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New Draft from Senatran Proposes Specific Course, Digital Credential and Registration with Detran for Autonomous Professionals to Work Legally Outside Driving Schools
The federal government wants to radically change the way Brazilians learn to drive. The proposal creates the position of autonomous traffic instructor, nicknamed “personal driving trainer”, a professional who can offer practical driving lessons without ties to driving schools. This measure is part of a draft from the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran), linked to the Ministry of Transport, and is open for public consultation until November 2.
The idea is simple but ambitious: to allow candidates for the National Driver’s License (CNH) to freely combine their training hours with a licensed instructor, reducing costs and bureaucracy. According to the resolution text, the student can choose and even replace the instructor “at any time”, according to their convenience.
The government argues that this change will “expand job opportunities” and give more freedom to trainee drivers, who will have the option to learn outside the traditional structures of driving schools. However, sector entities express concern, claiming that the proposal could create risks to traffic safety and impact jobs.
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Mandatory Course, Requirements and Digital Credentialing
According to the draft, candidates for autonomous instructor status must follow specific rules. To obtain the Professional Identification Card for Autonomous Instructors, issued free of charge by the Senatran website, it will be necessary to:
- Be at least 21 years old;
- Have completed high school;
- Hold a CNH for at least 2 years;
- Present a certificate of specific course issued by the traffic executive agency;
- Not have committed serious infractions in the last 60 days;
- And not have suffered suspension of the license.
After meeting the requirements and completing the training course, the professional will be authorized by Detran and their name officially registered with the Ministry of Transport. With this, any student will be able to check online whether the instructor is fit to operate.
This information was disclosed by O Globo, which also highlighted that instructors already linked to driving schools will be able to continue operating normally, but will have the option to provide services autonomously. This flexibility will allow experienced professionals to offer private lessons legally and recognized.
Cars Without Dual Pedals and Rules for Practical Lessons
One of the most commented points of the draft is the flexibility of vehicles used in lessons. The vehicle may be provided by the instructor or the student themselves, without the need for dual pedals or manual transmission. The only requirement is that the car is in good condition, is no more than 12 years old, and displays visual identification for learning use.
The practical lessons, however, can only take place after the issuance of the Vehicle Learning License (LAV), respecting the locations and timeframes authorized by Detrans. Additionally, instructors will be subject to regular supervision and will need to present mandatory documents, such as CNH, instructor badge, Learning License, and Vehicle Registration and Licensing Certificate.
Practical Exam with a Score from 0 to 100 and Possibility to Retake on the Same Day
According to the proposal, the vehicle driving exam can be scheduled immediately after passing the theoretical tests — even if the candidate has not taken any prior practical lessons. The stage will be administered by the traffic executive agency of the region where the student resides, and the route will be pre-defined by the authorities.
During the exam, the trainee driver will be accompanied by a representative of the traffic agency, responsible for ensuring everyone’s safety, guiding the candidate, and recording relevant occurrences. The evaluation will be conducted by a commission of examiners composed of three members, with at least one of them required to hold a license equal to or higher than the category being sought.
The test may be electronically monitored with images, audio, sensors, telemetry, and georeferencing. This will both ensure the transparency of the process and enable the candidate to access data and appeal in case of failure. If electronic monitoring is adopted, the evaluation may be carried out remotely, provided that access to the necessary information is available.
The vehicle used in the test may be provided by the traffic agency or by the candidate themselves, including third-party owned vehicles, as long as the car meets the safety standards of the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB).
Performance will be measured on a scale from 0 to 100 points. Each candidate will start the test with maximum points and will lose points based on infractions committed. To pass, the student will need to achieve at least 90 points.
The penalties will have different weights:
- Weight 1: minor infractions;
- Weight 2: medium infractions;
- Weight 3: serious infractions;
- Weight 4: severe infractions.
The final decision will be recorded in the National Driver’s License Registry (Renach), and the result will be communicated to the candidate. Those who do not reach the minimum score may try again — including on the same day, if the local Detran has available structure. However, this rule does not apply to those eliminated during the exam.
Next Steps and Public Debate on Safety and Job Market
The draft creating the “personal driving trainer” remains open for public consultation until November 2, and may still undergo changes before being officially implemented. The government believes that this innovation will streamline the process of obtaining the CNH, generate new jobs, and allow candidates to save money, who will be able to choose how much to invest and with whom to learn.
On the other hand, associations of driving schools and instructors’ unions warn of risks to traffic safety and to the technical training of drivers, if control and supervision are not strict. Nonetheless, the project represents one of the largest recent changes in the Brazilian licensing system, opening up space for a new category of professionals — autonomous instructors officially accredited by Senatran.
If approved without major modifications, the new resolution could mark the beginning of an era where learning to drive will be as personalized as training in a gym, with each student having their own “personal driving trainer.” Do you think this change will really make it easier for those seeking their first CNH, or could it jeopardize traffic safety?
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