Countries › Portugal
Portugal
At a glance
- Traffic
- on the right
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- types C, F · 230 V
- Emergency
- 112
Entering the country
- Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180-day period, all Schengen countries counted together.
- Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen and issued less than 10 years ago.
- EES: fingerprints and photo taken on your first entry into Schengen, then checked at each crossing (system in place since 2025-2026).
- ETIAS: online travel authorisation, planned for late 2026; check whether it's in force before you go.
Driver and insurance
- International Driving Permit recommended (CAA, AAA): cheap, and it saves trouble.
- Insurance: your North American policy isn't valid here. You need European insurance for a vehicle registered outside Europe, with its green card.
Speed limits
| Town | Road | Motorway | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, light RV | 50 | 90 | 120 |
| With a trailer or caravan | 50 | 70 | 100 |
In km/h. Signs always take precedence.
Tolls and vignettes Electronic toll
Toll motorways, some electronic only (gantries): get an EasyToll or TollCard at the border, or a Via Verde tag. Several former shadow-toll motorways (ex-SCUT) became free in 2025.
Low-emission zones
Lisbon: reduced-emission zone downtown (older cars banned in the daytime).
Boondocking Banned
Since 2021, sleeping in a motorhome outside campgrounds and authorised areas is banned, especially in protected zones and on the coast (heavy fines). Daytime parking is still fine.
Mandatory equipment
- Reflective vest, within reach
- Warning triangle
- Country-of-registration sticker (CDN or USA) on the back
Frequently asked questions
- Portugal: what do you need to enter the country with your vehicle?
- Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180-day period, all Schengen countries counted together. Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen and issued less than 10 years ago. EES: fingerprints and photo taken on your first entry into Schengen, then checked at each crossing (system in place since 2025-2026). ETIAS: online travel authorisation, planned for late 2026; check whether it's in force before you go. International Driving Permit recommended (CAA, AAA): cheap, and it saves trouble. Insurance: your North American policy isn't valid here. You need European insurance for a vehicle registered outside Europe, with its green card.
- Portugal: what are the speed limits?
- Car and light RV: 50 in town, 90 on rural roads, 120 on motorways (km/h). With a trailer or caravan: 70 on rural roads, 100 on motorways.
- Portugal: do you need a vignette or pay tolls?
- Toll motorways, some electronic only (gantries): get an EasyToll or TollCard at the border, or a Via Verde tag. Several former shadow-toll motorways (ex-SCUT) became free in 2025.
- Portugal: are there low emission zones?
- Lisbon: reduced-emission zone downtown (older cars banned in the daytime).
- Portugal: is wild camping allowed?
- Banned. Since 2021, sleeping in a motorhome outside campgrounds and authorised areas is banned, especially in protected zones and on the coast (heavy fines). Daytime parking is still fine.
- Portugal: what equipment is required in the vehicle?
- Reflective vest, within reach, Warning triangle, Country-of-registration sticker (CDN or USA) on the back.