Portugal has significantly updated its vehicle regulations, eliminating the long-standing requirement for drivers to display insurance and inspection stickers on their car windshields.
The most recent change, enacted in July 2023, removed the mandate for the car insurance sticker, often recognized as the “Green Card.” This means drivers are no longer subject to fines for its absence on their vehicle’s glass.
While the physical sticker is now optional, possessing valid insurance remains a legal obligation. Authorities now accept digital proof, such as a PDF of the Green Card displayed on a smartphone or a self-printed copy on standard white paper.
The requirement for the colorful periodic inspection (IPO) sticker was abolished even earlier, in 2012, though the practice of displaying it persisted among some drivers. This sticker holds no legal weight as proof of inspection.
Instead, the official Inspection Report, a paper document issued at the conclusion of a successful vehicle check, is the sole legal proof. This report must be kept inside the vehicle at all times.
These regulatory changes aim to simplify bureaucratic procedures and reduce the reliance on physical paper documentation for motorists across the country.
Drivers are now legally permitted to remove any remaining old stickers from their windshields. However, they must ensure they carry the current valid insurance documentation, either digitally or on white paper, and the physical Inspection Report.