Thousands of drivers in Portugal are driving with a legally expired driving license without being aware of it. The problem is not an administrative failure or a one-off distraction, but a little-known rule that requires the renewal of the license at age 50, even when the physical document indicates validity until an older age. The situation has led to high fines and legal complications that many only discover during a routine inspection.
According to the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), an association specialized in mobility, road safety and driver support, confusion between the date printed on the card and the legal renewal date continues to be one of the most frequent causes of avoidable administrative offenses. In many cases, drivers believe they are fully compliant when, in practice, they drive with an expired license.
Current legislation determines that anyone who obtained a category B driving license before January 2, 2013 is obliged to renew it for the first time upon reaching 50 years of age. This obligation remains even if the card indicates validity until the age of 60, 65 or more. Once this legal deadline is exceeded, the license is no longer valid and driving becomes considered a serious infraction.
The applicable fines vary between 120 and 600 euros. In addition to the fine, additional problems may arise, particularly with insurance companies, if an accident occurs during the period in which the license is expired. In these cases, subsequent regularization does not eliminate the consequences of the infraction committed.
A mandatory renewal that does not require exams
Intermediate renewal at age 50 was introduced as part of the European harmonization of driving licenses and aims to ensure regular monitoring of drivers throughout their lives. Contrary to what happens at older ages, this renewal does not, as a rule, require a medical certificate for drivers of light vehicles.
Medical evaluation becomes mandatory from the age of 60, repeating at 65, 70 and, thereafter, every two years. Even so, the absence of exams at 50 does not exempt you from meeting the legal renewal deadline, which continues to be mandatory.
The process can be done simply through the IMT portal, with authentication using a Digital Mobile Key. Online renewal allows for a discount on the applicable fee and the sending of the new letter by registered mail. Despite this, many drivers continue to postpone the request due to ignorance of the rules or because they rely exclusively on the date on the card.
Delays can worsen the situation
As mentioned, when the renewal deadline is exceeded, the consequences become progressively more serious. Up to two years late, the license can still be renewed upon payment of an additional fee. Between two and five years of age, a special driving test will be required. Once this period has passed, the license may be cancelled, forcing the driver to take a new driving test.
The rules also vary depending on the year the license was issued. Anyone who obtained it between 2013 and 2017 must renew it 15 years after the date of issue. For licenses issued from 2017 onwards, a regime also applies every 15 years until the age of 60, the age from which the terms become shorter.
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