New Portuguese ride-booking platform POP reported more than 2,000 passenger registrations and around 500 driver registrations in its first ten days. It began operating in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo on 1 October.
The company stressed that these figures count registrations, not active users or completed trips. The app is already receiving requests and providing rides in its initial operating area.
Join POP: Driver and Passenger Registration
Interested in joining Portugal's new ride-booking platform? POP offers registration options for both drivers and passengers.
Register as a POP Driver
Drivers interested in working with POP can register through the official driver registration portal.
Driver Referral Code: POPGFLM2
Register as a POP Passenger
Passengers can download the POP app and explore its ride-booking services.
Passenger Referral Code: POPENYH8
Download the POP Passenger App
Referral disclosure: The registration codes above are referral codes shared by Asian in Portugal. The website may receive referral benefits from eligible registrations, subject to POP's programme conditions.
Expansion to Northern Portugal
POP said its current priority is to turn interest in the app into regular use. It also wants to increase driver availability to meet passenger requests.
The company plans to start operating in the Porto metropolitan area, Braga and Guimarães within days. It said expansion to other regions would be gradual, depending on the platform’s ability to meet demand.
Driver Fees and Passenger Services
Operated by POPAPP Tecnologia e Mobilidade, POP presents itself as a Portuguese alternative in the TVDE market. It offers customer support in Portuguese and charges a commission of 15%, calculated on the fare excluding VAT.
During its initial phase, the company is covering payment-processing and self-billing costs from its own commission. It said it is not passing these costs on to partner operators. This temporary support is intended to cover the first months of activity.
Before accepting a trip, drivers can see the amount they will receive per minute and kilometre, along with route details. This lets them assess the trip in advance.
The platform also offers services for different passenger needs:
- Lady POP allows female passengers to choose a female driver.
- Sénior POP is designed for passengers who want more assistance.
- PET POP allows passengers to travel with pets.
New Rules for the TVDE Sector
A new law governing TVDE took effect on 1 September this year, amid some opposition. Eight years after regulation of this type of transport began, Law No. 59/2026 amended Law No. 45/2018.
The law dropped the previous wording referring to unmarked vehicles. TVDE now refers to paid passenger transport in electronically available vehicles.
One of the most disputed changes brings taxis into the sector. Taxis can now register for TVDE work if they meet the requirements for vehicles used in this activity. They must also be registered with a licensed electronic platform operator.
Another change that caused disagreement concerns vehicle identification. Vehicles used for TVDE must display a non-removable identification sticker issued by IMT, visible from outside and linked to the vehicle’s registration. It must include anti-fraud security features, such as holograms or equivalent technology.
Drivers must also complete at least 50 hours of initial training, covering theory and practice. A final exam has 30 questions, and candidates must answer at least 27 correctly.
The training course includes a check that drivers have the practical Portuguese-language skills needed for the job.
Source: Observador: “Nova aplicação de TVDE POP registou 2.000 passageiros e 500 motoristas desde arranque”, published 11 Oct 2026.
