No, Squatted trucks—vehicles modified to sit lower than legal suspension limits—are illegal in Portugal under national road safety and vehicle homologation laws. The Autoridade Nacional de Segurança Rodoviária (ANSR) enforces compliance with EU vehicle standards, and modified suspensions violating height regulations face immediate prohibition. Recent 2026 amendments to Decreto-Lei n.º 109/2009 tighten penalties, including vehicle impoundment for non-compliant modifications.
Key Regulations for Squatted Trucks in Portugal
- Homologation Compliance: Vehicles must adhere to EU type-approval standards (Regulation (EU) 2018/858), mandating suspension systems that maintain original manufacturer specifications. Deviations, including squatting, invalidate roadworthiness certificates.
- ANSR Inspections: Roadside checks by ANSR or Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) can result in fines (€200–€1,200) and mandatory rectification within 30 days. Repeat offenses trigger vehicle immobilization.
- 2026 Regulatory Shift: New technical directives from the Instituto da Mobilidade e dos Transportes (IMT) explicitly prohibit “unauthorized suspension alterations,” aligning with EU-wide crackdowns on vehicle modifications that compromise safety or emissions compliance.