To get a car driving licence (category B) in Portugal you must be 18, enrol in a driving school, be declared fit in the medical exam and pass a theory test (27 correct answers out of 30) and a practical test. The IMT's official fees add up to €90: €15 for the learner's licence, €15 for the theory test, €30 for the practical test and €30 for issuing the licence.
This guide explains the process in order: age, enrolment, the tests, what is assessed in the practical test, the fees and what happens after you pass.
Who can get a category B licence
According to the IMT, category B requires you to be 18. Under 18 you need written consent from whoever holds parental authority, and category B1 (quadricycles) starts at 16. The Driving Licence Regulation also lets you start learning in the six months before the minimum age (art. 20).
The other requirements are physical and mental fitness, habitual residence in Portugal (at least 185 days a year) and not holding a licence of the same category from another EU state. If you already have a foreign licence, first check whether you can exchange the foreign licence, because it may spare you the tests.
Step by step: from enrolment to the licence
- Pick a driving school. For category B, the test is only taken when a driving school puts you forward. Enrolment requires proof of address, tax number (NIF) and a medical certificate.
- Take the medical exam. The IMT asks for the electronic medical certificate. A psychological assessment only applies if the doctor recommends it.
- Take theory and practical lessons. The school tells you how many lessons and the price, which the IMT does not set.
- Pass the theory test. It always comes first.
- Pass the practical test. It is taken on another day, after the theory test.
- Receive the licence. The school submits the first-issue request and the licence is sent by post.
Enrolment and the learner's licence request are handled by the school itself, which pays the fees to the IMT.
The theory test: how many questions and how many mistakes
For category B, the theory test has 30 multiple-choice questions, each with a single right answer, taken on a monitor. You pass with at least 27 correct out of 30, so you can make up to 3 mistakes (arts. 43 and 47 of the regulation).
If you fail, you get a copy of the results sheet showing the subjects to improve. You can see the questions you got wrong in the following four hours and complain in writing within two working days. The IMT publishes examples under exam questions.
Mind the deadline: a pass in the theory test is valid for one year, and the practical test must be passed in that period. Candidates who do not speak Portuguese well can ask the IMT for a translation of the theory test.
The practical test: what happens in the driving test
The practical test lasts at least 40 minutes, of which at most 5 are for preparing and checking the vehicle. It starts by showing that you know the car (the examiner picks three items to check) and then you drive on urban and non-urban roads, with the examiner in the front seat and the instructor behind.
On the route, the candidate must perform, among others, these manoeuvres:
- starting off and hill starts on a gradient of at least 8 %;
- turning round by reversing and reversing round a corner;
- parking and leaving a parallel, angled or perpendicular space;
- driving through roundabouts, crossroads and junctions, and overtaking and being overtaken, where possible;
- independent driving for up to 15 minutes, choosing the route with a satnav or a map.
At each centre the routes include residential areas, schools, pedestrian crossings and roundabouts. Roundabouts are a point where many candidates hesitate, so read our guide to the roundabout rules before the test.
The regulation (art. 60) lists the causes of failure. The main ones:
- driving in a way that endangers safety;
- committing a serious or very serious offence;
- accumulating 10 faults during the test, or 3 faults in the same type of manoeuvre;
- stalling the engine through lack of skill more than three times;
- the examiner having to intervene on the controls, or the instructor giving instructions during the test.
Mind the gearbox: you can take the test in a manual or an automatic car, but if it is automatic the licence carries a restriction and you will not be able to drive manual cars (art. 61).
How much it costs: IMT fees
For category B, the IMT lists these fees, paid by the driving school (online requests get a 10 % discount):
- learner's licence: €15;
- theory test: €15;
- practical test: €30;
- issue of the driving licence: €30.
They add up to €90, but that is only the official part and for one attempt at each test. The price of enrolment, lessons and each new test depends on the school, so ask for a written quote and find out what is included. Missing a test is not excusable: to rebook you pay the fee again (art. 41).
After you pass: temporary authorisation and licence
Those who pass the practical test receive from the IMT a temporary driving authorisation, which replaces the licence until it is issued (art. 59). The licence is sent to the address on the learner's licence. According to the IMT, you need an activated citizen card to request the biometric data update, which is free.
If you want to ride a motorbike instead of driving a car, the rules are different: see the A1, A2 and A motorcycle licence guide. And once you have passed, keep an eye on your licence points.
And the first car? See what is available used
Many new drivers start with a used car. On 10 November 2026, there were 9,513 active cars on AUTO.MOTO.pt, of which 1,322 were priced between €500 and €8,000 and 2,111 up to €10,000. Compare the used cars for sale and get alerts for new adverts in the AUTO.MOTO app on your phone.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to get a car licence?
18 for category B. Learning can start in the six months before. Under 18 you need written consent from whoever holds parental authority.
How many questions does the theory test have and how many mistakes are allowed?
30 questions, and you need at least 27 correct. You can make up to 3 mistakes.
How long does the practical test last?
At least 40 minutes, with up to 5 minutes for preparing the vehicle.
How much are the IMT fees for getting a licence?
€15 for the learner's licence, €15 for the theory test, €30 for the practical test and €30 for issuing the licence, so €90. Lessons and enrolment depend on the school.
Can I get a licence without a driving school?
For category B, as a rule no: the test depends on a driving school putting you forward.
How long is the theory test pass valid?
One year. In that period you must pass the practical test.
