When must I renew my driving licence?
Conditional on age: renewal becomes more frequent with the years. For Group 1 (B licence, light vehicles): valid 15 years to 60, then 5 years (60–70) and 2 years from 70. Group 2 (heavy C/D) renews every 5 years to 70, then every 2. You can renew up to 6 months before expiry, via IMT online (gov.pt), Citizen's Spaces or Citizen's Shops. A medical certificate is required for Group 1 from age 60 and, for Group 2, at every renewal. The 2026 cost is €30 (under 70) or €15 (70+), with ~10% off online. In short: renew before it expires, by your age.
📋 The rules
- Group 1: 15 years to 60, then 5 and 2 years
- Group 2 (heavy): every 5 to 70, then every 2
- Renew up to 6 months before expiry
- Medical certificate: Group 1 from age 60
- 2026 cost: €30 (under 70) / €15 (70+)
🔓 Exceptions
- Group 2: medical certificate at every renewal
- Pre-2013 licences: milestone ages 50/60/65/70
- ~10% discount on online renewal
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Driving on an expired licence is a serious offence (art. 130 of the Highway Code): a fine of €120 to €600 and loss of 2 points. Beware a myth: there's no "grace period" to drive after the licence expires — it's already a serious offence. And unlike Brazil, in Portugal it's the driving licence and the IMT, not the CNH or DETRAN. The costs (€30 under 70, €15 after) are updated periodically. To stay compliant: check the licence's expiry date (you can renew up to 6 months early), get the medical certificate if you're 60+ (or at every renewal, for Group 2), and renew via IMT online or a Citizen's Shop.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
When must I renew my driving licence?
It depends on age. For the light-vehicle licence, Group 1, it's valid 15 years to 60, then renewed every 5 years between 60 and 70, and every 2 years from 70. Heavy-vehicle licences, Group 2, renew every 5 years to 70 and then every 2.
Do I need a medical certificate?
For the light-vehicle licence, the medical certificate is required from age 60, at each renewal. For the heavy-vehicle licence, Group 2, the medical certificate is required at every renewal, regardless of age. The certificate confirms fitness to drive.
How much does renewal cost?
In 2026, renewal costs €30 for drivers under 70 and €15 from 70. There's also about a 10% discount if the renewal is done online, at the IMT. The medical-certificate costs may be added to these, where required.
Can I renew before it expires?
Yes. You can renew the driving licence up to 6 months before the expiry date, without losing validity on the new one. That way, you avoid driving on an expired licence. Renewal can be done online, at the IMT, or in person at Citizen's Spaces and Shops.
What's the fine for driving on an expired licence?
Driving on an expired licence is a serious offence, with a fine of €120 to €600 and loss of 2 points. There's no grace period: from the moment the licence expires, driving is already a serious offence.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “driving licence renewal schedule”
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- “expired licence fine”
- “renew licence imt online”