TVDEWatch

AMT Regulamento 717/2026 (2.ª série, 9 Jun 2026; deliberação AMT-D198/2026 of 28 May) sets general taxi price-formation rules and a national reference tariff (modo D). Transitional art. 16: in first application year 2026, maximum tariff increase is 9% vs prior tariffs, equating to final reference of 0.58 EUR/km and 0.28 EUR/min. Press (RTP Madeira) ties practical effect to 1 Oct 2026 after Lei 59/2026.

Renames TVDE; taxis may join platforms; ends 2× dynamic-fare cap; keeps 25% max take; permanent IMT stickers; 50h+language training; optional in-car video (no sound); ads on cars; AMT contribution = 5% of platform take

IMT confirmed to TSF that taxi-on-platform and key new obligations cannot yet be operationalized: still need portarias for driver training/certification, inamovível anti-fraud dísticos, and technical specs for the IMT data-sharing platform.

As of 14 Sep 2026 (~2 weeks after Lei 59/2026), taxis still cannot take platform TVDE trips. IMT written reply: still needs portarias for driver training/certification, vehicle stickers (dísticos), and data-sharing platform specs. Ministry of Infrastructure gave no timeline. ANTRAL/FPT advise prudence; open questions include dual-mode switching, bus-lane use, and whether TVDE mode can leave the taxi licence concelho.

AMT reviewed tens of millions of Uber and Bolt trips from six 2024 months. It found only 59 instances above the statutory 25% intermediation cap, assessed as marginal, and concluded the main issue was deficient communication about amounts received by each party. AMT recommends clearer price/commission explanations, data-sharing routines, and stronger contractual information duties; it will study TVDE activity costs in 2026.

Council of Government extends the Sep 2025 suspension of new TVDE operator and driver licences by four more months from 13 Mar 2026 while IMT impact study continues.

Regional Government of Madeira temporarily suspends attribution/issuance of TVDE operator licences/endorsements and TVDE driver licences for 6 months from 12 Sep 2025, pending an IMT impact study on regional mobility/supply.

Regulamento AMT 717/2026 takes practical effect 1 Oct 2026 (Leak.pt 28 Sep). Ends baggage and pet supplements (€1.60 each; guide dogs exempt); only call/booking fee €0.80 survives. Pricing shifts to simpler km/time formula with day/night/weekend and higher-capacity differentiation; local authorities may set specific tariffs within AMT rules; taxis on electronic platforms may use more dynamic digital tariffs. First-year max increase still +9% vs prior tariffs (reference €0.58/km, €0.28/min). Sector associations (e.g. Táxis Unidos) criticise uncertainty and impact on larger vehicles; ANTRAL/FPT also contest broader TVDE-law changes.

Bolt PT DG Mário de Morais to ECO (23 Sep interview from Dia da Mobilidade, 22 Sep Lisboa). Public teaser/lede: (1) expects ~1/3 of Portuguese taxis registered on Bolt by end of Q1 2027 — ~5,000 vehicles; (2) still needs IMT portaria for taxi vehicle registration plus TVDE operator licence for taxi firms — estimates ~1 to 1.5 months until able to operate taxis; (3) platform intends to cover the whole country next year; (4) prices will rise. Builds on prior 500 already-registered / October go-live notes (ECO 21 Sep, Observador 22 Sep) with first hard scale target and explicit fare-up signal.

Bolt PT DG Mário de Morais to Observador (22 Sep, Dia da Mobilidade): (1) estimates taxis may run as TVDE already in October once portarias land; 500 registered still inactive (known); (2) will offer optional taxi-as-TVDE rider category and says taxi-as-TVDE trips won’t face municipal taxi geo limits; (3) ambitious target mid-2027 for all Bolt drivers to have basic Portuguese, with temporary Portuguese-speaking category then removed; certification body TBD (IEFP/Camões floated); (4) will apply own surge ceilings despite uncapped law; (5) ideally no platform access to in-cabin video; (6) plans vehicle exterior/interior Bolt ads as key operator investment. TVDE associations (POTVDE, ANM TVDE, APTAD) at same event called Lei 59 a missed opportunity and objected to taxis doing TVDE (vs taxi-as-taxi on apps).

Bolt Portugal TVDE DG Mário de Morais (to Lusa/ECO, 21 Sep): over 500 taxi drivers already registered on Bolt ~3 weeks after Lei 59/2026; collecting documentation and waiting on regulatory context (e.g. holographic seal / missing procedures) before starting taxi-as-TVDE operations. Expects most measures fully operational in coming weeks. Also: accelerating EV shift; expects ~60% of Bolt PT fleet electric by end-2026; fuel vouchers to relaunch on Mobility Day. AMT/IMT had opposed taxi integration during legislative process.

Bolt official to ECO: hundreds of taxi integration requests, mostly taxi firms applying for TVDE operator licences; concentrated in large urban centres and the islands. Uber: taxi integration expected very soon; pre-registration open; completion waits on missing portaria. FPT (Carlos Silva): many taxi industrials want platforms; some FPT directors themselves want to; others refuse due to TVDE price competition. Still no live taxi TVDE trips without IMT portarias.

Bolt official source: “centenas” of taxi integration requests since Lei 59/2026; awaiting regulator clarifications; will create a separate app category for taxi-as-TVDE so passengers can refuse. Uber: taxis can start inscription online but registration completes only after the missing portaria. Neither can run taxi TVDE trips yet.

Low-turnout Saturday slow car parade in Funchal (Av. do Infante, past Regional Government) marked one year of the Madeira TVDE licence moratorium. Organizer Duarte Melim says ~290 certified drivers remain blocked at IMT after paying training (~€500 each) and that operators with capital tied up also await unblocking; Constitutional Court review still pending per organizers.

Protocol of self-regulation for taxi rank at Aeroporto Humberto Delgado, effective 15 Oct 2026. Weekday daytime: zone 1 €16, zone 2 €19; night (22:00–07:00)/weekend/holiday: €20 / €23. Vehicles >4 passengers when carrying >4: €20/€23 day, €24/€28 night-weekend. Prices set by Associação do Turismo de Lisboa (vouchers at arrivals or pay in cab); includes supplements and tolls. Adhering taxis only (credentialling + barrier access); mandatory card/MB Way, no payment surcharge. CML to start municipal regulation under DL 101/2023. Not a CML-imposed official tariff — voluntary association protocol. Context: Aug 2026 PSP check found 67 infractions in ~100 taxis.

Civic movement of Madeira TVDE candidates and drivers announced a peaceful slow car parade (25–30 km/h) in Funchal for Sat 12 Sep 2026 at 17:00, starting Santo António, passing IMT, ALRAM and Presidência, with a stop at Praça CR7 (~17:30) to mark one year of administrative blockade of new regional TVDE licences.

Bolt Portugal lead Mário de Morais says the platform wants to reinforce its current 5 TVDE vehicles on Porto Santo and use Lei 59/2026 to integrate island taxis; current supply is short especially in summer; demand persists beyond peak season.