In Portugal every driver starts with 12 points on their licence. You lose 2 to 6 points for each serious or very serious offence or road crime, and you gain 3 points after every 3 years without such offences, up to a maximum of 15 (16 with a voluntary course).
To see how many points you have, log in to the Balcão do Condutor or the road offences portal with the Chave Móvel Digital or your Citizen Card. The check takes just a few minutes.
This guide explains how to check the points on a Portuguese driving licence, how many points each offence costs, how to regain points and what happens when the licence drops to 5, 3 or 0 points.
How to check your driving licence points
The points system is run by the road safety authority, ANSR. According to the service page on gov.pt, you can check your points online in two ways:
- Balcão do Condutor: log in to the Balcão do Condutor with the Chave Móvel Digital or your Citizen Card and allow access to your personal data;
- Road offences portal (Portal das Contraordenações Rodoviárias): log in, open the «Cadastro» menu and choose «Consulta de pontos». Registered users can also log in with their NIF and password;
- in person: at an Espaço Cidadão, with your Citizen Card or Chave Móvel Digital, or at a GNR or PSP station, bringing your ID document and driving licence.
Checking online is the quickest way to check your points before renewing your licence or after a fine.
How many points does a Portuguese licence have?
The points system came into force on 1 June 2016 and gave every driver 12 points. The rules are in articles 121-A and 148 of the Highway Code (Código da Estrada):
- 12 points is the starting point, both for people who already had a licence in 2016 and for new drivers today;
- 15 points is the most you can reach through good driving alone: 3 more points for every 3 years without serious or very serious offences or road crimes;
- 16 points is the absolute ceiling: 1 more point at licence revalidation for drivers who take a voluntary road safety course and have no road crimes on record.
How you lose points
Points are only deducted when the decision becomes final or the court ruling can no longer be appealed, not on the day you are stopped. If you contest the fine, your points stay as they are until there is a decision. The scale set by law is:
- serious offence (grave): minus 2 points, or minus 3 for drink-driving, using a phone while driving, speeding in a shared-space zone or overtaking next to a pedestrian crossing;
- very serious offence (muito grave): minus 4 points, or minus 5 for alcohol, drugs or speeding in a shared-space zone;
- road crime with an additional driving ban: minus 6 points;
- several offences on the same day: no more than 6 points are deducted at once, except for alcohol and drug offences, which are always deducted.
Minor offences (leves), punished with a fine only, cost no points. Parking badly on a city street, for example, costs money but does not touch your licence.
Which offences are serious and very serious
The full list is in articles 145 and 146 of the Highway Code. These are the ones that matter most for an everyday car or motorbike driver:
- speeding in built-up areas: serious above 20 km/h over the limit, very serious above 40 km/h;
- speeding outside built-up areas: serious above 30 km/h over the limit, very serious above 60 km/h;
- alcohol: serious between 0.5 and 0.8 g/l, very serious between 0.8 and 1.2 g/l. For probationary drivers the limits start at 0.2 g/l;
- holding a phone while driving: serious;
- running a red light, ignoring a STOP sign or crossing a solid line: very serious;
- driving without insurance: serious;
- using high beams so that they dazzle oncoming drivers: very serious.
Two of these catch many people by surprise. Falling behind on your insurance leaves the car on the road without cover, and we explain what that means in our article on what happens if you do not pay your car insurance. Misused high beams are a very serious offence, so it is worth knowing what colour a car's high beams may be before you change the bulbs.
On top of the points, serious and very serious offences carry a driving ban: from 1 month to 1 year for serious offences and from 2 months to 2 years for very serious ones, covering all motor vehicles.
How to regain points
There is no way to «buy» points back. The law provides only two ways to earn them:
- 3 years without serious or very serious offences or road crimes: you gain 3 points, up to the limit of 15. Minor offences do not count and do not block this bonus;
- a voluntary course at licence revalidation: if you take a road safety course and have no road crimes on record, you gain 1 point, up to a maximum of 16.
For professional drivers on duty, such as taxi drivers, lorry drivers or school transport drivers, the clean period is 2 years instead of 3. If your licence is close to expiry, see how the renewal of a Portuguese driving licence works and ask about the course at the same time.
What happens when your licence is low on points
Article 148 of the Highway Code sets three thresholds. The cost of the course and the tests is always paid by the driver:
- 5 points or fewer: a compulsory road safety course;
- 3 points or fewer: you must retake the theory part of the driving test;
- 0 points: the licence is revoked and you can only get a new one, of any category, 2 years after you are notified of the revocation.
Missing the course or the theory test without justification, or failing it, also leads to revocation. The revocation decision can be challenged in court under the general rules for administrative offences.
Licence revoked: can I drive a licence-free car?
No. For 2 years after revocation you cannot be issued a licence for motor vehicles of any category, including AM, the category that covers light quadricycles. So-called licence-free cars also require a licence, as we explain in our guide to licence-free cars in Portugal.
New drivers: the probationary period
For the first 3 years, the licence of someone who has never held one is probationary. During this period the alcohol limit is lower (0.2 g/l), and proceedings for a very serious offence, a second serious offence or a road crime extend the probationary period until there is a decision. If you are convicted of a road crime, a very serious offence or a second serious offence during this period, the licence lapses (article 130 of the Highway Code) and you must pass a special driving test to drive again.
It is also when many young drivers buy their first car. AUTO.MOTO.PT currently lists 254 used cars up to €5,000, with a median price of €3,990, and half of them are from 2007 or newer. Pick a car you can keep insured: driving without insurance is a serious offence and, during the probationary period, a second serious offence makes the licence lapse.
Frequently asked questions about licence points
Why do I only have 12 points on my licence?
Because the 3 extra points only come at the end of each 3-year period without serious or very serious offences or road crimes. If you had one of those in that period, you do not get the bonus.
How many points does my licence have?
Check in the Balcão do Condutor or the road offences portal with the Chave Móvel Digital or your Citizen Card. You can also ask for help at an Espaço Cidadão.
How do I get 15 points?
By driving 3 years in a row without serious or very serious offences or road crimes, which adds 3 points to the initial 12. Minor fines do not count.
What is the maximum number of points?
16 points: 15 for good driving plus 1 for a voluntary course at licence revalidation.
When are points deducted?
On the date the offence decision becomes final or the court ruling can no longer be appealed, not on the day of the offence.
Does a parking fine cost points?
In most cases no, because it is a minor offence. There are serious and very serious exceptions, such as stopping or parking on a motorway carriageway or on a pedestrian crossing.
