Losing your driving license is more common than you might think and can turn a normal day into a complicated experience. Whether due to loss, forgetfulness or theft, the driver is immediately left without an essential document to drive legally. The good news is that there are ways to rectify the situation and return to driving without legal risks.
Steps to request a duplicate
According to the website of the Institute of Mobility and Transport (IMT), responsible for issuing and managing driving licenses in Portugal, the process can be done online or in person. The request requires identification of the driver and payment of a fee. In cases of theft, it is recommended to first register the incident with the authorities, protecting yourself from possible fraud and future complications.
Online ordering avoids unnecessary travel and allows you to monitor the status of the process in real time. For those who prefer in-person service, it is necessary to present a valid identification document and, whenever applicable, proof of the occurrence. Driving without a valid license exposes the driver to high fines and, in specific situations, to the seizure of the vehicle.
Driving without a license: what the law says
Portuguese legislation leaves little room for doubt. The Highway Code establishes that only those who are qualified with a valid title suitable for the vehicle they are driving can drive, that is, with a current driving license.
If you are caught without your license on your person, even if you still have it elsewhere and just lost it, this constitutes a punishable offence. According to the information available on fines for lack of documents, the fine can range between 60 and 300 euros, an amount that the authorities can apply at the time of inspection.
The situation is more serious if you have never obtained a license or if your legal license has expired or been suspended. Decree-Law No. 2/98 provides that driving without being legally qualified on public roads can be punished with a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine of up to 240 days.
These frameworks explain why the simple physical absence of the document at the time it is requested gives rise to a fine, while the lack of legal qualification, such as the license never having existed or being revoked, can even constitute a crime.
The impact on everyday life
Losing your driving license goes beyond bureaucracy. Without a document, it becomes difficult to prove the legality of a maneuver in the event of an inspection or accident. For professionals who drive daily, the absence of the document can affect essential tasks and even compromise work. Therefore, acting quickly is essential not only to comply with the law, but also to avoid personal and professional losses.
There are still temporary alternatives. Proof of the duplicate request can serve as a transitional document, showing the intention to regularize the situation. Despite this, it does not replace the letter in legal terms for all circumstances. Keeping a digital copy of documents and updating contacts on the IMT portal helps you receive notifications about the status of the process.
Receive the new letter without surprises
According to the same source, the new license is sent or made available for collection depending on the option chosen by the driver. It is important to carefully check personal data as soon as you receive it, avoiding additional administrative problems. Once all the steps have been completed, it is possible to resume driving safely and legally, avoiding sanctions that could be easily prevented.
Secondly, acting quickly and organized is the best way to transform a mishap into a simple and stress-free process, allowing driving to return to a normal and safe routine.
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