The new law on the TVDE regime, which now stands for remunerated transport of passengers in electronically provided vehicles, entered into force this Tuesday, eight years after the beginning of the regulation of this type of transport. Law No. 59/2026, which amends the previous Law No. 45/2018, now integrates the taxi sector, allowing these vehicles to be registered for TVDE activity, provided they comply with applicable requirements and are registered with a licensed electronic platform manager.
The representative associations of the TVDE sector expressed strong opposition to the new law. The Portuguese Association of Transport in Non-Disguised Automobiles warned of a serious error that includes two contradictory entry into force dates and two misaligned transitional regimes, which in their understanding protect large platforms to the detriment of small operators and drivers.
The taxi sector, represented by the National Association of Road Transport in Light Vehicles and the Portuguese Federation of Taxis, also pointed out unconstitutionalities in the law, requesting the Constitutional Court to review it. Both structures considered that the amendment creates unjustified competitive advantage and inequality between operators, in addition to allowing the use of a public license for two activities with different regimes.
Among the main novelties of the law are the introduction of an indelible identifying seal for vehicles, the possibility of optional video recording inside vehicles with the consent of driver and passenger, and the mandatory minimum initial training of 50 hours for future drivers, with theoretical and practical components followed by a final exam.
