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International Driving Permits

Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2020 10:56am
8 replies152 views3 members subscribed
Philtherugbyref

Posts: 2

Location: Portimao

Joined: 19 Nov 2020

Please advise me on the best way to get an International Driving Permit. Looks as if we may need it soon

Yvonne33

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 3:51pm

Posts: 13

2 helpful points

Location: Guia

Joined: 22 Nov 2020

Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2020 3:51pm

Hello, i have owned a house in Guia for the last 12 years. I am from London and am 67 years old. I used to come here 4 times a year and rent to friends in the summer months. I had a fashion business for many years. Due to the pandemic my business ceased in the beginning of March. I expected after 3. months to have been paid by the government as a self employed person. I was blown away when the message said not illegible. I lost everything impossible to restart as all my venues shut down. I came out to Guia on the 2nd July. My boyfriend went back to UK to work. I have been here alone since. He is due back on December 24th for 1 month. I find myself alone. No car a nightmare. Would love to do Pilates or Yoga. Also would love to learn Portuguese. Any ideas. I lso need a not expensive car or get someone tobring my car nd from London UK.??? 

tsmith2456

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 4:29pm

Posts: 14

2 helpful points

Location: Salir

Joined: 26 Nov 2020

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 4:29pm

You don't need an international driving permit. If you plan on staying you need to register your driving license with the IMT and eventually you need to swap your UK license for a Portuguese one. This is very easy to do online but if you have more than the simple B category requires various health/ability checks. I've just been through this so could help if you need it. Feel free to get in touch by personal message if you need help with the process.

Philtherugbyref

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 5:53pm

Philtherugbyref

Original Poster

Posts: 2

Location: Portimao

Joined: 19 Nov 2020

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2020 5:53pm

tsmith2456 wrote on Thu Nov 26, 2020 4:29pm:

You don't need an international driving permit. If you plan on staying you need to register your driving license with the IMT and eventually you need to swap your UK license for a Portuguese one. This is very easy to do online but if you have more than the simple B category requires various healt...

...h/ability checks. I've just been through this so could help if you need it. Feel free to get in touch by personal message if you need help with the process.

Hi 

Thank you for your help. Would this enable me to drive in Spain as well as Portugal?

tsmith2456

Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:19am

Posts: 14

2 helpful points

Location: Salir

Joined: 26 Nov 2020

Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:19am

Philtherugbyref wrote on Thu Nov 26, 2020 5:53pm:

Hi 

Thank you for your help. Would this enable me to drive in Spain as well as Portugal?

You can drive anywhere in the EU with a Portuguese license subject to the regular Schengen rule of 90 days in any 180 without informing the authorities. If you stay in another EU country from your country of residence (assuming you take, say, Portuguese residency before Dec 31st 2020) for more than 90 days in any 180 you have to register with that country so they can check you have the means to support yourself, have appropriate health cover and/or evidence of jobs prospects.

The same would have applied for a UK license registered with Portuguese authorities but will change after Jan 1st 2021, no-one knows what the rules will be then at the moment.

If you plan on living in, say, Portugal and wanting to travel to, say, Spain (or vice versa) I would recommend you get a Portuguese (or Spanish) license and the appropriate residency sorted smartish.

If you need advice on how to do that (for Portugal) private message me and I can talk you through the process, I've just applied for my license on line, it was pretty straightforward but you'll need to be quick as you need a medical and there's a waiting list.

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Yvonne33

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:45am

Posts: 13

2 helpful points

Location: Guia

Joined: 22 Nov 2020

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:45am

Hello, i am just about to buy  a Portuguese car. How do i go about changing my UK licence and as i am 67 will need a medical. Can you suggest a good insurence and breakdown cover. Can i get insurence with my UK licence and drive the car before i get a medical check up and change my licence?

tsmith2456

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:46am

Posts: 14

2 helpful points

Location: Salir

Joined: 26 Nov 2020

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:46am

Yvonne33 wrote on Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:45am:

Hello, i am just about to buy  a Portuguese car. How do i go about changing my UK licence and as i am 67 will need a medical. Can you suggest a good insurence and breakdown cover. Can i get insurence with my UK licence and drive the car before i get a medical check up and change my licence?

Hi Ynonne33.

Yes, you can get insurance and breakdown cover using your UK license which will continue to be valid until your Portuguese license comes through. You will need a medical regardless of your age to get a Portuguese license. I will post the details of how you go about about getting your license here once I find the message I sent to another forum user. It's quite straightforward and can all be done on the internet once you have the medical. There are tow types of medical a more extensive one if you want to keep any of your UK license groups beyond just a regular car (e.g. minibus up to 16 seats) and a simple one if all you want is group B (car). The simple one can be done by a GP, the more extensive one is done at a hospital or test centre and involves cognitive and coordination tests and takes about half a day (it's also about €130).

I use Abbeygate for my insurance, they seem reasonably priced, helpful and speak English. I'm sure there are plenty of others though so worth a Google search and getting quotes.

Best regards,

Tony

tsmith2456

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 12:04pm

Posts: 14

2 helpful points

Location: Salir

Joined: 26 Nov 2020

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 12:04pm

Yvonne33 wrote on Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:45am:

Hello, i am just about to buy  a Portuguese car. How do i go about changing my UK licence and as i am 67 will need a medical. Can you suggest a good insurence and breakdown cover. Can i get insurence with my UK licence and drive the car before i get a medical check up and change my licence?

Hi Yvonne33,

This is the page you need to apply to exchange your license:

http://www.imtonline.pt/index.php/troca-de-titulos-conducao-estrangeiros/troca-de-titulos-de-conducao109/9-uncategorised/481-2-situacao-17

It lists all the things you need and has a download link for the form. Everything can be digital (scanned and there are Android Apps for that) and sent to them by email.

If I were you I'd do it as soon as possible and hope they haven't changed the system yet as a result of Brexit.

The document they refer to about your "Certificate of authenticity of the driving license " is obtained from the UK DVLA here:

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

It's the same form that some car hire people need to show you're not banned or have umpteen points on your license.

You’ll need:

  • your driving licence number
  • your National Insurance number
  • the postcode on your driving licence
You can download it as a pdf and simply forward it with the other documents.

Hope that helps,

Best regards,

Tony

Yvonne33

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:27pm

Posts: 13

2 helpful points

Location: Guia

Joined: 22 Nov 2020

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:27pm

Many thanks. Very helpful.Much  appreciated. 

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