Legislative updates in Brazil and Portugal regarding driving and autonomous vehicles

In Brazil, a new legislative proposal (PL 1662/26) authored by Deputy Jonas Donizette seeks to amend the Brazilian Traffic Code. The bill aims to prevent administrative infractions, such as documentation or licensing delays that do not pose road safety risks, from blocking the issuance of a permanent driver's license after the one-year provisional period. The proposal is currently under review by the Transportation and Constitution and Justice commissions.

In Portugal, the Institute for Mobility and Transport (IMT) reports growing interest in the new legal framework for testing autonomous driving systems. While several entities have requested meetings to clarify licensing requirements and operational regulations, no formal license applications have been submitted yet. The testing regime requires strict financial and operational compliance, including constant human supervision.