 1 pint or 1 small wine
- Emergency112
Portugal drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is 120 km/h. The emergency number is 112.
0.5 g/l (0.2 for drivers with less than 3 years on their licence or professional drivers)
Driving tips
- Fuel taxes are lower in Portugal than Spain, so it is usually worth filling up before you cross back. The price gap is rarely huge, but it is consistent.
- Portuguese fines for speeding and drink-driving are strictly enforced on the spot. Foreign drivers may be asked to pay before being allowed to proceed.
- Lisbon and Porto city traffic is tight and hilly. Wherever possible, pitch up on the outskirts and use the metro rather than driving a motorhome into the centre.
- The N2 (Chaves to Faro) is the Portuguese equivalent of Route 66 and a classic motorhome route. It is slow, scenic, and entirely toll-free.
- Watch for cyclists on the EN125 along the Algarve coast, particularly at dawn and dusk. The road is narrow and heavily used by touring cyclists.
Worth knowing before you go.
Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes are limited to 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on rural roads.
The toll system, and the city emissions rules.
- TollsMixed
- VignetteNot required
- Emission zoneYes · Zona de Emissoes Reduzidas (ZER)
Portugal has two toll systems running side by side. The traditional booth motorways, including the A1 from Lisbon to Porto and the A2 down to the Algarve, take cash, card, or a Via Verde transponder. These are familiar and easy.
The electronic-only motorways (formerly known as SCUTs) are the gotcha. These include the A22 across the Algarve, and the A23, A24, and A25 in the north. They have no booths and do not accept cash. You must arrange payment before you use them, using one of three options:
The A22 Algarve catches many first-time visitors. Fly-in cameras record your plate the moment you join the motorway, and if you have not registered, a fine letter follows you home.
Portugal does not use a vignette. All tolls are distance-based and paid either at a booth or electronically.
Low emission zones
Foreign vehicles are subject to the same rules as Portuguese ones and should register online before entering to avoid a fine. Most modern motorhomes meet Euro 3 or better, so the restriction mainly affects older imported vans.
Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.
What to carry, and what to bring.
- Required kit5 items
- Over 3,500 kgspeed stickers, blind-spot stickers
- Documents4 items
Portugal requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.
- UK Sticker.
- Warning Triangle.
- Reflective Jacket. Carry 1 per occupant.
- Headlight Converters. Carry 1 set.
- First Aid Kit.
- Spare Bulbs. Carry 1 set.
- Towing Mirrors.
Towing a caravan or trailer.
100 km/h
Towing a caravan or trailer.
80 km/h
Towing a caravan or trailer.
From August 2025, UK trailers over 750 kg need to be registered with the DVLA before travelling internationally. Check the current DVLA guidance before your trip.
Towing a caravan or trailer.
Towing a caravan changes your toll category and increases the per-kilometre rate on both booth and electronic motorways.
Read this before you go.
Larger motorhomes are charged Class 2 or Class 3 at booth motorways depending on height and axle count. The electronic-only network charges by vehicle class automatically.
Documents to bring
For your own vehicle, carry your Passport, UK Photocard Driving Licence, Vehicle Log Book (V5C), Insurance Certificate and Travel Insurance Proof.
For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your VE103 Certificate, Driving Licence Check Code and International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence).
Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.
- LPG fittingEuronozzle
- CurrencyEUR
- Emergency112
- Sunday shopping09:00-13:00 or open in shopping cen...
Portugal has an excellent LPG network, over 500 stations, and most use the Euronozzle fitting, with some older Dish points. LPG is called GPL in Portugal. Galp, BP, Repsol, and Cepsa all sell it at most motorway service areas and at the majority of urban forecourts.
The main local bottle brands are Galp, BP, and Repsol. Exchange is usually possible at fuel stations on a deposit basis, though you will need a matching regulator pigtail.
UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped or exchanged anywhere in Europe. Either carry a 3-piece adapter kit or fit a refillable system before you leave. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Electric hook-ups
Most Portuguese campsites offer 6A to 16A hook-ups. Coastal Algarve sites often pitch 10A or 16A, which is plenty for an electric kettle, hairdryer, and fridge all running at once. Inland sites are more variable, with 6A being the common minimum.
Voltage is generally stable. Reverse polarity is less common than in France or Spain but still worth checking with a socket tester when you plug in.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Where to shop
Supermarkets here: budget chains are Lidl, Aldi, Mini-Preco; mid-range chains are Continente, Pingo Doce, Intermarche, Auchan (Jumbo); premium chains are El Corte Ingles, Celeiro.
Typical opening hours: monday-saturday 08:00 or 09:00 until 21:00 or 22:00; sunday 09:00-13:00 in smaller towns; all day in cities; where to buy Supermarkets.
Shopping-centre supermarkets such as Continente and Pingo Doce are usually open all day Sunday. Stand-alone branches in smaller towns often close at lunchtime on Sundays, so check ahead if you are arriving late.
Portuguese supermarkets stock an excellent range of port, vinho verde, and regional reds. A decent bottle of house wine costs 3-5 EUR.
- Continente Modelo branches have fuel stations with some of the best diesel prices in the country.
- Fresh fish is cheapest at the lota (fish market) near any coastal town. Most close by 12:00.
- Pingo Doce's daily lunch menu (menu do dia) is a sit-down meal with soup, main, drink, and coffee for around 6 EUR.
- Portugal uses a tipping culture far lighter than the UK. Rounding up is standard; 10% is generous.
More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.
Taking a dog, and crossing the border.
- SchengenYes
- AHC requiredwithin 10 days
- Tapeworm on UK returnYes
- Dog leadRequired
To take a dog to Portugal, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.
- AHC required. Yes, issued by your vet within 10 days before entry
- Rabies vaccination. Yes, must be at least 21 days old at the time of travel
- Tapeworm treatment for UK return. Required between 24 hours and 120 hours before you arrive back in the UK, administered by a vet
- Breed restrictions. Yes. Portugal restricts certain breeds classed as potentially dangerous. Check with the Portuguese embassy before you travel.
Pack the dog's Dog lead, Water bowl, Vaccination records and AHC.
Portugal is in the EU. Meat, milk, and products containing either cannot be brought in from the UK. The main exceptions are powdered baby milk and medically prescribed pet food.
Portugal is in the Schengen area.
Schengen area: Yes. EES biometric checks: Yes. You will need to register fingerprints and a photo on entry and exit once the system goes live. Trailer registration (UK): UK trailers over 750 kg require DVLA registration for international travel from August 2025. Mobile roaming: Charges vary by provider since the UK left the EU. Check with yours before you travel.
Most UK motorhomers enter Portugal overland from Spain, so the practical border for EES purposes is the Schengen entry point at Dover, Calais, or the Channel Tunnel. Internal Spain-Portugal crossings are not checked.
Useful links
- Via Verde (electronic toll transponder)
- Portugal Tolls (Easy Toll registration)
- Infraestruturas de Portugal (road conditions)
- ACP (Portuguese motoring association / breakdown)
See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.
The questions people ask most.
How do I pay electronic-only tolls in Portugal?
Electronic-only motorways (formerly called SCUTs, including the A22 across the Algarve, A23, A24, and A25) have no booths and do not accept cash. UK visitors can either rent a Via Verde Visitors transponder at a border service station, activate Easy Toll by registering a card at an arrival kiosk (billed in five batches during your trip), or buy a prepaid TollCard.
What is the difference between Via Verde and Easy Toll?
Via Verde is a transponder you stick to your windscreen that automatically pays tolls on all Portuguese motorways. Easy Toll is a cardless system where you register a payment card at a border kiosk and tolls are charged to it in up to five batches. Via Verde is simpler for long trips; Easy Toll is fine for a short run.
Are Portuguese Algarve campsites open in winter?
Yes. The Algarve is one of the most popular European winter destinations for UK motorhomers. Most of the large coastal sites between Lagos and Tavira stay open all year, although some quieter inland sites close between November and February. Book ahead for January and February.
Can I take my dog to Portugal in a motorhome?
Yes. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination that is at least 21 days old, and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from your vet issued within 10 days of travel. For the UK return, your vet must administer a tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 120 hours before you arrive home.