Brazil's CNH reforms tighten renewals, enable digital licences, and set age limits
Drivers in Brazil may have their renewal, second‑issue or category‑change requests for the Carteira Nacional de Habilitação (CNH) blocked if their Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF) shows irregularities such as pending tax returns, incorrect personal data or judicial restrictions. The Detran now automatically checks the CPF through an integrated system with the Receita Federal, and a non‑regular status can halt the process until the issue is resolved.
A new provisional measure (MP 1.327/25) removes the mandatory paper CNH, allowing applicants to choose a free digital version delivered via the official CNH app after passing the practical test. The government also launched the CNH Social program, which funds free licences for low‑income applicants who meet CadÚnico criteria, covering exams, school fees and document issuance.
The recently released CNH do Brasil app registers autonomous traffic instructors, requiring candidates to be at least 21 years old, hold a licence for two years, have no recent gravíssimo infractions and complete a specific training course. Age‑related medical‑exam validity was adjusted: drivers aged 50‑69 receive a maximum of five years, and those 70 and older three years. In Paraná, the state Detran temporarily suspended medical‑exam scheduling, granting drivers a grace period during which expired licences will not be fined. Drivers may still operate a vehicle for up to 30 days after a CNH expires, after which a gravíssima infraction (fine R$ 293.47, points and possible vehicle seizure) applies.
Entities: Brazil · CNH Social · CNH Social program · CNH do Brasil app · Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas · Carteira Nacional de Habilitação · Conselho Nacional de Trânsito (Contran) · Departamento Estadual de Trânsito (Detran) · Medida Provisória 1.327/25 · Ministério dos Transportes
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Driving without a licence is a gravíssima infraction with a fine of R$ 880.41 and possible vehicle seizure. (Penalty for driving without licence)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Drivers with an irregular CPF may have CNH renewal, second‑copy or category change requests blocked by state traffic departments. (Irregular CPF can impede CNH services)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Drivers can verify CPF status for free on the Receita Federal website; the status must be shown as “Regular”. (CPF status check guidance)
- [● 2 SOURCES] CPF irregularities include missing tax returns, incorrect personal data, or judicial restrictions. (CPF irregularities defined)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The CNH do Brasil app permits autonomous traffic instructors to register, requiring age 21+, at least two years of holding a licence, and completion of a specific training course. (New app for autonomous instructors)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The CNH Social program provides free driver’s licences to low‑income applicants who meet CadÚnico criteria, financed by traffic‑fine revenues. (CNH Social programme description)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Medida Provisória 1.327/25 allows free issuance of a digital CNH, ending the mandatory paper format. (Provisional law on digital CNH)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Drivers aged 50–69 have a maximum five‑year validity for the physical‑mental exam; those 70 and older have a maximum three‑year validity. (Age‑based exam validity rule)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The CNH Social program provides free driver’s licences to low‑income applicants who meet CadÚnico criteria. (CNH Social program offers free licences for low‑income drivers)
- [● 3 SOURCES] CPF irregularities can block renewal, second‑issue or category‑change requests for the CNH. (CPF irregular can impede CNH renewal and other services)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Drivers may continue to drive for up to 30 days after CNH expiration before facing a gravíssima infraction (fine R$ 293.47, points, and possible vehicle seizure). (30‑day grace period after CNH expiry before penalty)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The CNH do Brasil app registers autonomous traffic instructors, requiring age ≥ 21, two‑year licence, no recent gravíssimo infractions, and completion of a training course. (New app CNH do Brasil enables autonomous instructor registration)