Self-Drive Motoring holidays in Portugal.

In all countries a full UK driving licence is required. As in the UK, seat belts should be worn front and rear. Below are motoring regulations relating to Portugal.

Children in cars: Child restraint is mandatory for all children aged to 12 and that are shorter than 1.5m. They can only travel in front with proper restraint and the airbag switched off. Cars with no seat belts in the back seats can't carry children under 3 years old.

Documentation: always carry your driving licence, vehicle registration document (V5), and certificate of motor insurance. Ensure you carry your passport to validate the licence. The MOT certificate is mandatory, if applicable. If the vehicle is not registered in your name, carry a letter from the registered owner giving you permission to drive.

Drinking and driving: Don't do it. Over 0.05 per cent and you could face anything from a severe fine, withdrawal of your licence, up to imprisonment.

Fines: They have to be paid on the spot. Most Police vehicles have a portable credit/debit card machine. Failure to pay on the spot will result in documents apprehension and, eventually, the vehicle. In case of documents apprehension, the Police Officer will issue an official document stating that your documents are apprehended and allowing you to drive for a few days. In this case, make sure you understand the address where you will pick up your documents and that you are given two documents: the apprehensiondocument and the traffic citation.

First-aid kit is advised, but not compulsory.

Fuel: All grades of unleaded petrol, diesel and LPG are available as well as lead substitute additive.

• Unleaded Petrol: Gasolina Sem Chumbo (sold in 95 and 98 octanes and also 100 octanes in some places).
• Lead Substitute Petrol: Gasolina Aditivada
• Diesel: Gasoleo
• LPG: GP

It is not allowed to carry fuel in cans, even in small amounts. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, although they probably won't work at automatic pumps, which are often the only pumps open out-of-hours and at lunch-time (from noon to 3pm) away from the Highways. It's a good idea to let your card issuer know you will be travelling abroad. This ensures they don't suspend your card if they spot it being used in unfamiliar places, which they sometimes do as an anti-fraud measure.

GB sticker: UK registered vehicles displaying Euro-plates (circle of 12 stars above the national identifier on blue background) no longer need a GB sticker  when driving in European Union countries.

Glasses (Spectacles): It is recomended to carry a spare pair, but not mandatory.

Headlamp converters are compulsory.

Lights: dipped headlights should be used in poor daytime visibility. Motorcycles must use dipped headlights during the day at all times.

Minimum age for driving, provided you hold a full UK licence, is 18 for a car and for a motorcycle over 75cc. If you've got an old-style all-green licence you might find the police will not understand them, so either get them up-dated or take an International Driving Permit as well.

Motorcycle drivers and passengers must wear crash helmets.

Motor insurance: third-party insurance is compulsory. A green card is not required but your insurer should be advised of your trip.

Replacement bulb set is compulsory.

Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear seat occupants, if fitted.

Visibility Vests are now compulsory in Austria, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Portugal and Spain (and likely to become compulsory throughout the EU). The rules vary from country to country concerning number of vests required and whether they should be carried in the car or boot. Common sense suggests that there should be a vest for every occupant, and that the vests should be carried in the car. Do this and you will not have a problem.

Warning triangle is compulsory.