Weight limitPortugal
Traffic rules
Portugal
1. Weight limit
A weight limit prohibits vehicles or vehicle combinations whose mass exceeds the value shown from entering or passing a road section, bridge, tunnel or other structure. Depending on local law, the restriction may concern the vehicle’s actual loaded mass, maximum authorised mass or load on an individual axle.
Drivers must know which type of mass the sign refers to and must include the vehicle, passengers, cargo and any trailer where required. A vehicle that exceeds the limit must use another suitable route.
Does every weight-limit sign measure the same kind of vehicle weight in Portugal?
No. Check whether the particular sign concerns actual loaded mass, authorised maximum mass, axle load or another specified vehicle class. These are different measurements; do not interpret every weight-restriction sign as the same type of limit.
🔗 pgdlisboa.pt • Portugal, Código da Estrada — articles 7, 24; RST C3f, C5–C9
🔗 ansr.pt • ANSR official RST — corrected 2019 republication, sign descriptions and markings
Vehicles heavier than indicated prohibited.
English • Traffic sign C6 • No vehicles with a total mass exceeding ... t. Access is prohibited to vehicles or vehicle combinations whose total mass exceeds the value shown.
Português • C6 • Trânsito proibido a veículos de peso total superior a ... t. Indicação de acesso interdito a veículos ou conjunto de veículos com peso total superior ao indicado no sinal.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Gigillo83 • CC BY-SA 4.0)
🔗 Diariodarepublica.pt • Regulamento de Sinalização do Trânsito • artigo 24.º • C6
🔗 Ansr.pt • Republicação oficial retificada • C6 • página 14
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Gigillo83 • CC BY-SA 4.0 • Source revision 2015-03-02. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Do cargo and trailers matter for a posted weight restriction in Portugal?
Yes, whenever the rule is based on actual loaded mass or the total mass of a combination. Cargo, passengers and the trailer affect that figure; weight on individual axles may be limited separately. If the sign instead uses authorised maximum mass, an empty vehicle may still be prohibited.
🔗 pgdlisboa.pt • Portugal, Código da Estrada — articles 7, 24; RST C3f, C5–C9
🔗 ansr.pt • ANSR official RST — corrected 2019 republication, sign descriptions and markings
What should you do if your vehicle exceeds a bridge weight limit in Portugal?
Do not drive onto the bridge. Follow the signed alternative route and check the vehicle’s gross and axle loads as applicable. A general heavy-vehicle permit does not automatically authorise crossing every restricted bridge.
🔗 pgdlisboa.pt • Portugal, Código da Estrada — articles 7, 24; RST C3f, C5–C9
🔗 ansr.pt • ANSR official RST — corrected 2019 republication, sign descriptions and markings
