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Government Evaluates Change That Could Reduce Driver’s License Costs by Up to 80%, Reduce Bureaucracy, and Change the Requirements for Driving Schools, but Industry Groups Warn of Impacts on Jobs, Revenue, and Road Safety.
The federal government is studying the possibility of making optional the classes at driving schools for those seeking a driver’s license in categories A (motorcycles) and B (cars).
The measure, advocated by the Minister of Transport, Renan Filho, promises a reduction of up to 80% in the cost of the document and has reignited the debate about labor, fiscal, and traffic safety impacts.
The proposal was presented in an interview and is under analysis by the Executive.
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What Is at Stake in the Licensing Process
According to the plan under consideration, the theoretical and practical exams would remain mandatory, but the candidate could choose how to prepare, without the requirement to fulfill a minimum number of hours in CFCs.
The ministry’s justification is to simplify and reduce the costs of the process, currently estimated between R$ 3 thousand and R$ 4 thousand, which would push part of the population towards informality behind the wheel.
The minister also mentioned that, in the case of motorcycles, a significant portion of buyers do not have a license.
Sector Reaction: Jobs, Taxes, and Structure
Feneauto claims that ending the requirement would mean a dismantling of the training network built over nearly three decades.
According to the entity, the country has 15,757 CFCs in operation, which generate R$ 429 million per month in payroll.
The annual revenue of the sector would reach R$ 14 billion, with R$ 1.92 billion in direct tax collection; without the requirement, there would be a risk of 300 thousand jobs and fiscal loss.
The projections are from the federation, which anticipates a more intense effect in medium and small cities.
Road Safety and Impact on SUS
The federation argues that relaxing training could worsen accidents and put pressure on SUS, as structured training is associated with lower accident rates.
Brazil recorded 34,881 deaths in traffic in 2023, according to an analysis by DataSUS. The official goal of Pnatrans is to halve mortality rates by 2030.
The discussion about driver training occurs in the context of public goals and recent fluctuations in indicators.
What the Government Says
The Ministry of Transport argues that it does not intend to end driving schools.
The plan is to make them optional, keeping them as a preparation option — including alongside accredited independent instructors.
The ministry cites experiences from countries where there is no mandatory minimum hourly load before the tests and states that the text has already been drafted internally. According to reports, the proposal is being processed in the Chief of Staff.
Costs and Access: Why Change Now
For the minister, price and bureaucracy would be concrete barriers. He cited an estimate of annual emissions in the millions of driver’s licenses and argued that simplification would free up income for other family expenses.
When commenting on the reality of motorcycles, he mentioned that “40%” of buyers do not have a license, a number presented as a result of data cross-referencing.
The statements garnered support among those who see the change as a path to economic inclusion, but also intensified criticism from traffic entities and representatives of the sector.
Chain Effects on the Local Economy
Without the requirement, Feneauto predicts an immediate reduction in revenue and tax collection, with ramifications for ICMS and ISS.
The entity argues that the drop in activity would affect suppliers and service providers linked to CFCs, from vehicle rentals to fleet maintenance, impacting consumption and municipal revenues.
The sector emphasizes that the social cost of any increase in accidents could exceed direct losses, a thesis supported by studies on the financial burden of accidents in the country.
Voice of the Sector
“We are facing a proposal that threatens not only the sector but society as a whole. Dismantling the network of CFCs means giving up jobs, revenue, and, above all, safety on the roads. Brazil still faces alarming numbers of deaths in accidents, and relaxing driver training is regressing decades of achievements. Preserving this network is not a corporate agenda, it is a matter of public interest“, stated Ygor Valença, president of Feneauto.
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