New traffic law affects drivers aged 50, 60 and 70 from today and CNH will never be the same again!

New traffic law marks the end of an era: Regulation directly impacts seniors, and major changes to the National Driver's License (CNH) are coming. Understand what's changing!

Stay tuned: New traffic law brings important changes to the National Driver's License (CNH), especially for senior drivers. The CNH, an essential document for driving vehicles in Brazil, is undergoing updates that directly affect seniors. If you want to know how these new rules can impact your life or that of your family, this article is for you. Find out everything about the new regulation, from renewal deadlines to additional requirements that will be required. Don't miss this essential reading to stay informed and avoid surprises in traffic!

Understand what the traffic law determines

Contrary to what many people think, many elderly people aged 60 or over are capable of driving their vehicles on a daily basis and very well. However, those aged 50 or over must be aware of the new traffic law, which has been in force since April 2021.

A Law No. 14.071/2020 amended the Brazilian Traffic Code and defined new validity periods for the CNH. The new traffic law determines the time required to renew the document. Drivers aged 70 or over were affected by the shorter renewal deadlines, according to the portal Righteous.

With the new traffic law, drivers under the age of 50 must carry out the renewal every 10 years, for drivers aged 50 or over and under 70, renewal must occur every 5 years. Drivers aged 70 or over must renew their license every 3 years. The Provisional CNH is valid for 1 year.

How to renew your driver's license with the new traffic law

Driver's license renewal must be done no later than 30 days after the document expires. To complete the procedure, simply go to the DMV in your state and pay the fee. Drivers must also be aware of the document's expiration date, which has changed with the new traffic law, since they cannot drive a vehicle without a driver's license. The infraction is very serious, with a fine of R$283,47 and an addition of 7 points to your license.

To renew, you must access the website of the State Department of Transit (Detran) in your state, log in using your CPF or CNPJ and password, confirm your personal data and follow the instructions to request the renewal of your CNH.

Finally, a bill, released in February 2024, could affect the elderly. The Senate's Economic Affairs Committee (CAE) approved the PL 5153 / 2023.

The new bill aims to offer a 50% discount on the renewal fee for drivers aged 50 or over and a 70% discount for seniors aged 70 or over. According to the Metrópoles website, the text has been sent for consideration by the Constitution and Justice Committee (CCJ) of the Upper House and, after this process, it should go to the plenary.

Types of National Driver's License

We have gathered the categories of the new traffic law that have been confusing drivers:

Category A

Driver of a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle, with or without a sidecar.

Category B

driver of a motor vehicle, not covered by category A.

Category C

Driver of a vehicle used to transport cargo whose total gross weight exceeds 3.500 kg.

Category D

Driver of a motor vehicle used to transport passengers with a capacity of no more than eight seats.

Category E

Driver of a vehicle combination in which the tractor unit falls into categories B, C or D.