Vehicles — mandatory deadlines (Portugal)
A list of checks and obligations with their cadence, ready to add to your agenda.
Kit for individuals and businesses owning vehicles registered in Portugal. It covers the mandatory periodic roadworthiness test (Inspeção Periódica Obrigatória, IPO) by vehicle type and age, compulsory motor third-party liability insurance and payment of the annual circulation tax (Imposto Único de Circulação, IUC). It does not cover driving licence renewal, tachographs and driving times, ADR, or parking fees and tolls.
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What it already has at hand
- No manual on this page
- 7 planned checks, the most frequent every 12 months since the last inspection
Planned checks
Informative summary verified on 11/09/2026. It does not replace legal advice: the regulation cited prevails. If you spot an error, report it.
Some checks are only mandatory in certain countries: pick yours and the list follows.
In Italy this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In France this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Germany this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Switzerland this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Austria this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In United Kingdom this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Spain this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
- 01
Take the car for its first roadworthiness test 4 years after registration
Light passenger vehicles are exempt from testing for the first 4 years after first registration: take the car to the test centre by the day and month matching first registration, four years later, and keep the inspection sheet with a favourable result together with the windscreen sticker. The vehicle may be presented in the 3 months before the due date without losing the reference date. Applies to category M1 light passenger vehicles in private use, whereas light vehicles licensed for public passenger transport, ambulances and vehicles used for school transport and driving schools are tested annually from the first year and six-monthly from the eighth.
every 48 months from installationLegal obligationDecreto-Lei n.º 144/2012, Anexo IPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 02
Repeat the car roadworthiness test every 2 years up to 8 years old
After the first test and until the vehicle is 8 years old, the roadworthiness test for light passenger vehicles is every two years, due on the day and month of first registration; keep the favourable inspection sheet. Once the vehicle is over eight years old the test becomes annual. Applies to light passenger vehicles between 4 and 8 years from first registration.
every 24 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationDecreto-Lei n.º 144/2012, Anexo IPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 03
Take light commercial vehicles for the annual roadworthiness test
For light goods vehicles the first periodic test takes place 2 years after first registration and annually thereafter; keep the favourable inspection sheet. No six-monthly test applies to this category. Applies to category N1 light goods vehicles, for which the first due date at 2 years must be set manually on new vehicles.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationDecreto-Lei n.º 144/2012, Anexo IPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 04
Test heavy vehicles yearly, six-monthly for buses from year 8
Heavy passenger vehicles of categories M2 and M3 are tested one year after first registration and annually thereafter until they are seven years old; from the eighth year the test becomes six-monthly. Heavy goods vehicles of categories N2 and N3 are tested one year after first registration and annually thereafter; keep the favourable inspection sheet. Applies to heavy passenger and goods vehicles, the 12-month interval set here holding for heavy goods vehicles and, for heavy passenger vehicles, only up to the seventh year; trailers and semi-trailers from 750 kg to 3500 kg are first tested at 2 years and annually thereafter, those above 3500 kg at 1 year and annually thereafter, while collective transport and dangerous goods carry additional duties not covered by this kit.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationDecreto-Lei n.º 144/2012, Anexo IPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 05
Keep compulsory motor liability insurance in force
Anyone who may be civilly liable for damage caused to third parties by a land motor vehicle must hold motor third-party liability insurance: renew the cover at policy expiry and keep it unbroken for as long as the vehicle is registered, keeping the policy in force and the certificate or green card. The real deadline is that of the individual policy, not a fixed statutory date; Decreto-Lei n.º 26/2025 updated the compulsory minimum amounts of cover, with a transitional period, so check the applicable minimum with ASF at renewal. Applies to all land motor vehicles and their trailers registered in Portugal, including those temporarily off the road unless formally withdrawn from circulation.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationDecreto-Lei n.º 291/2007, art. 4.ºPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 06
Repeat the car roadworthiness test every year after 8 years old
From 8 years of age onwards the roadworthiness test for light passenger vehicles becomes annual; keep the favourable inspection sheet. Here too the vehicle may be presented in the 3 months before the due date without losing the reference date. Applies to light passenger vehicles more than 8 years from first registration, while other light vehicles follow the pattern of 2 years and then annually.
every 12 months since the last inspectionLegal obligationDecreto-Lei n.º 144/2012, Anexo IPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026 - 07
Pay the circulation tax in the vehicle's registration month
The Imposto Único de Circulação is due every year for as long as the vehicle remains registered to the owner and the registration is not cancelled, and must be paid by the end of the month in which the vehicle was first registered, using the payment document issued on the tax authority portal; keep the payment receipt. The due date is not the same for everyone and must be set vehicle by vehicle. Applies to owners, finance lessees or registered usufructuaries of vehicles registered in Portugal: for categories A, B, C, D and E payment is due by the end of the month of the registration anniversary and for categories F and G by the end of the first calendar month of the year, while in the year the registration is issued, imports included, the IUC is paid within 30 days of the end of the 60-day legal period for registering the vehicle.
continuous check, confirm every 12 monthsLegal obligationCódigo do Imposto Único de Circulação (CIUC), art. 17.ºPortugal onlySourceverified on 11/09/2026
In United States this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
In Other country this product has no planned checks: the ones listed apply to other countries.
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