New Era for TVDE and Taxis in Portugal: Rules Are Being Rewritten as of September 1

A major regulation that concerns everyone on Portuguese roads, whether you are a passenger or a driver, has finally become official. TVDE legislation, which has been implemented in the sector for eight years, is undergoing a radical change with the new law no. 59/2026. Following the main regulations that will come into force as of September 1, the new rules on taxi tariffs will come into force on October 1. We have compiled step by step the most critical innovations and the strict controls that will directly affect the operation on the street. Taxis will now be able to operate on TVDE Platforms. The most talked about and controversial article of the law is that it paved the way for traditional taxis to provide TVDE services if they meet the necessary conditions and are registered on a licensed platform. Transport authorities (AMT and IMT) and sector representatives are aware of the dynamics of the two areas. Even though it maintained its distance from this integration for a long time, arguing that it was different, the new regulation opens this door. How to manage this transition without damaging the public service nature of taxis will be the hottest topic of the coming days. The Removable Sticker Era Ends: Permanent Hologram Requirement Those famous TVDE labels that we see on the windows of vehicles and can be easily attached and removed are becoming a thing of the past. According to the new rule, vehicles will now have non-removable permanent labels issued by IMT, clearly visible from the outside, paired with the vehicle license plate and having holographic/technological elements that prevent counterfeiting. The technical details and pricing of the label will be determined by the ministry. Compulsory Portuguese Proficiency and 50-Hour Training for Drivers In order to increase the service quality and road safety in the sector, the conditions for driver candidates have also been tightened considerably: Candidates will need to complete at least 50 hours of theoretical and practical initial training. At least 27 correct answers will be required from the 30-question final exam. One of the most important pillars of the training and evaluation is for the driver to prove his/her functional Portuguese proficiency at a level to perform his/her profession. In addition, optional video recording is allowed for in-car security; However, this recording can only be made with the explicit consent of the driver and passenger, and voice recording will be strictly prohibited. Common Tracking Platform Against Illegal Working A central electronic data sharing platform is being established within IMT to end unregistered work and irregularities. Thanks to this system, operator, driver, vehicle inspection, insurance and license information will be collected in a single pool; Tax Office (Finanças), Social Security, AMT and police teams will be able to access data instantly and cross-check. Finally, the advertising ban on TVDE vehicles has been lifted and the opportunity to receive commercial advertising like in taxis has been introduced. A clear ban has been imposed on loan and usufruct agreements for the use of vehicles, with some exceptions. Source: The Portugal News / Lusa Image Source: Unsplash (Erik Mclean)