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At 101 Years Old, The Centenarian Renews His Driver’s License Until 2028 at Detran-MS and Becomes Officially the Oldest Licensed Driver in Mato Grosso do Sul, A Symbol of Clarity, Autonomy, and Love for Independence.
When Ranulfo Custódio Alves, at 101 years old, parked his Ford F-1000 in front of the Detran-MS Agency in Camapuã, no one imagined he was just another driver. He entered the building with a serene look and misty eyes, carrying a story of clarity, resilience, and the will to continue living freely, determined to renew his driver’s license and maintain the title of oldest licensed driver in Mato Grosso do Sul.
“How long will I be able to renew it for?” he asked as soon as he arrived, anxious, as if he knew exactly the value of his own independence. After passing the medical exam calmly, Ranulfo was approved and secured three more years behind the wheel, with permission to drive until 2028, at 101 years old, to continue coming and going without depending on anyone.
Emotion at Detran-MS Seeing a Driver at 101 Years Old
The doctor in charge of the exam, Osvaldo Góis Figueiredo, was moved by the scene. In front of a gentleman at 101 years old, lucid, firm, and willing to continue driving, he made a point of expressing his admiration.
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He said that age, combined with clarity of thought and the will to work and live life, was something admirable and that he felt happy and proud to attend to “a good fellow” like Ranulfo.
While praising him, the doctor emphasized the importance of safety and reminded him that wearing glasses is essential.
Therefore, the renewal was not just a symbolic gesture of affection. It was a technical process, with a mandatory medical exam, in which the centenarian passed the usual scrutiny of any driver, proving that he meets the conditions to continue on the road.
A Lifetime of Work and Roots Planted in Camapuã
Born in Três Lagoas in 1923, Ranulfo moved to Camapuã in 1941, still young, to build his own path. He sums up the journey as “manual labor,” a simple expression for a lifetime dedicated to work in the countryside and the city.
Today, at 101 years old, he is the father of seven children, as well as a grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, accumulating generations that proudly follow each new achievement of the patriarch.
Even at his advanced age, Ranulfo does not give up on taking care of everything he has achieved. He is the one who manages the family finances, decides what to do with the money, and organizes the accounts. “My children don’t know what I have, what I owe.
I take care of everything. I make all the decisions,” he asserts, with the same firmness he takes to the wheel. At 101 years old, he does not delegate either the management of assets or his own routine.
Freedom to Come and Go: Why Keep Driving at 101 Years Old
Ranulfo’s routine is divided between the city, the farm, and Campo Grande, where he visits his youngest daughter. He moves between these places according to the day’s mood. “Today I’m doing everything to stay in the place I like. Is Camapuã not good? I’ll go to the farm.
If the farm isn’t good? I’ll go to Campo Grande,” he says, laughing as he mentions that he doesn’t like to stay still and is very impatient.
When asked why he continues to drive at 101 years old, the answer is direct. For him, the most important thing is to have “life with freedom.” His children suggest hiring a driver, but he declines without hesitation.
He explains that scheduling a time and having to wait doesn’t suit his style: “If you schedule with a driver for 7am, they arrive at 9am. And I’m not a man who waits.” Driving, for Ranulfo, is synonymous with autonomy of time, place, and decision.
Responsibility on the Road and Respect for the Rules Even at 101 Years Old
Those who observe the centenarian behind the wheel notice that the desire for freedom comes with responsibility.
Ranulfo points out that he drives slowly, never exceeding 70 km/h, and keeps the car always in its own lane. “If someone is in a hurry, let them pass,” he summarizes, making it clear that he does not let himself be carried away by others’ haste. Calmness while driving is an essential part of how he faces the road and life itself.
Ranulfo’s relationship with the road is guided by a strict sense of duty. He defines himself as “a slave to obligation” and says he likes to do everything “the right way,” deeply respecting the law. The same attitude applies to personal relationships.
The advice he gives to other drivers is simple and direct: first have faith, then respect others and family. For him, there is no good driving on the road without respect at home and in interaction with others.
Rarity Among Centenarian Drivers in Mato Grosso do Sul
According to data from Detran-MS, there are 208 drivers over 90 years old in the State. But among centenarians, Ranulfo occupies a special place.
At 101 years old, he is the first driver over 100 to renew his driver’s license in Mato Grosso do Sul, paving the way as a reference for active and responsible aging behind the wheel.
Behind him, there are only two other drivers in the 100-year range: a lady from Campo Grande and another driver from Bela Vista. This scenario makes Ranulfo’s story even more symbolic.
In a universe of thousands of license holders, very few reach 101 years old still with permission to drive, maintaining the same seriousness regarding medical exams, rules, and care as any other driver.
Emotion of the Family, Pride of Detran, and Dream Fulfilled at 101 Years Old
The renewal of the driver’s license affected the whole family. Daughter Renata Alves, upon receiving the news, summed up the atmosphere at home in one word: emotion. On Detran’s side, the head of Licensing, Luiz Fernando Ferreira, also expressed being moved by the story.
For him, closely following the process showed that aging with autonomy and responsibility is possible and deserves respect, especially when the individual insists on meeting all legal requirements.
Even before knowing the exam results, Ranulfo had already shown confidence and good humor. Pointing his finger to the sky and smiling, he asked if, if approved, the renewal would be valid for three years.
Upon hearing that it would, he joked that in three years everyone would meet again for another renewal “of the old man.” At 101 years old, he celebrates the fulfilled dream of continuing to drive and only asks God for more health to keep moving forward.
And you, do you know someone who still drives at 101 years old or do you believe there should be a maximum age to be behind the wheel?
O merito é td dele claro! Por ter e confiar em um Deus q td pode. Parabéns!!! Glórias a Deus…