Brazil driver‑license access reforms

In early July 2026 Brazil’s CNH program reported a record 1.5 million driver’s licences issued, the highest since the national traffic code’s launch. The initiative cut costs, streamlined procedures and introduced free licences for people with disabilities, covering theory, practical training, and medical‑psychological exams. The state traffic agency in Rio de Janeiro piloted the “Cidadania Sobre Rodas” scheme, granting fully paid licences to disabled individuals, with the next enrollment round slated for mid‑September.

On 23 July the government expanded its mobility push with the launch of the Sem Parar RFID toll card, allowing drivers to pass toll plazas without stopping while automatically debiting a prepaid account. The same day the popular driver’s licence programme was promoted nationwide, subsidising exam fees and driving courses for low‑income citizens to regularise unlicensed drivers, improve road safety and expand employment opportunities.

Three days later, a new free‑licence scheme called CNH Social was announced. Grounded in Law No. 15.153/2025, which redirects revenues from traffic fines, the programme covers the full cost of licence acquisition—including medical‑psychological exams, theory and practical lessons, test fees and retests—for eligible adults registered in the federal Cadastro Único. State DETRAN agencies will publish editals detailing slots and selection criteria. Both measures reinforce Brazil’s broader strategy of transport inclusion, faster toll payments and broader access to driver licensing.