When must I get my car inspected?
Conditional on the car's age. For a passenger car: it's exempt for the first 4 years; then inspected at 4 and at 6 years (every 2 years); and annually from 8 years. The inspection is due by the registration-date anniversary (you can do it in the 3 months before). The legal basis is Decree-Law 144/2017 (transposing the EU directive), and the duty to drive with a valid inspection is in the Highway Code (art. 116); the regulator is IMT-IP. The 2026 cost is about €37.47 (incl. VAT) for a car (re-inspection ~€9.40), a figure updated yearly. In short: exempt 4 years, then 4/6 and annual from 8.
📋 The rules
- Car: exempt for the first 4 years
- Inspection at 4 and 6 years (every 2)
- Annual from 8 years
- Due by the registration anniversary (3 months before)
- 2026 cost: ~€37.47 (re-inspection ~€9.40)
🔓 Exceptions
- New cars: exempt for the first 4 years
- Taxis, rentals, driving schools, goods vehicles: stricter schedules
- Re-inspection: to fix detected defects
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Driving without a valid inspection is a serious offence, with a fine of €250 to €1,250, plus possible seizure of the document or vehicle and insurance complications. Beware a myth: "the car is inspected annually from new" — false; new cars are exempt for the first 4 years. The inspection fee (~€37.47 in 2026) is updated yearly. Taxis, rentals, driving-school and goods vehicles follow stricter schedules. To stay compliant: get the inspection by the registration anniversary (you can do it up to 3 months early), fix any defects at the re-inspection, and always drive with a valid inspection sheet.
📎 Official sources
- ePortugal — taking the car for inspection →
- Decree-Law 144/2017 — inspections →
- IMT-IP — periodic inspection →
❓ Frequently asked
When must I get the first inspection?
A passenger car is exempt from inspection for the first 4 years. The first inspection is at 4 years, the next at 6, and from 8 years it becomes annual. The reference date is the registration anniversary, and you can do it in the 3 months before.
How much does the inspection cost?
In 2026, the periodic inspection of a passenger car costs about €37.47, including VAT. The re-inspection, to check that defects were fixed, costs around €9.40. These figures are set officially and updated every year.
What's the fine for driving without a valid inspection?
Driving with an expired inspection is a serious offence, punished with a fine of €250 to €1,250. There can also be seizure of the document or vehicle, and problems with insurance in case of an accident. So it's important to keep the inspection up to date.
Is a new car inspected every year?
No. New passenger cars are exempt from inspection for the first 4 years. It's a myth that a car must be inspected annually from purchase. Only from 8 years does the inspection become annual; between 4 and 8 years it's every 2 years.
Can I do the inspection early?
Yes. You can do the periodic inspection in the 3 months before the registration anniversary, without losing the reference deadline. That way, you avoid driving with an expired inspection. Taxis, rentals and goods vehicles have their own, stricter schedules.
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