In a statement, the GNR indicates that this increase corresponds to 1,279 additional crimes, "revealing a worrying trend that requires immediate attention from both the authorities and the drivers themselves."

According to data from the National Republican Guard (GNR), significant fluctuations were observed over the last three years: 8,985 crimes in 2023, 6,246 in 2024, and 7,525 in 2025.

Largest increases

The districts that recorded the largest increases compared to 2024 were Setúbal with 743 (an increase of 29.40%), followed by Faro with 834 (+17.90%), Porto with 1,005 (+14.15%), Braga with 289 (+13.14%) and Leiria with 345 (+9.77%).

"Despite the decreases observed in some districts, such as Guarda (-1.72%) or Portalegre (-1.41%), the truth is that 72.22% of the districts recorded an increase in the number of occurrences," says the GNR.

Higher incidence

Data indicates that driving without a license crimes occurred mainly on streets (71.37%) and federal highways (15.59%), with a higher incidence in the North (30.37%) and Central (24.82%) regions.

The GNR (National Republican Guard) says that the “incidence of offenders between 25 and 40 years old (44.84%) suggests that the problem affects economically active age groups, with social and economic impact on families and communities.”

2026 data

In a released statement, the GNR indicated that it registered 2,373 crimes of driving without a legal license between 1 January and 22 April of this year.

According to the security force, this type of crime is frequently associated with other traffic violations and increases the risk of accidents.

The GNR also highlights that this crime encompasses both people who have never obtained a driver's license and those who have exceeded the legal renewal period (more than 10 years), the latter being a minority.

In the statement, the GNR reminds citizens that driving a motor vehicle requires a valid license and that obtaining the appropriate license for the vehicle category is mandatory.

It also reminds that driving without a driver's license constitutes a crime punishable by law, with significant legal and financial consequences.