Minimum age for each driving licence in Portugal

AM Mopeds and light quadricycles (up to 45 km/h)

Minimum age

16 years

At 14, only for two-wheeled mopeds up to 50 cm³ and 45 km/h, or electric ones up to 4 kW, and only if you successfully complete a special training course (ação especial de formação) run by a body authorised by the IMT (the terms are set by ordinance, portaria) (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea a), subalínea i))

Under 18 you need written authorisation from your parents (art. 20.º, n.º 4).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea a), subalíneas i) e ii); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea a)

A1 Motorcycles up to 125 cm³ and 11 kW, and tricycles up to 15 kW

Minimum age

16 years

Under 18 you need written authorisation from your parents (art. 20.º, n.º 4).

With a B licence you can also ride A1 motorcycles, if you are over 25 or already hold category AM or a moped licence (licença de ciclomotor) (art. 3.º, n.º 4, alínea e), subalínea ii)).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea b)

A2 Motorcycles up to 35 kW

Minimum age

18 years

If you have held A1 for at least two years, obtained by passing a test, the law lets you move up to A2 through a simplified route, with only a practical test or a training course (art. 18.º, n.º 3, alínea a)).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea c)

A Motorcycles with no power limit and motor tricycles

Minimum age

24 years

At 20, if you have held A2 for at least two years, not counting any time you were banned or barred from driving (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea d), subalínea i))

At 21, for motor tricycles of more than 15 kW (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea d), subalínea ii))

With two years of A2, the law lets you move up to A through a simplified route, with only a practical test or a training course (art. 18.º, n.º 3, alínea b)).

With a B licence and over 21 you can also drive motor tricycles of more than 15 kW (art. 3.º, n.º 4, alínea e), subalínea iii)).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea d); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea d)

B1 Quadricycles (up to 450 kg, or 600 kg for goods)

Minimum age

16 years

Under 18 you need written authorisation from your parents (art. 20.º, n.º 4).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea e)

B Light vehicles: cars and vans (up to 3,500 kg and 8 seats in addition to the driver)

Minimum age

18 years

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea f)

BE Light vehicle with a heavy trailer (trailer up to 3,500 kg)

Minimum age

18 years

You need to have

B licence

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea g)

C1 Heavy goods vehicles up to 7,500 kg

Minimum age

18 years

You need to have

B licence

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea a); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea h)

C1E C1 with a trailer (combination up to 12,000 kg)

Minimum age

18 years

You need to have

C1 licence

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea i)

C Heavy goods vehicles (over 3,500 kg)

Minimum age

21 years

You need to have

B licence

At 18, if you hold a driver qualification card (carta de qualificação de motorista, CQM) obtained through the standard initial qualification of 280 hours. With the accelerated initial qualification of 140 hours, only from 21 (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea e); DL 126/2009, arts. 7.º, alínea a), and 8.º, alínea b))

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea e); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea a); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea j)

CE Heavy goods vehicle with a trailer

Minimum age

21 years

You need to have

C licence

At 18, if you hold a driver qualification card (carta de qualificação de motorista, CQM) obtained through the standard initial qualification of 280 hours. With the accelerated initial qualification of 140 hours, only from 21 (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea e); DL 126/2009, arts. 7.º, alínea a), and 8.º, alínea b))

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea e), e n.º 5; 21.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea k)

D1 Minibus (up to 16 seats in addition to the driver, and 8 m)

Minimum age

21 years

You need to have

B licence

The RHLC does not provide for a lower age with a CQM for D1 and D1E.

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea f); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea a); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea l)

D1E Minibus with a trailer

Minimum age

21 years

You need to have

D1 licence

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea f); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea m)

D Buses (more than 8 seats in addition to the driver)

Minimum age

24 years

You need to have

B licence

At 21, if you hold a driver qualification card (CQM) obtained through the standard initial qualification of 280 hours (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea g); DL 126/2009, art. 7.º, alínea b))

At 23, if you hold a driver qualification card (CQM) obtained through the accelerated initial qualification of 140 hours (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea g); DL 126/2009, art. 8.º, alínea c))

The RHLC says “21 or 23 years” with a CQM. The age depends on the initial qualification: 21 with the standard initial qualification (280 hours) and 23 with the accelerated one (140 hours) (DL 126/2009, arts. 7.º and 8.º).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea g); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea a); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea n)

DE Bus with a trailer

Minimum age

24 years

You need to have

D licence

At 21, if you hold a driver qualification card (CQM) obtained through the standard initial qualification of 280 hours (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea g); DL 126/2009, art. 7.º, alínea b))

At 23, if you hold a driver qualification card (CQM) obtained through the accelerated initial qualification of 140 hours (art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea g); DL 126/2009, art. 8.º, alínea c))

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea g); 21.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea o)

T1 Agricultural vehicles type I: motocultivadores (walk-behind cultivators) and tratocarros (small agricultural transporters), combination up to 2,500 kg

Minimum age

16 years

Under 18 you need written authorisation from your parents (art. 20.º, n.º 4).

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea b); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea p), subalínea i)

T2 Agricultural vehicles type II: simple tractors (up to 3,500 kg) or with a trailer (up to 6,000 kg)

Minimum age

18 years

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea p), subalínea ii)

T3 Agricultural vehicles type III: tractors with or without a trailer and heavy agricultural machinery

Minimum age

18 years

Art. 20.º, n.º 1, alínea c); 3.º, n.º 2, alínea p), subalínea iii)