By Car

Your home-country license is valid in Portugal. Roads are mostly good, but drivers alarmingly cavalier. Wear a seatbelt, and note that one glass of wine can put you over the limit. Four-lane autoestradas (labeled "A" plus a number) save a lot of time—except late on Sunday when weekenders flock home—but have hefty tolls (Almot EUR 20 between Lisbon and Porto). Lanes marked "Via Verde" are for those with a special payment device.

At intersections, traffic from the right has the right of way; at traffic circles you must yield to vehicles already in the circle. Speed limits are 120 kph (74 mph) on autoestradas, 90 kph (56 mph) on other highways, and 50 kph (30 mph) in urban areas.

Theft is common with rental cars. Contact the agency and police if yours is stolen. Never leave luggage or anything else of value visible in an unattended vehicle.