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The platform blocked my account. What does the law say?

The new law does not create an internal tribunal for blocks, but it does not give platforms a completely free hand either. Some blocks are mandatory, there are rules on blocking clauses and there is a new role for the AMT. See what the legal text says and what it does not.

The short answer

There are two types of block in the law. The first is mandatory: the platform must block anyone who does not meet the legal requirements, such as an expired certificate or an uninsured car (article 14(2)). The second is contractual: since 2026, access and blocking clauses must be included in the adhesion contracts between the platform and operators, be made public and be notified in advance to the AMT, which can order them to be corrected (article 20(8) and (9), and article 5(3) to (5)). The law does not provide for prior notice, a right of reply or an internal appeal for the driver. What you can do depends on which of the two blocks is involved.

First step: work out what kind of block this is

Article 14(2) already existed in 2018: the platform manager "must block access to its services for TVDE operators, drivers or vehicles that fail to meet any of the requirements referred to in this law, whenever it knows or ought to know of this". With the newIMT data platform, the app will check those requirements against an official source (article 20(5) to (7)).

The most common legal grounds for a mandatory block can therefore be checked:

TVDE or taxi driver certificate expired or seized;
driving licence no longer valid;
vehicle not registered with the IMT, without an up-to-date inspection, without valid TVDE insurance or over the age limit;
operator without a valid licence;
limit of ten hours of driving in 24 hours reached, which the platform must enforce (article 13(1) and (2)).

In this case there is nothing to challenge with the platform: the solution is to sort out the requirement. If the requirement is met and the block is due to a data error, the law penalises the platform manager that communicates "inaccurate, incomplete or outdated" data to the IMT platform (article 25(2)(aa)).

Access and blocking clauses: the big change

In 2018, the law only regulated adhesion contracts with passengers, making them subject to the rules on standard contract terms (article 5(2)). The relationship between the platform and operators was left out of the text. The 2026 revision changes this in article 20(8): the platform manager "defines and makes public the adhesion contracts for TVDE operators to its platform, which must include, in particular, the clauses on access and blocking of operators, drivers and vehicles on the TVDE electronic platform, notified in advance to the AMT, their effectiveness depending on acceptance by the TVDE operator".

Four rules follow from this sentence:

operators’ adhesion contracts must exist and be made public, meaning they can be consulted;
they must include the access and blocking rules, including for drivers and vehicles;
those clauses must be notified to the AMT before they are used;
they only take effect if the operator accepts them.

AMT scrutiny: 20 days and standard contract terms

Article 20(9) applies to these contracts, "with the necessary adaptations", paragraphs 3 to 5 of article 5, which are also new in 2026. The mechanism is as follows:

the platform manager sends the AMT the templates and all subsequent changes (paragraph 3);
the AMT may, within 20 days, notify the platform manager to correct clauses it considers not to comply with the law; if it does not, this counts as a favourable opinion (paragraph 4);
a favourable opinion does not close the door: the AMT retains the "power of supervision at any time" over the legality of the clauses (paragraph 4);
if the platform manager keeps clauses that received an unfavourable opinion, the AMT must act under articles 25 and following of Decree-Law no. 446/85, the law on standard contract terms (paragraph 5).

The law does not say from when the 20 days are counted or whether they are working days. There are two associated fines, both attributable to the platform manager and processed by the AMT: failing to send the templates (article 25(2)(d), which expressly refers to article 20(9)) and using clauses that received an unfavourable opinion (paragraph (e)). For legal persons, they range from 5,000 to 44,000 euros.

The duty to inform the driver

The driver does not sign the adhesion contract, but the law does not leave them in the dark. Article 20(10) requires the platform manager to inform the driver, "when they register on the platform, of the adhesion contracts signed by their respective TVDE operators". This is new in 2026. In practice, it means the blocking rules that may be applied to you should be shown to you before you start.

What the law does not provide for

The TVDE law does not set prior notice periods before a block, does not require the decision to be justified to the driver, does not provide for a prior hearing or an internal appeal, and does not regulate blocks based on passenger ratings. None of this is in the text. If someone assures you that you have these rights under the TVDE law, ask for the article.

What the driver can do

Within what the law actually provides, these are the steps with a legal basis:

Identify the reason. If a legal requirement is missing, sort it out with the IMT, the insurer or the inspection centre. In that case, the block is mandatory.
Read the blocking clauses. The adhesion contracts are made public and should have been shown to you when you signed up (article 20(8) and (10)). Check whether the reason given fits a clause.
Talk to the operator. The operator is the party to the adhesion contract, and it is the operator’s acceptance that makes the clauses effective. The operator is also liable for giving access to drivers who do not meet the requirements (article 14(3)). The operator is the one with the contractual standing to discuss the block with the platform.
Take the case to the AMT. If you believe the clause applied is illegal, or was not notified, the AMT has the power to supervise the legality of the clauses at any time and can request information from platform managers (article 23(2)). The law does not set out a complaint procedure for this purpose, but it does not prevent the AMT from being informed.
Seek legal advice. The effects of the block on the relationship between driver and operator depend on the written contract between them (article 10(2)(e) and paragraph 16) and on general law, which the TVDE law does not replace.

The app blocked me on the day my TVDE driver certificate expired

mandatory block

The certificate is valid for five years and renewal must be requested six months in advance (article 10(4) and (5)). Without a valid certificate, the platform must block you. If you applied for the certificate in time, the receipt issued by the IMT proves the application and can replace the certificate for the period stated on it (article 10(14)).

I was blocked under a clause my operator never accepted

it depends

Access and blocking clauses only take effect if the operator has accepted them (article 20(8)). If the operator did not accept it, the clause is not effective, which gives grounds to challenge the block with the platform. Since the driver is not a party to that contract, the natural route is through the operator, and the AMT can be informed.

The block was applied without warning and without explanation

it depends

The TVDE law does not, on its own, require prior notice or reasons. The question is whether the real reason fits a legal requirement or a clause of the adhesion contract notified to the AMT. If it fits neither, it lacks a basis. Ask the operator to get the platform to identify the clause applied.

Frequently asked questions

Can the platform block me without saying why?

The TVDE law does not expressly require the platform to give the driver reasons for each block, nor does it set prior notice or a right of reply. What it requires is that the access and blocking clauses be included in the adhesion contracts with operators, be made public and be notified to the AMT in advance, and that the driver be informed of those contracts when signing up (article 20(8) to (10)).

Did I sign any contract with the platform about blocks?

The adhesion contract provided for in article 20(8) is entered into between the platform manager and the TVDE operator, and its effectiveness depends on the operator’s acceptance. The driver is not a party to that contract, but the platform must inform the driver of the contracts signed by their operator at the time of registration (paragraph 10).

Can I complain to the AMT about a blocking clause?

The law does not provide a formal complaint procedure for drivers about these contracts. But the AMT receives the templates, can order non-compliant clauses to be corrected within 20 days and retains the power to supervise the legality of the clauses at any time (article 5(4), applicable by virtue of article 20(9)). Bringing the situation to the AMT’s attention is therefore a possible route.

Is the platform required to block me if my certificate expires?

Yes. The platform manager must block access for operators, drivers or vehicles that fail to meet the requirements of the law, whenever it knows or ought to know of this (article 14(2)). Failing to block is an offence attributable to the platform manager, with a fine of 5,000 to 44,000 euros for legal persons.

Can the complaints book be used to challenge a block?

The complaints button and the Electronic Complaints Book provided for in article 19(2) are designed for users, that is, passengers, to complain about the service. The law does not provide for them as a means of challenging driver blocks.