Driving The Eastern Algarve rewards drivers with salt-pan lagoons, island beaches, and whitewashed hill villages spread across the Ria Formosa Natural Park. The roads are generally quiet and well-maintained, but Portuguese traffic law has specific requirements around child seats, blood alcohol limits, and historic zone access that differ from the UK or North America. This is the most significant change for Algarve drivers in over a decade. The former electronic toll system has been abolished. The A22 (Via do Infante de Sagres) is completely toll-free. Lei n.º 37/2024, published in the Diário da República on 7 August 2024, removed all tolls from the A22 and several other former SCUT motorways. Infraestruturas de Portugal confirmed the change on 25 April 2025. No legislation is pending to reverse this decision. No toll device required. You do not need an Easytoll registration, Via Verde Visitors transponder, or any rental company toll package. This simplifies your Faro Airport pickup considerably. Old gantries remain in place. The large grey toll gantries still span the motorway. Do not stop at them. They are inactive for toll collection. ANSR (Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária) has proposed repurposing some for average-speed enforcement, though no implementation date has been confirmed. Observe the 120 km/h limit regardless. The A2 to Lisbon remains tolled. The A2 motorway from the Algarve to LIS (Lisbon Humberto Delgado) charges approximately €23.30 for a Class 1 vehicle (standard car) from Lisbon to the Faro/A22 junction. Pay by credit card at manned booths or use a Via Verde transponder. Road surface conditions in 2026: Multiple sections of the A22 show cracking and surface deterioration. Drive at safe speeds and consider Super Collision Damage Waiver (SCDW) with tire and glass protection, as standard CDW excess (typically €1,600) leaves you liable for undercarriage and windscreen damage. Portuguese traffic law falls under the Código da Estrada, enforced by the GNR (Guarda Nacional Republicana). Fines for speeding, drink-driving, and mobile phone use are issued on the spot to foreign drivers. Speed Limits: 120 km/h on motorways (“autoestradas”) — the A22 and A2. 90–100 km/h on main rural roads (“estradas nacionais”) — the N125 and EN125. 50 km/h in built-up urban areas — Tavira, Olhão, VRSA town centres. Blood Alcohol Limit: The legal limit is 0.05% (50 mg/dL). This is lower than the UK and Ireland (0.08%). Professional drivers and licence holders with fewer than three years' experience face a 0.02% limit. GNR-SEPNA conducts random breathalyser checkpoints, particularly on the N125 and around FAO (Faro Airport). Seatbelts: Mandatory for all occupants, front and rear. Child Seats: Required for children under 12 years or shorter than 135 cm. Restraints must meet UN R44/R129 standards. Major rental brands like Avis, Hertz, and Europcar charge €8–€12 per day for child seats; booking independently through sites like our Tavira car rental comparison may offer better rates. Headlights: Dipped beams are legally required on motorways at all times, including daylight hours. IDP requirements differ by licence origin under Decreto-Lei n.º 181/2012. EU/EEA Licence Holders: No IDP required. Your national licence is sufficient. UK Licence Holders: Post-Brexit agreements mean an IDP is not legally required in Portugal. However, some rental desk staff at FAO remain unfamiliar with this. If you hold a valid IDP, carry it to avoid delays. Brands like Sixt and Goldcar have been reported as more likely to request one. US, Canadian, Australian & Other Non-EU Licence Holders: You are legally required to carry a 1968 Vienna Convention IDP alongside your national licence. This is enforced by both the GNR and rental agencies. Obtain your IDP in your home country before travel — they cannot be issued in Portugal. The N125 runs parallel to the A22, connecting Olhão, Fuseta, Luz de Tavira, Tavira, Cabanas de Tavira, and Vila Real de Santo António. This single-carriageway road provides direct access to every Eastern Algarve town. The speed limit is 90 km/h but drops to 50–70 km/h through villages. Expect roundabouts at every town entrance — know your exit number before entering. Summer traffic between Faro and VRSA builds significantly on Saturdays during peak transfer times. The N125 is the practical route for Eastern Algarve excursions to smaller villages not served by motorway junctions. Tavira has no formal Low Emission Zone (ZER), but its historic core restricts vehicle access through a combination of permanent pedestrianisation and resident-only signage. Fully Pedestrianised: The Ponte Romana (Roman Bridge) has been closed to vehicles since reconstruction after the 1989 flood. Praça da República is vehicle-free. Resident Access Only: Narrow lanes around the Castelo de Tavira and Igreja de Santa Maria do Castelo carry "Acesso a Residentes" signs. This includes Calçada da Galeria, Calçada dos Sete Cavaleiros, and Travessa da Fonte. Câmara Municipal de Tavira issues fines of €60–€300 for unauthorised entry (Código da Estrada, art. 48–52). Construction Closure (2026): Rua Dr. Parreira and Rua Terreiro do Garção remain closed to through traffic until 31 January 2027 due to a hotel development (municipal process 9/2018). GPS systems may still route you into these streets. Rental company surcharges: If fined, your rental provider (whether Guerin, Sixt, or others) will charge an additional €35–€50 administrative fee on top of the penalty. Park on the periphery using the Mercado Municipal de Tavira car park or riverside spaces. See parking in Tavira for detailed locations and rates. The Ria Formosa Natural Park is a protected wetland under ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas) management. Vehicle access is restricted to protect the barrier island ecosystems. Barrier Islands are Car-Free: Ilha de Tavira, Ilha de Cabanas, and the Cacela Velha peninsula prohibit all public motor vehicles. GNR-SEPNA enforces this restriction. Quatro Águas Access Road: The Estrada das Quatro Águas leading to the Ilha de Tavira ferry access pier is a public road. Paid parking operates at €1/hour during June–September; free off-season. The Silnido-operated ferry runs year-round at €1.15 single adult (2026 fares). Salt Pan Tracks: The dirt roads between Tavira and Santa Luzia cross private salt-production land. Access is tolerated but these are not public rights of way. Driving onto salt marsh or dunes carries fines of €500–€2,000 under Lei n.º 50/2006. Praia do Barril: Drive to Pedras d'el Rei resort car park. The footbridge to Praia do Barril is pedestrians and cyclists only. Walk 1.3 km or take the miniature tourist train (€1.50 return, summer season). Motorhome Restrictions: Overnight parking for motorhomes outside designated areas is prohibited between 21:00 and 07:00 under DL 102-B/2020, art. 50-A. Fines range from €60–€600, strictly enforced within the Ria Formosa boundaries. The Guadiana International Bridge connects VRSA to Ayamonte, Spain, via the A-49 motorway. The border is open under Schengen agreements, but your rental terms may restrict crossings. Open Border: No routine passport or customs checks at the Guadiana International Bridge. Insurance Coverage: Your Portuguese rental includes third-party liability (Green Card / Carta Verde) valid in Spain. However, CDW and SCDW cover for collision damage and theft may be voided if you cross without authorisation. Cross-Border Fees: You must declare your intent to drive to Spain at pickup. Operators charge varying fees to extend full coverage: Avis/Budget/Enterprise: €30–€55 Sixt: ~€70 Guerin/Centauro/RecordGo: €100–€200 One-Way Rentals: Dropping a Portuguese-plated car in Seville, Huelva, or elsewhere in Spain incurs €500–€1,000 one-way fees. Fuel Savings: Spanish fuel at BP and Repsol stations in Ayamonte runs 15–20% cheaper than Portuguese prices (DGEG May 2026 data: Gasolina 95 ~€1.95/L in Portugal vs ~€1.65/L in Spain). If your rental uses a full-to-full fuel policy, fill up before returning across the border. Compare Car Rental Deals