How to get a driving licence in Portugal from scratch
This guide is for people who have no licence, or for whom it is simpler and safer to get a Portuguese licence from scratch than to go through an exchange. Below is how the process usually goes: from signing up with a driving school and getting a medical certificate to theory, practice, the test and collecting the card.
Choose a driving school and find out how they get you to the test
Start with an Escola de Condução (driving school) near your home or work. What matters is not just the price but how quickly the school actually moves students along: when they give you access to the theory, how they book the test, how long you wait for an instructor, and whether the school has its own test slots or a partnership with ACP (Automóvel Club de Portugal, the Portuguese automobile club).
Ask the school practical questions straight away: which language you can study and take the theory test in, whether you can do the theory classes out of order, when they usually book the theory test, how much practice is included in the package, how much an extra hour costs and how long it takes them on average to get you to a licence. Judging by recent reviews, promises of “fast” often don’t match reality: the bottleneck is usually not the paperwork but the queue for tests and the instructors’ timetables.
“Experience with a driving school: hi, I'll post this here too, maybe it'll be useful to someone. Went for my A1 and A2 licence, went straight to a driving school in Cascais, cost €330, within 7 days they'd sorted my medical certificate and learner's licence, and on day 8 they invited me to a lesson. The school has different bikes, but you take the test on this white Suzuki – for me it's small and clunky, but you can ride it. Another guy came to the lesson, it was his first ride out into town, they'd mixed something up with the hours and we went out together. Bottom line, I'm ready for the test, BUT since it's THE SEASON :))) there are no IMT test slots left for June, the best they can do is next Mon”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkMoto chat 🇵🇹28.05.2024
“From scratch it's not realistic. Because that's how the schools work. Slowly. You really have to pick schools that meet the student halfway. For example, they let you attend the compulsory classes out of order. Until you've done all the theory, they won't book you for the test. And the next free one will be in 2 months. Until you pass the test, they won't book you for the practice, the second half of it, where it's not learning to drive any more but driving in town. And there the instructor will be free in a month. If you do it in six months, that's real luck and success. And you need to know the life hacks. What can be sped up and how, and what can't. And when you ask the school, they'll tell you – yes, yes, we ”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkautolife_pt16.06.2025
Gather the basic documents and get a medical certificate
The school usually needs an identity document, a tax number if required for the contract, proof of residence status if the school asks for it, and an Atestado Médico Eletrónico (electronic medical certificate for a driving licence). In many cases the school arranges the medical certificate itself or sends you to a doctor who enters it into the system.
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, say so straight away. This matters: the restriction on driving with glasses must go on the medical certificate and then on your licence. Otherwise you can end up in an awkward situation at the test.
“Driving schools sometimes have these check-ups with doctors, by appointment. That's how I got my medical certificate at the Escola de condução Nova de Matosinhos.”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkchatporto07.05.2026
Sign up and wait for the school to register you as a learner
Once you have signed the contract, the school usually files your candidatura (application for training) and gives you access to the course. In practice this can take anything from a few days to a week if the school is quick with paperwork.
Sometimes it becomes clear at this stage how well organised the school is: when the documents are ready, how quickly they give you access to the platform, how they answer questions and whether they lose lesson bookings.
Do the theory and prepare using the official questions
Theory is compulsory in Portugal. A driving school usually has lessons and/or an online platform with tests. Even if you feel you already drive and understand everything, it is better to study not “by feel” but to the format of the local test: the wording can be unfamiliar, and some questions are quite specific.
If you need English, you usually have to arrange it with the school in advance. From people’s experience, schools can arrange the theory test in English, and on the day you are given a printout with a translation. To prepare, it helps to use not only the school’s question sets but also the official IMT question banks (Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes, the Institute for Mobility and Transport).
Pass the theory test
The school usually books you for the theory test once you have completed the compulsory part of the theory and are getting decent results in the practice tests. Without that, they often simply won’t move you on to the practical part, and especially not to the final stage.
If you need the test in English, check this again a few days before the date. Once you have passed the theory, the school moves you on to the practical stage.
Take practical lessons with an instructor
After the theory come the driving lessons. How many depends on the category, the school’s programme and your progress. For category B it is important not only to learn to pull away, park and drive with a satnav, but also to get used to the local road markings, roundabouts, narrow streets, hills and cobbles.
If the standard package is not enough, you can buy extra hours. According to reviews, many people take extra lessons to brush up their parking, mountain roads or simply to feel more confident before the test.
“Same here, with a Portuguese licence I found the nearest driving school in my village on Google Maps and took a few driving lessons on mountain roads. €25 an hour. In Portuguese.”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkchatleiria10.01.2026
“Yesterday evening I had a stress test at my practice. Pouring rain, dark, helmet fogging up – had to ride with the visor open, I also wear glasses, glare everywhere, hidden deep puddles everywhere. And then the instructor decided we should ride up and down the Lisbon cobbles. And if going up I could still somehow control 260 kg of weight, on the way down I was absolutely bricking it.”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkMoto chat 🇵🇹03.01.2026
Book the practical test and be ready to wait
After the required amount of practice, the school books you for the exame prático (practical test). This is where delays happen most often: there may be no free slots for weeks, especially in high season and in popular areas.
If speed matters to you, ask the school right at the start how long people are actually waiting for a test slot at the moment and whether they can book faster through their own channels. Judging by recent reviews, it is the wait for a date that often stretches the whole process out over months.
“minus outlaw in the chat. In short: €250 to the driving school up front, 1 month and 1 week waiting for a slot, on D-day – an hour and a half of practice like an autistic tortoise, half an hour for the test, an hour or so of waiting and €30 to issue the card.”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkMoto chat 🇵🇹01.06.2026
Pass the practical test
The practical test is usually taken in the school’s car. As a rule, the examiner and your instructor are in the car with you. The route is not known in advance. They check basic vehicle control, observance of signs and road markings, how you handle junctions, roundabouts and hills, parking and general safety.
It is best to check with the school beforehand how exactly instructions are given if your Portuguese is weak. For category B schools usually help with the arrangements, but you should expect the instructions and communication to be in a working rather than a teaching format.
“thanks for sharing, very positive! By the way, they did ask me about the bike, but just lightly. Like, turn on the ignition, check the lights. And there was a funny moment. When the instructor was preparing me, he said, like, don’t worry, your half-Portuguese/half-English is fine. If they ask about the odometer, just read out the digits, that’ll be OK. At the test the stern examiner pokes at the odometer and asks: ‘What’s the mileage on the bike?’. I happily start ‘dois cinco sete...’ — she interrupts and says, like, ‘you’re reading me a phone number! What’s the mileage?’.”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkMoto chat 🇵🇹15.07.2026
After passing, wait for the card to be issued and pay for it if this is charged separately
After you pass the test, your details are sent off for the Carta de Condução (driving licence) to be issued. In some cases the card itself is paid for separately after the test or at the end of the process — it depends on how the school collects payments and what is included in the package.
From recent experience, the card itself can arrive fairly quickly if everything goes smoothly and there are no further requests. Ask the school how you will find out it is ready and whether you need to pay anything extra on the spot.
“I took the test from scratch, i.e. there was also training at the driving school, I passed the practical test on 17 June and by the 3rd of July I already had the card with my licence”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkMoto chat 🇵🇹14.10.2025
Collect your licence and check the details on the card
When the card is ready, check your name, date of birth, categories, any eyesight restrictions and the expiry date. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, the corresponding note must be shown correctly.
After that you can use the licence like any ordinary Portuguese driving licence. In 2026 you can also keep your licence digitally in the gov.pt app, but it is still better to carry the physical card, especially for trips and official procedures.
“On 26.06 I applied to exchange my licence in Santarém. The card arrived today. The new licence is valid until 2040. The new laws haven’t reached the printing press yet 😁😁😁. They gave me categories A1 and A2.”
Translated from Russian; the original is at the linkautolife_pt10.07.2026
“Reason: The name shown on the título de residência does not match the name shown on the carta de condução/certidão de autenticidade. Clarification regarding this situation is requested. Provided for in art. 14 of the Regulamento da Habilitação Legal para Conduzir and art. 128 of the Código da Estrada. .”
Translated from Portuguese; the original is at the linkautolife_pt26.05.2026
What it costs, according to community conversations
| initial payment to the driving school | €250 | source |
| medical certificate | €35–50 | source |
What to bring
- Passport or other identity document
- Proof of residence status, if the driving school asks for it
- Atestado Médico Eletrónico (electronic medical certificate for a driving licence)
- Details for the contract with the driving school
- Glasses or contact lenses, if you use them
- Confirmation of enrolment and payment from the Escola de Condução (driving school)
Where people most often trip up
- Schools often promise “fast”, but the real delay tends to be in booking the test and instructor availability.
- If you need English for the theory, arrange it in advance, not on the day of the test.
- It is best to prepare using the official IMT questions: school and third-party apps may not have everything.
- If you wear glasses or contact lenses, be sure to say so when getting your medical certificate, otherwise you may have problems at the test.
- Even after the theory, the practical part may not start straight away: some schools are slow to schedule lessons.
- In high season and in popular areas there may be no free practical test slots for more than a month.
- Extra lessons are often needed even by people who can already drive, to get used to local conditions and the test format.
How it went for people
A motorcycle licence from scratch for €640
This person was getting a motorcycle licence from scratch, with 3 months’ riding experience on a PCX125 beforehand. The training cost €600 and the medical certificate another €40; the theory and test materials were available in English, while the practice was in Portuguese. After two theory classes he took the test on a computer with a paper translation of the questions, then did 10 practical lessons combined into 5 double sessions. At the practical test he had to push the motorcycle by hand, ride in city traffic, do a figure of eight on a street with a slight slope and show how he handled roundabouts; there was no closed-course section and no emergency braking.
Training from scratch for €900
This person signed up with a driving school and studied the theory on their own from an English-language textbook and tests, because the classes were in Portuguese. Translating the theory test into English cost about €100, and it would have had to be paid again for every retake. The practice was half in English and half in Portuguese, and the examiner at the practical test spoke only Portuguese. The whole process cost about €900.
Three fails and the training cancelled
This person paid about €500 for the theory, €500 for the practice and another €700 for two retakes of the theory test. No more than 3 mistakes were allowed, but the three attempts produced 6, 5 and again 6 mistakes; each retake cost €350. For about €9 at the IMT you could see the questions you got wrong and even photograph them, but they found out about this too late. The learner’s licence expired after 2 years, so the whole process was cancelled and they never got the licence.
Eight months to a paper licence
This person trained for a motorcycle licence from 27 May 2025 to 21 January 2026. He had to learn the theory on his own and work out riding technique from videos, since in lessons the instructor mostly just watched him ride; because of the school’s delays a month was lost between stages and he had to take 2 extra lessons. The theory test on 25 September and the practical test on 21 January were in Portuguese, and he passed the practical in the rain. Straight after passing he was given a paper permit to ride a motorcycle in Portugal.
Theory passed with one unknown mistake
This person passed the theory test with one mistake but was not told which question he had got wrong. One tricky question about slowing down on a motorcycle was missing from the practice question bank he had prepared with. After the test he advised also studying the official IMT question banks.
Retold in our own words from messages in open chats. The link leads to the full original message.