Skip to content
CondutoresProfissionais
EN

← Driving bans in Europe

Portugal

There is no general weekend ban on goods vehicles. The restrictions fall on dangerous goods, abnormal loads and specific roads.

Applies to: Dangerous goods (ADR) and abnormal loads; lorries in general only on specific roads and works ·Updated on 15 September 2026

When you cannot drive

  • Goods vehicles in general

    No national weekend ban

    Local restrictions may apply because of works, events or the Tagus crossings.

  • Dangerous goods (ADR)

    Restrictions at weekends, on public holidays and in peak periods

    Set by annual order with its own signage; specific rules for tunnels.

  • Abnormal loads

    Movement subject to a permit and to the times set in it

    The IP permit states the route, the permitted hours and whether escort vehicles are required.

Most common exemptions

  • Emergency, rescue and roadside assistance vehicles
  • Road network maintenance services

Exemptions vary from country to country and almost always depend on paperwork on board proving what the load is.

Planning notes

By European standards Portugal is permissive about lorry traffic: there is no general ban on Sundays or public holidays for the carriage of goods. That does not mean there are no rules.

The relevant restrictions sit on three fronts: dangerous goods, with their own calendar and signage, especially in tunnels and on crossings; abnormal loads, which may only move under the conditions set in the permit issued by Infraestruturas de Portugal; and temporary restrictions for works or events, published on the network status page.

For anyone leaving Portugal, the critical planning starts at the border: the Spanish Sunday bans apply immediately after Vilar Formoso, Caia or Valença.

Share