Getting started in the TVDE activity can be complex. To make it easier to understand all the requirements, we've divided the information into 4 categories: TVDE Activity, Driver Requirements, Vehicle Requirements, Conditions and Income, and Fiscal
Categorias
Understand how this activity works.
Learn about the requirements you need to meet to start in this activity.
Discover the vehicle usage solutions that Bluwalk offers.
Get to know what we offer and how to earn your income.
Understand the necessary tax obligations to operate in this activity.
1. TVDE Activity
The TVDE activity in Portugal has shown significant growth since its regulation in 2018, becoming an essential component of urban transportation in many cities. Since 2018, more than 60,000 TVDE driver certificates have been issued, and there are over 1,400 TVDE operators (companies).
1.1 How the Activity Works
- Schedule
With Bluwalk, you have full autonomy over your schedule, working at the hours you choose. The only time restriction is imposed by the platforms, limiting you to a maximum of 10 hours per day per platform. -
Base Salary
There is no base salary. Your earnings are linked to your billing on the platforms. The more you bill, the more you earn! -
Procedure
The procedure for this activity is very simple. The driver sets themselves as "available" on the platform's application (e.g., Uber or Bolt), waits for a trip to appear, accepts it, meets the customer at the indicated pickup location, and takes them to the destination. Payment is made automatically by the customer to the platform, and the trip is rated by the customer. -
Legislation
The TVDE activity (individual passenger transport in an unmarked vehicle) in Portugal is regulated by Law No. 45/2018, which came into effect in November 2018. In Portugal, all drivers must be affiliated with a TVDE operator, such as Bluwalk.
TVDE operators are entities or companies that manage the intermediation between drivers and passengers through electronic platforms. These operators must be duly licensed by the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) to operate legally. This includes meeting a series of legal, financial, and technical requirements.
For drivers, working for a licensed operator means they do not have to directly manage the legal and administrative complexities associated with obtaining an operator license. Instead, they can focus solely on driving and customer service, leaving the management of regulatory and administrative issues to the operator.
Being a TVDE operator, on the other hand, involves additional responsibility for managing not only the driving activity but also the regulatory compliance of the operation, including driver, vehicle, and legal issue management.
2. Driver Requirements
Drivers must obtain a TVDE certificate and comply with safety and quality standards. Furthermore, the legislation imposes limits on the number of driving hours and, as such, requires drivers to record their activity times. In addition, they are obliged to remain in compliance with tax and social security obligations.
2.1 TVDE Certificate
To be eligible for the TVDE certificate, you must speak Portuguese, have held a type B (light vehicles) driver's license for more than 3 years, and it must be a Portuguese license. The certificate is issued by the IMT upon presentation of:
- TVDE Training Certificate
- Group II Endorsement
We have a specific article to help you with the TVDE driver certification process. See more here.
3. Vehicle Requirements
Vehicles used must comply with age and technical condition criteria.
Bluwalk offers two distinct solutions regarding the vehicle used for TVDE activity: rented vehicle (through one of our partners) or own vehicle. Each of these solutions has its particularities and advantages.
We recommend the vehicle rental solution for those starting in the TVDE activity for the first time and are unsure if they want to commit medium/long term. For all other situations, we recommend the own vehicle solution as it is the most profitable and convenient.
3.1 Rented Vehicle
3.1.1 Rental Conditions
The vehicle rental is done with our partner Drivfit through Bluwalk. The vehicles provided by Drivfit are specially adapted for the TVDE activity and are typically new, generally less than two years old and never more than five years old. When renting one of these vehicles, you must make an initial deposit payment of €600, which will be refunded at the end of the vehicle's use, provided there are no outstanding debts with Drivfit. For more information about Drivfit vehicle rental conditions, you can consult here.
3.1.2 Deposit Payment in Installments
Bluwalk offers its clients the convenient option of paying the €600 deposit in 3 installments of €200 or in 4 installments of €150 through FLOA, a credit company that provides a flexible interest-free payment solution. This solution has only a €30 administrative fee. For more information about the deposit installment solution with FLOA, you can consult here.
3.1.3 Deposit Refund
The deposit refund is made within a maximum of 15 business days after the vehicle's return date. For more information on how to request a deposit refund, you can consult here.
3.2 Own Vehicle
To work with your vehicle, it must meet certain requirements. We will explain everything below!
The vehicle must have 5 doors and be less than 7 years old.
Have TVDE insurance. To get an insurance quote, you can request it here.
Lease Agreement (Vehicle Transfer Agreement)
TVDE Inspection (IPO - Mandatory Periodic Inspection)
If you want to know more about working with your vehicle, click here.
4. Conditions and Earnings
4.1 Bluwalk Conditions for TVDE
4.1.1 Customer Support
Bluwalk customer support is available Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 18:00. There are several ways to contact our customer support service:- By phone at 300 600 278
- By email at support@bluwalk.com
- By ticket, which you can create here
- By WhatsApp at 300 600 278
- By Messenger through our Facebook page
4.1.2 Account Management
The entire process of creating accounts on platforms (Uber and Bolt), as well as their management, is our responsibility. The renewal of vehicle-related documentation is also Bluwalk's responsibility.
4.1.3 Referral Voucher
With Bluwalk, you earn €50 for yourself and €50 for the person you refer who comes to work with us. For more information about how the referral voucher works, consult here.
4.1.4 Available Features
Bluwalk offers two innovative features for you on our website:
- Time Logging - This service replaces the traditional daily driving activity logbook (Individual Control Booklet). To learn how it works, click here.
- Recommendations - This feature helps drivers maximize earnings and minimize wasted time on the road. For more information, click here.
4.1.5 Available Services
Our services are divided into the following categories:
- Insurance - To get an insurance quote, you can request it here.
- Energy/Fuel - If you come to work with us, you can benefit from electric charging discount cards from Miio and Prio, as well as fuel discount cards from BP.
4.2 Earnings
4.2.1 Fee (Service Charge)
The fee or service charge is Bluwalk's commission deducted from your net earnings for all the services provided by our team. This service charge is:
- 5% if you use a partner vehicle from Bluwalk.
- 15% if you use your own vehicle.
4.2.2 Earnings Calculation
Your earnings are calculated by subtracting the platform fee (25%), VAT (6%), and Bluwalk's service charge from the gross value of your trips.
For more information on how your earnings are calculated, consult here.
4.2.3 Cost Calculation
Your costs are calculated by summing up:
- Vehicle rent (if renting a vehicle).
- Tolls (if renting a vehicle).
- Fuel/Electricity (if using one of our fuel or electricity cards).
If your earnings are insufficient to cover your costs, you will need to pay the outstanding amount or return the vehicle if you are renting. For more information on what happens if you have a negative balance, consult here.
4.2.4 Payment Frequency
Payments are made weekly, starting on Tuesday, by bank transfer after submitting an invoice or green receipt (if you are a fiscal entity or self-employed).
5. Tax Framework
5.1 How to Register with the Tax Authority
To receive your earnings, you must issue and submit an invoice or receipt. For more information on how to do this, consult here.
5.2 How to Issue and Submit an Invoice or Receipt
To receive your earnings, you must issue and submit an invoice or receipt. For more information on how to do this, consult here.5.3 VAT and IRS (Obligations, Changes, and Exemption Circumstances)
From the notification of business registration with the tax authority to tax payments, a self-employed worker has different tax obligations to fulfill.
Two topics that raise the most questions are Value Added Tax (VAT) and Personal Income Tax (IRS). For more information on obligations, changes, and circumstances, consult this article.