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Get behind the wheel in Portugal and you risk a bad dose of culture shock. Though the Portuguese are a warm and welcoming people, many seem to drive with a casual recklessness that can be terrifying.

Dangerous overtaking, tailgating and speeding are all commonplace and help to explain why Portugal has one of the highest road-death rates in Europe.

That said, recent investment has produced an impressive network of motorways. These are mercifully free of traffic because locals consider the tolls expensive – e.g. €17.05 between Lisbon and the Algarve.

Hit the Road

The most confusing aspect of driving in Portugal is the law that gives priority to traffic coming from the right. Negotiating roundabouts can be hair-raising.

Radar traps and unmarked police cars are used to enforce speed limits with most fines payable on the spot. You can be fined around €600 for using a handheld mobile phone and if you can’t pay up, the police may confiscate your vehicle.

If you’re caught driving over the blood-alcohol limit of 50mg you’ll be fined. More than 120mg and you can expect to be shown the inside of a Portuguese prison cell.

Star Drive

The Douro Valley, where some of Portugal’s finest wines and ports are produced, makes for an intoxicating tour. The route from Porto through Amarante, Regua, Pinhão and Mateus is stunning and there are plenty of vineyards where you can drop by for a tasting. Drivers must spit it out, of course.

Douro Valley

Best of the Rest

Most visitors to the Algarve head straight from motorway to beach, but a tour down the back roads through the towns of Loulé, Silves and Monchique provides an atmospheric alternative away from the crowds. Alternatively, venture further north to the Alentejo, an area of expansive plains, whitewashed villages, olive groves and wheat fields. Head for Evora, Vila Vicosa and Estremoz.

Laws of the Land

• All car passengers must wear seatbelts if fitted
• Children under 12 years old or 1.5m tall cannot sit in the front unless the car has only front seats or there are no seatbelts in the back. Only approved child seats or a suitable restraint system appropriate to a child’s size and weight can be used. If you have to use a child seat in the front, the passenger side airbags must be deactivated if using a rear-facing model
• You must carry a warning triangle, reflective vest and photo ID
• It’s illegal to run out of petrol when crossing Lisbon’s mile-long 25 de Abril bridge
• For emergency services dial 112
• Motorcyclists must dip their headlights during the day and wear crash helmets (including passenger). Passengers must be at least seven years old

Standard Speed Limits

• Urban Areas 50kmh
• Open Roads/ Outside Built Up Areas 90kmh
• Motorways 120kmh (minimum 50kmh)
• Cars towing on open roads 70kmh
• Cars towing on motorways 100kmh

In addition to the above, a maximum speed limit of 90kmh
applies to those who’ve held a licence for less than one year

Local Knowledge

If oncoming motorists flash their lights at you, take care – they may be signalling his intention to perform a reckless overtaking move.

In cities you should park in the direction of the traffic and not within 18m of a junction or 15m of a bus stop. You may see unofficial “attendants” who will direct you to spaces. Locals pay them a €1 tip to “look after” their cars. Park illegally and you can be clamped or towed.

Did You Know…?
It’s illegal in Portugal to strap cycles to the back of a car.

Driving In Portugal

Hitting the Holiday Highway

Driving in Europe can be a wonderfully liberating experience – sit in the back of a coach and you’re just a passenger, but get behind the wheel of a car and you can transform a humdrum holiday into a roaring adventure.

Another way to become master of your own destiny is to take two wheels. Today’s mile-munching motorbikes are more comfortable, reliable and well equipped than ever and are easily up to the task of a pan-European jaunt, whether carrying one person or two.

But driving abroad requires careful planning, which is why we have produced this guide to explain what you need to do before taking your car or motorbike abroad – and what you can expect to find when you hit the open road.

Kit Out Your Ride

Book your vehicle in for a service. At the very least, check the water and oil levels and the tread on the tyres, including any spares.

Unless your car has new-style Euro plates, you must display a GB sticker. If in a non-EU country, you must display a GB sticker regardless of any Euro plates. You can buy GB stickers at ferry ports.

UK car lights are set up for left-hand drive and can dazzle oncoming traffic when driving on the right. It’s therefore vital to stick adhesive anti-dazzle deflectors to your car if it has conventional lights. If you have modern high-intensity discharge or xenon lamps, you’ll need to flick a switch or turn a screw. If in any doubt, ask your dealer.

Drivers in mainland Europe should carry a red warning triangle, a first aid kit, a reflective vest for each passenger and a full set of spare bulbs (and tools to fit them). European laws vary – in some countries some or all of these are mandatory – so the most sensible course is to carry them all.

Be Prepared

When driving in Europe, you must carry your full driving licence, vehicle registration and insurance documents. If you’re taking a company car you’ll need a letter authorising you to drive it. In some countries police can impound your vehicle if you don’t have the correct documents. Never leave paperwork in the car where it might be stolen.

Make sure your breakdown policy covers you abroad. The best policies cover the cost of getting your car home – and other expenses you might incur such as hotel accommodation. Check that your travel insurance is up to date.

If you’re travelling in the EU or Switzerland each passenger should carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which covers some medical costs and has replaced the old E111 forms. The cards are free: apply at a Post Office, at www.ehic.org.uk or by calling 0845 606 2030.

It’s vital to check that your motor insurance will cover you against accidental damage, fire and theft. Some policies allow you to drive abroad but only give the legal minimum RTA (Road Traffic Accident) insurance. This provides third-party cover but no protection if your car is stolen or you become embroiled in a legal dispute after an accident. If in doubt, upgrade to comprehensive cover while abroad.

You should also check with your insurer whether you need a Green Card – evidence that the car has at least some level of insurance to be driven within the EU. Green Cards are being phased out across most of the EU but are mandatory in countries such as Poland, Andorra and Romania.

To find out more about car insurance, try sites like Confused.com to search car insurance quotes. A typical search will return twenty quotes for you to choose from for your trip.

The Law and You

Most European countries have stricter drink-drive laws than the UK and in some it’s possible to stray over the limit after only a single beer or glass of wine. The best course is avoid alcohol altogether if driving afterwards.

Most police forces in Europe now issue on-the-spot fines for motoring offences, so carry enough local currency to cover this eventuality, better yet – don’t speed!

Speed limits are often enforced rigorously and, unlike in Britain where cameras are made clearly visible in order to deter offenders, radar traps abroad are often concealed.

If you’re flashed by a speed camera you may be able to leave the country without paying but the fine will catch up with you. A Europe-wide agreement now allows police forces to chase offenders in their own countries. So if you’re caught speeding in a EU country you could be ordered by a British court to pay the fine.

On the Road

Driving on the ‘wrong’ side of the road in a right-hand drive car isn’t easy. Overtaking is a challenge and it’s a good idea to use the eyes of your front-seat passenger to warn of potential dangers.

Tiredness is a major cause of accidents. Take regular breaks – and be careful when rejoining the road not to stray back onto the left-hand lane. One way to avoid doing this is always to park on the right side of the road. Take extra care leaving petrol stations or when crossing lanes of traffic.

Watch your fuel gauge. In remote areas you can drive for hours without seeing a filling station. Increasing numbers of filling stations are now fully automated, but some don’t always recognise UK-registered credit cards. Fuel is often considerably cheaper than in the UK, so it can pay to fill up before you return to Britain.

Many European cities have high levels of car crime, with foreign cars viewed as easy targets. Be particularly careful when parking at night and never leave any valuables in the vehicle.

Know Your Left From Right

Don’t forget that unless you’re driving in the UK, Ireland, Cyprus or Malta, the rule of the road in Europe is to drive on the right.

European Car Guide