You can drive from Porto in the north to Faro in the Algarve in about five hours, with coast, mountain villages, cork forests and river valleys along the way. The roads are generally good and traffic outside Lisbon is manageable.
The toll system is the part that confuses visitors, and getting it wrong means fines or extra charges. This guide explains how tolls work, then covers speed limits, driving laws, city driving, fuel and five routes.
How Portuguese tolls work
There are three types of toll road, each with different payment methods.
Type 1: Traditional Toll Booths
Found on older motorways, these work like French or Italian tolls. Take a ticket on entry, pay at the booth on exit. Cash and cards accepted. Simple. Major roads using this system include the A1 (Lisbon to Porto) and the A2 (Lisbon to Algarve).
Type 2: Electronic-Only Tolls (SCUT Roads)
This is where it gets complicated. Several Portuguese motorways were converted from free roads to toll roads but were never fitted with physical toll booths. Instead, they use overhead gantries that read electronic tags or photograph your number plate. There are no barriers and no places to stop and pay. You drive through at full speed and are charged automatically.
Since 1 January 2025, tolls have been abolished on several of these former SCUT motorways, including the A22 (Via do Infante, the main Algarve motorway), A23, A24, A25 and A28. Other motorways still have electronic-only gantries. If you drive one of those without a payment method set up, the system photographs your plate and you are billed, often with added fees.
Type 3: Via Verde Electronic Lanes
On traditional toll roads, green "Via Verde" lanes are for electronic tag holders only. Don't use these unless you have a tag.
How to Pay Electronic Tolls as a Foreign Driver
You have several options:
- Rent a Via Verde device: Available at the airport, some border crossings, and online. This is the easiest option. The device clips to your windscreen and automatically pays all tolls. You leave a credit card deposit and tolls are charged to your card. Return the device when you leave
- EASYToll: Register your credit card at an EASYToll machine (found at some border entry points). Your number plate is linked to your card and tolls are charged automatically. Only works for the specific vehicle registered
- Toll Card: Buy a prepaid card from post offices (CTT) or Payshop outlets. Load it with credit and associate it with your number plate. Tolls are deducted automatically
- Pay at post offices: You can pay outstanding electronic tolls at CTT post offices or Payshop outlets for a limited period after travelling (check the current window). Bring your number plate and the date of travel
If you're renting a car, ask the rental company if a Via Verde device is included or available. Many companies now include one as standard or offer it for a daily fee of €1–2. This is the simplest solution.
Speed Limits and Traffic Laws
Speed Limits
- Urban areas: 50 km/h
- Secondary roads outside towns: 90 km/h
- Main roads (IP/IC roads): 100 km/h
- Motorways (autoestradas): 120 km/h
- Minimum motorway speed: 50 km/h (yes, there's a minimum)
Speed cameras are widespread, both fixed and mobile. Portugal also uses average speed cameras on certain motorway sections. Fines are steep: €60–300 for minor speeding, up to €2,500 for serious violations. On-the-spot fines for foreign drivers are standard practice.
Key Traffic Rules
- Drink-driving limit: 0.05% BAC (0.02% for professional drivers and those with less than 3 years' experience)
- Seatbelts: Mandatory for all occupants
- Mobile phones: Handheld use prohibited. Hands-free permitted
- Right of way: Traffic from the right has priority at unmarked junctions
- Trams: In Lisbon and Porto, trams always have right of way
- Overtaking: Prohibited near pedestrian crossings, junctions, and on roads with limited visibility. Use of horn to signal overtaking is acceptable outside built-up areas
Driving in Lisbon and Porto
Lisbon
Lisbon is built on seven hills, and driving there reflects it: steep, narrow, winding streets; trams sharing the road; creative parking on impossible gradients; and one-way systems that seem designed to trap you. Add in aggressive taxi drivers and buses that claim right of way by sheer size, and city driving is challenging.
The best strategy: park outside the centre and use Lisbon's excellent metro, tram, and bus network. Underground car parks are available at Marquês de Pombal, Restauradores and other central locations. If you must drive, avoid rush hour (8–10am, 5–8pm) and be prepared for the 25 de Abril bridge and Vasco da Gama bridge to have significant queues.
Porto
Porto is slightly easier to navigate than Lisbon, but the historic centre (Ribeira) is essentially off-limits to cars, narrow cobbled streets and steep gradients make it impractical. Park in an underground car park such as Trindade and explore on foot.
Both Lisbon and Porto are increasingly restricting car access to historic centres. Low-emission zones are being planned or expanded. Check current restrictions before your visit, as the situation evolves rapidly.
Fuel and Practical Information
Fuel Types
- Gasolina 95: Regular unleaded petrol
- Gasolina 98: Premium unleaded
- Gasóleo: Diesel
- Gasóleo colorido / agrícola: Dyed agricultural diesel (do not use in a regular car)
- GPL: LPG (limited availability)
Fuel is expensive in Portugal, among the highest in Europe. Expect to pay €1.60–1.90 per litre for petrol and slightly less for diesel. Supermarket stations (such as Auchan, Continente and Intermarché) are typically the cheapest. Motorway stations charge a premium of €0.10–0.20 per litre.
Mandatory Equipment
- Warning triangle: One required
- High-visibility vest: Required if exiting the vehicle on a roadside
- Driving licence: Full UK photocard or EU licence valid. No IDP needed (see using your UK licence abroad)
- Vehicle registration (V5C): Carry the original
- Insurance: Minimum third-party cover. Green Card no longer mandatory for most EU/UK insurers
The Best Road Trip Routes in Portugal
Five routes worth driving:
- The N2 (Portugal's Route 66): Running 739 km from Chaves on the Spanish border to Faro in the Algarve, the EN2 passes through the country's wild interior. Cork forests, terraced vineyards, thermal springs and small villages. Allow 3–5 days. Plan this trip
- The Algarve Coast: From Sagres at the southwestern tip to the Spanish border. Cliffs, coves and fishing villages. The N125 is the slower alternative to the A22 motorway, which is now toll-free. 3–5 days. Plan this trip
- The Douro Valley: Follow the river east from Porto into the heart of port wine country. Terraced vineyards cascade down to the river, and quintas (wine estates) offer tastings and accommodation. The N222 along the south bank between Peso da Régua and Pinhão is often called one of the world's best driving roads. 2–4 days. See our Spain and Portugal road trips for a full itinerary
- The Silver Coast (Costa de Prata): From Lisbon north to Porto via the coast (our Lisbon to Porto route has the direct drive): Sintra, Nazaré (giant waves), Óbidos (walled town), Coimbra (university city). 4–6 days. Plan this trip
- Alentejo Interior: The wide plains of southern-central Portugal: medieval castle towns (Marvao, Monsaraz, Évora), cork oak forests and a dark-sky reserve, with quiet roads. 3–5 days
Explore our destination guides for Lisbon, Porto, and Faro to start planning your Portuguese road trip.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I don't pay electronic tolls in Portugal?
If you drive an electronic-only toll road without a payment method, the gantry photographs your plate. You then have a limited window to pay at a CTT post office or Payshop outlet, after which an additional administrative charge is added. If you don't pay at all, the toll operator will eventually trace you through your rental company (who will charge your credit card plus an admin fee of €20–30 per transaction) or, for privately owned vehicles, through international debt recovery. Multiple unpaid tolls can accumulate into a surprisingly large bill. It's much easier to set up a Via Verde device or EASYToll registration when you arrive.
Is driving in the Algarve easy?
Yes. The Algarve has good roads, including the A22 motorway (toll-free since 2025) running east-west across the region and well-maintained secondary roads connecting the coast to the interior. Traffic is light outside summer peak season. The only challenges are the narrow streets in older towns like Lagos, Tavira, and Silves, where parking outside the centre and walking in is advisable. In July and August, beach access roads can get very congested on weekends.
Can I drive from Portugal to Spain easily?
Yes. There are no border controls between Portugal and Spain (both are in the Schengen Area). On the main motorway crossings, such as the A22, A6 and A25, you simply drive across. Fuel is typically cheaper in Spain, so many Portuguese living near the border fill up on the Spanish side. Make sure your insurance covers both countries (most European policies do).