According to Article 159 of the Portuguese Highway Code, inspection authorities may preventively seize a driving licence when the document is in a state of conservation that makes any indication or endorsement illegible. This measure is not related to speeding, alcohol or loss of points, but rather to the physical condition of the title itself.
A simple scratch, mark or wear is not enough to trigger seizure, provided all the information on the document remains legible. The decisive factor is whether the state of conservation prevents the reading of any indication or endorsement on the title, as happens when the licence is broken, heavily degraded or affected by moisture.
Seizure of the document does not imply loss of legal entitlement to drive, and is different from revocation or a driving ban. The driver receives a driving guide as a replacement for the seized licence, valid for the necessary period and renewable when there is a justified reason.
Anyone with a deteriorated licence can request replacement of the document before being confronted with this situation during an inspection, through IMTOnline, at a Citizen's Space or at a counter of the Institute of Mobility and Transport. This replacement due to poor condition is different from renewal, as a licence may be within its validity period and still need to be replaced because it is too damaged.
