practical guide

What to carry in the car: required and recommended equipment

Plenty of things are sold as compulsory for TVDE and are not, while real obligations come from laws nobody cites. Here is the separation, with the legal basis for each item, plus the kit that genuinely helps day to day.

The short answer

The TVDE law, both the 2018 one and the new Law no. 59/2026, imposes no equipment kit at all. It says nothing about fire extinguishers, high-visibility vests or first aid kits. What it regulates is licences, certificates, vehicle age, insurance, roadworthiness testing and the identifying badge.

That does not mean there are no obligations: it means they come from elsewhere, from the Highway Code and its regulation. The distinction matters, because some sellers advertise kits citing the TVDE law, which says nothing on the subject.

What is genuinely required

Three items, each with a concrete legal basis. The first two apply to any car; the third applies because the vehicle is assigned to public passenger transport.

item	legal basis	what is required
High-visibility vest	Article 88(1) of the Highway Code	Of an officially approved model. It must be worn by whoever leaves the vehicle to place the triangle, repair or remove the vehicle.
Warning triangle	Article 88(1) of the Highway Code	Retroreflective and of an approved model. Placed at least 30 metres behind the vehicle and visible from 100 metres.
2 kg fire extinguisher	Article 30(1)(b) of the Highway Code Regulation and Order no. 15680/2002	For passenger cars assigned to public transport: an extinguisher for class A, B and C fires, of no less than 2 kg, in the cabin within easy reach or in the boot.

Fines are charged per missing item

Article 88 provides for a fine of 60 to 300 euros for each missing item, which means missing both the vest and the triangle counts twice. And if you break down and fail to place the triangle or wear the vest, the fine is 120 to 600 euros, as a separate offence. Missing the equipment and failing to use it gives rise to two separate charges.

Three things you are told that are not true

These three misconceptions circulate widely in the sector, two of them fuelled by people with products to sell.

Myth: the kit is required by the TVDE law

It is not. Neither Law no. 45/2018 nor Law no. 59/2026 mentions fire extinguishers, vests or emergency kits. Anyone advertising a kit as required by the TVDE law is citing the wrong law. The obligations do exist, but they come from the Highway Code and its regulation, and they are the three in the table above.

Myth: the extinguisher must be 4 kg

It need not be. The 4 kg figure is the minimum required of heavy passenger vehicles. For passenger cars assigned to public transport, the same order sets a minimum of 2 kg, with an agent suitable for class A, B and C fires.

Myth: warning triangles stopped being required in 2026

That change is Spanish, not Portuguese. It was Spain that began requiring the V-16 light device from 1 January 2026. In Portugal, Article 88 of the Highway Code still stands: you must both carry and use the triangle.

Cameras: where care is needed

This is the recommendation we cannot make lightly. The new law created a regime for video recording inside the vehicle, but it is not what many people think: the functionality is provided by the platform, not the driver. It is off by default, must be expressly accepted by passenger and driver on each trip, cannot capture sound, and the footage is encrypted and inaccessible to the driver, the operator and the platform itself. Only the authorities can access it.

A camera the driver installs on their own initiative does not fall within that regime. The TVDE law does not regulate it, and that does not mean it is unrestricted: recording passengers or the public highway continuously is processing of personal data, and the national data protection authority has taken the view that continuous capture of images on the public highway by private individuals is not permissible. To this day there is no clear legal regime on dashcams in Portugal.

For that reason, and unlike what you will read elsewhere, we do not recommend installing cameras in the vehicle as routine equipment. If you feel you need extra protection, the route the law provides is the platform's functionality, when and if it offers it, not a camera you bought yourself.

What genuinely helps day to day

None of the following is required by law, and we say so plainly. It is simply what makes a difference in practice for someone spending long hours at the wheel with passengers getting in and out.

Cordless handheld vacuum

Sand, crumbs and pet hair build up fast when dozens of people get in each day. A handheld vacuum kept in the boot lets you clean between trips without relying on service stations.

A discreet air freshener

Discreet is the operative word. Strong smells are among the most common passenger complaints, especially on long trips or for anyone prone to travel sickness. A weak, neutral scent beats a strong one, and airing the car out solves more than any product.

Chargers and all three cable types

USB-C, Lightning and micro-USB cover almost every phone. It is a cheap gesture passengers value, and it saves you being asked for your own cable mid-trip.

A stable phone mount

You work with the app open for hours a day. A firm mount, screen at eye level and not blocking the road, is a safety matter rather than a comfort one. Handling the phone while driving is an offence.

First aid kit

Not required in Portugal for passenger cars, unlike in some other European countries. Even so, a basic kit with plasters, dressings, gloves and antiseptic takes up little space and can help while waiting for the emergency services.

Cloths, disinfectant and bags

For the inevitable: a spilled drink, an unwell passenger, rain coming in with the luggage. Being able to clean up on the spot saves you having to stop working to go and wash the car.

One obligation that is not equipment but counts

The law requires you to carry guide dogs for blind passengers and wheelchairs or other mobility aids for people with reduced mobility, as well as pushchairs and accessories for carrying children. It is not optional and does not depend on having special equipment: it depends on accepting the job. Unjustified refusal is an administrative offence.

Frequently asked questions

Is a fire extinguisher required in a TVDE car?

Yes, but not because of the TVDE law. The obligation comes from Article 30(1)(b) of the Highway Code Regulation, given effect by Order no. 15680/2002, whose paragraph 11 provides that passenger cars assigned to public passenger transport must carry an extinguisher suitable for class A, B and C fires, of no less than 2 kg.

How many kilos must the extinguisher be?

No less than 2 kg for passenger cars assigned to public transport. The 4 kg sometimes quoted is the requirement for heavy passenger vehicles. The extinguisher must be kept in the cabin within easy reach, or in the boot where placing it inside would create a risk.

Do I need a first aid kit in the car?

It is not required in Portugal for passenger cars. It is advisable to have one, and some European countries do require it, but Portuguese law neither imposes it nor do inspections demand it.

Can I install a camera to protect myself from complaints?

The TVDE law does not regulate cameras installed by the driver, and the video recording regime the new law created is the platform's responsibility, works trip by trip with both parties accepting, and gives the driver no access to the footage. Your own camera recording passengers or the public highway raises data protection problems, and the national data protection authority has taken the view that continuous capture of images on the public highway by private individuals is not permissible. To this day there is no clear legal regime on dashcams in Portugal.

Are warning triangles no longer required?

Not in Portugal. The change requiring the V-16 light device from 1 January 2026 is Spanish. Article 88 of the Portuguese Highway Code still requires every motor vehicle to carry a warning sign and a vest, both retroreflective and of an officially approved model.

What does it cost not to have the vest or the triangle?

The fine is 60 to 300 euros for each missing item, so missing both counts twice. If the vehicle breaks down and you fail to place the triangle or wear the vest, a further fine of 120 to 600 euros applies, as a separate charge.