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Federal Project Aims to End Mandatory Driving Schools, Reduce Costs, and Expand Access to Driver’s License Across Brazil
The federal government presented, in October 2025, a proposal that could revolutionize the way to obtain a Driver’s License in Brazil.
According to estimates from the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran), the end of mandatory driving schools could reduce the costs of the National Driver’s License (CNH) by up to 80%, making the process faster and more accessible.
Current Cost of the Driver’s License and Financial Impact by State
Currently, obtaining a Driver’s License can cost over R$ 4,400 and take more than a year.
According to Senatran, based on data from the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban), a worker needs to dedicate up to eight months of income to pay the amount without exceeding 30% of their monthly budget.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the average cost is R$ 4,450, the highest in the country.
In Alagoas, the price drops to R$ 1,350, the lowest recorded value.
Meanwhile, in Acre, the process reaches R$ 3,300, which forces citizens to work 8.6 months to cover the expense.
On the other hand, in Rio de Janeiro, with an average income of R$ 2,500, residents would need to save R$ 747 per month for almost three months.
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Expected Cost of the Driver’s License Without Driving Schools
With the end of the mandatory requirement, prices are expected to drop significantly.
Senatran estimates that the average price of the Driver’s License could range between R$ 500 and R$ 900, depending on the state.
In Alagoas, the cost would drop from R$ 1,350 to R$ 270.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the reduction would bring the price down to R$ 890, compared to the current R$ 4,450.
In Acre, the average cost would decrease to R$ 660, reducing the payment time from 8.6 months to just 1.7 months.
Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro, the cost would drop to R$ 420, representing a saving of over 75%.
Thus, the government believes that the measure democratizes access to licensing and reduces informality, allowing millions of Brazilians to drive legally.
Project Aims to Democratize Access and Reduce Bureaucracies
According to Transport Minister Renan Filho, the project aims to promote social justice and simplify the process of obtaining a Driver’s License.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva approved the advancement of the proposal in September 2025 and opened a public consultation until November 2.
Moreover, the government argues that high costs and bureaucracy push 20 million Brazilians into irregularity.
Therefore, the change aims to correct this scenario and ensure more inclusion in traffic.
How the Proposed New Model Will Work
The project proposes that practical lessons become non-mandatory at driving schools.
However, candidates may learn from independent instructors, provided that training occurs in private and safe areas, such as condominiums or closed tracks.
The new rules will apply to Category A (motorcycles) and B (passenger cars).
However, written and practical tests will continue to be administered by the Department of Transit (Detrans).
If the model yields positive results, it may expand to Categories C and D.
Thus, the government intends to reduce costs, speed up the process, and maintain road safety, as explained by the Ministry of Transport.
Driving School Sector Reacts and Warns of Economic Impacts
On the other hand, the National Federation of Driving Schools (Feneauto), led by Ygor Mendonça, criticized the proposal and stated that it threatens traffic education.
According to the entity, the end of the mandatory requirement could eliminate more than 170,000 direct and indirect jobs and lead to the closure of 15,000 training centers.
Additionally, Feneauto warns that the “Social Cost of Accidents”, estimated at R$ 80 billion annually in 2023, could increase significantly.
For Mendonça, traffic education is a social and constitutional right that should be maintained as a priority.
Public Consultation and Next Steps
The public consultation remains open until November 2, 2025.
During this period, all suggestions submitted will be analyzed by the Ministry of Transport and Senatran before being sent to the National Congress.
Meanwhile, the government reinforces that the goal is to balance economy, safety, and transparency.
Experts say that if implemented, the proposal could represent the biggest change in the licensing system since 1997, when the current model was created by the National Traffic Council (Contran).
Do you believe that ending the mandatory driving schools represents social justice or a threat to traffic safety?
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