Carrying fuel or gas in vehicles - what is the law?
- Written by afpop
A letter from a reader in the Alentejo regarding carrying fuel in vehicles - What are the Portuguese (national and local) rules and laws concerning transporting gasoline from a petrol station and gas from a shop to home in a private vehicle, including the times of the year in which they are in force? By gasoline I mean 5 or 10 litre cans of fuel intended for tools such as generators, strimmers, mowing machines, etc. By gas I mean portable or luggable cannisters of butane or propane.
Also...
What legislation covers the private transport of petrol-driven machines (e.g. generators, bushcutters, chainsaws) for repair or helping out a neighbour or friends?
The above types of fuel and machines are used throughout the year. In the fire-risk period, generators may needed to supply power for pumping vital firefighting water supplies from tanks or pools, bushcutters and chainsaws for last-minute clearance of land (clearance is a statutory requirement). If the power supplies are disrupted, gas can be used for cooking and lighting (assuming the house still exists). I appreciate that every care must be taken to avoid fire risks at all times and especially during the summer and autumn. I look forward to your findings.
A response from Afpop...
…the law regarding this is the "code for special consumers taxes" (loosely translated). Article 61 of the "Código dos Impostos Especiais de Consumo" rules the products purchased for personal use, and in point 6 it mentions the transport of fuel in cars. This law sets up only the amount that is allowed to be carried outside of the tank in a vehicle which is only 10 litres. As far as the conditions it is carried, the article just says "in an appropriate container" and it is up to the police to check whether it is transported with safety.
The articles does not specify the type of fuel you may carry in your car, in fact it just says fuel for vehicles or heating.
As far as the question about the gas, you can carry it in your car. The ruling for transportation of dangerous merchandise states that these items are prepared for retail sale and are destined for domestic use, therefore they can be transported on the road by the person who purchases it.
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