Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
6 min of reading 
1 comment 
Accumulated Fines Generate Points on the License and, Upon Reaching Certain Limits, the Driver May Have Their License Suspended. See How These Points Are Counted and Which Offenses Automatically Suspend.
More than memorizing the table, understanding why the law changes the limit according to the severity of the offenses and whether you engage in paid activities is what separates those who drive calmly from those who are caught by surprise. Some offenses result in an immediate suspension, others only add points, and professional drivers still have the chance to clear their points before losing their license.
CNH Does Not Lose Points: How the Counting Works in the Record
The first key to understanding the system is simple: CNH does not lose points, CNH gains points. Each time you commit an offense that enters your record, points are added to your history as a driver.
In the Traffic Code, a minor offense is worth 3 points, a medium offense is worth 4 points, a serious offense is worth 5 points, and a very serious offense is worth 7 points.
-
The noise law will no longer be in effect at 10 PM starting in June with a new rule valid during the 2026 World Cup.
-
The Chamber opens a debate on driver’s licenses at 16 years old as part of a reform that includes around 270 proposals to change the Brazilian Traffic Code and may redesign rules for licensing, enforcement, and circulation in the country.
-
The new Civil Code could revolutionize marriages in Brazil with “express divorce” and changes that could exclude spouses from inheritance.
-
Banco do Brasil sues famous influencer for million-dollar debt and intensifies debate on delinquency, risks of seizure, and direct impact on Gkay’s credibility.
When it appears on the fine as “very serious times 2, times 3, or times 5,” the multiplier only applies to the amount in reais, not to the points. The calculation basis for the very serious fine is 293.47 reais; if it is “times 3,” you multiply that amount but still receive 7 points, not 21.
Another important point is that this sum of points always counts within a 12-month window. It is not the calendar year; it is the period counted from the date of each offense backwards. It is within these 12 months that the Detran will check how many points you have accumulated and the severity of these offenses.
Suspension Is Not Just for Points: Offenses That Immediately Suspend
Before looking at the 20, 30, or 40 points, it is essential to remember that not all suspensions come from the accumulation of points. Some offenses alone already suspend the right to drive.
This includes situations such as driving threatening pedestrians, riding a motorcycle without a helmet, exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 percent on a speed bump, or driving under the influence of alcohol.
In these cases, the suspension can vary from a minimum of 2 to 8 months, and in some specific situations, the period is already fixed at 12 months. The focus here is on suspension for points, but it is crucial to know that these direct suspensions exist, regardless of the scoring.
When Suspension Reaches 20 Points
For those who do not engage in paid activities, the point suspension rule takes into account the severity of what you did, not just the total.
If, within 12 months, you accumulate at least two very serious offenses, the limit drops to 20 points. Imagine someone who has 7 points from one very serious offense, plus 7 points from another very serious offense, and completes the rest with minor, medium, or serious offenses until reaching 20 points or more.
From the moment this sum hits 20 points or more, with two or more very serious offenses in the period, a process to suspend the right to drive is initiated.
The message here is clear: the more dangerous the behavior, the lower the tolerance limit. If you have accumulated two very serious offenses in 12 months, any new fine needs to be taken very seriously, because you are just a few points away from falling under the 20-point rule.
When Suspension Comes at 30 Points of the CNH
Now imagine that, in the 12-month period, you committed only one very serious offense. In this case, the tolerance increases a bit.
For those with a single very serious offense, suspension for points only occurs when the sum reaches 30 points or more.
The typical calculation is to have 7 points for one very serious offense and accumulate medium and serious offenses distributed over the year until reaching 30 points or more in total.
The law’s message here is direct: if you commit one very serious offense, the alert is on. From 20 points you are still “safe,” but getting closer to 30 means directly flirting with the suspension process.
When It Only Happens at 40 Points
Finally, there is the scenario for those who do not commit any very serious offense in the 12-month period. Even if the person accumulates several minor, medium, or serious offenses, suspension for points only occurs at 40 points or more.
It is the third step of the rule: 20 points with two or more very serious offenses, 30 points with one very serious offense, and 40 points without any very serious offenses. In other words, it is not enough to look at the raw score; the quality of the offenses matters. Someone with few very serious offenses can be suspended earlier than another driver with many points from minor offenses.
CNH Does Not Lose Points: Special Rule for Professional Drivers
Those with the note EAR – Engages in Paid Activity on their CNH enter a different logic in point counting.
For these drivers, CNH does not lose points at 20 or 30, even if there are very serious offenses during the period. The rule is simple: a driver with EAR is never suspended at 20 points, a driver with EAR is never suspended at 30 points, and suspension only occurs when the total reaches 40 points, regardless of the number of very serious offenses.
This is why many people say that professional drivers “can withstand many more points” before losing their license. In practice, what the law does is raise the limit to 40 points and allow strategies to clear the record before suspension.
Preventive Recycling Course: How Professional Drivers Clear Points
In addition to the 40-point limit, those engaged in paid activity gain an extra benefit: the chance to clear points before being suspended.
It works like this: if the driver with EAR reaches between 30 and 39 points within 12 months, they can request to participate in a preventive recycling course. Upon completing this course, the accumulated points are cleared.
In practice, it is as if they anticipate the punishment and clear their record before the suspension is initiated. From there, everything counts again. They will only be suspended if, after this, they accumulate 40 points or more in another 12-month period.
This combination explains why, in practice, an attentive professional driver can take a long time before facing their first suspension, as long as they monitor their point statement and use the preventive course at the right time.
CNH Does Not Lose Points: How to Monitor and Avoid Suspension
With so many different rules, it is easy to get lost. Therefore, CNH does not lose points without you seeing the signs beforehand.
It is advisable to regularly monitor the points on your state’s Detran portal or the official app, checking not only the total but also how many very serious offenses you have committed in the 12-month window and, if you are a professional driver, be particularly attentive when exceeding 30 points so as not to miss the timing for the preventive recycling course.
It is also essential to remember that direct suspensions for specific offenses can occur even with few points accumulated.
In the end, understanding that CNH does not lose points, but gains changes how you view each fine. It is not just a bill that arrives at your home. It is another step closer to suspension, especially if there are very serious offenses involved.
And you, did you already know that your CNH does not lose points, it gains, and that the limit of 20, 30, or 40 points depends on the severity of your offenses and whether you are a professional driver?
O principal, que é disponibilizar vias e estradas decentes e condições de trânsito adequadas ao motorista, o DETRAN não honra. Sem contar com esse absurdo, que é a liberação do trânsito de motos em cima das faixas!