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Savings with the digital CNH grow in São Paulo and change drivers’ relationship with the printed version of the document, by reducing issuance and shipping costs and making mobile licensing an increasingly adopted alternative in the state.
The choice for the exclusively digital CNH has already generated savings of R$ 51.3 million for drivers in São Paulo, according to Detran-SP.
Since the option became available, 372,324 people have stopped requesting the printed version of the National Driver’s License and have started using only the document on their mobile phones, without paying for printing or physical shipping.
According to the São Paulo government, the measure is part of a set of changes adopted by Detran-SP to reduce costs in the licensing process and expand the use of digital services.
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Under the current model, the driver can opt for the free digital CNH and dispense with paper issuance, which remains available for those who prefer to receive the printed document at home.
Savings with digital CNH in São Paulo
Within the total reported by the agency, R$ 47.2 million corresponds to the non-issuance of the physical CNH by São Paulo drivers.
The other R$ 4.1 million is related to the removal of the postal shipping charge for the document when the citizen chooses to use only the digital version of the license.
The free digital CNH applies to services such as first licensing, renewal, definitive CNH, addition or change of category, rehabilitation, and inclusion of the note for Exercising Remunerated Activity, known as EAR.
With the same legal validity as the printed version, the electronic document can be presented during traffic inspections and used normally throughout the national territory.
First licensing in São Paulo
In the first licensing process, Detran-SP reports that the fee charged by the agency for scheduling the theoretical and practical exams totals R$ 105.66.
This amount corresponds to two charges of R$ 52.83, one for each stage, according to the service values reported by Poupatempo for the first CNH in São Paulo.
In addition to these fees, the candidate still needs to consider expenses that are not included in this direct account from Detran-SP, such as medical exams, psychological evaluation when required, and practical lessons.
On the first-time driver’s license service page of Poupatempo, the digital CNH appears as free, while the physical CNH remains an option with issuance and delivery charges.
When requested, the printed version of the license has a total cost of R$ 137.79 with delivery, with R$ 126.79 for issuance and R$ 11.00 for the postal fee.
For this reason, choosing the digital-only license represents a direct saving for those who do not need or wish to carry the physical document.
Paulista CNH and cost reduction
The changes are connected to the so-called Paulista CNH, an initiative that reorganized the steps of the licensing process in the state.
With the program, obtaining the license becomes less dependent on in-person procedures and reduces expenses that were previously incorporated into the traditional path to obtaining the document.
Another relevant change involves the practical training hours required for new drivers.
With the federal regulation adopted by Detran-SP, the requirement to complete a minimum of 20 hours of lessons no longer exists, although practical lessons remain mandatory and passing the driving test is still a requirement.
In practice, the candidate gains more flexibility to organize preparation before the exam.
Nevertheless, the change does not eliminate the need for practical training nor does it alter the requirement to demonstrate safe driving ability during the evaluation conducted by the traffic authority.
Digitalization of Detran-SP services
For Detran-SP, the possibility of choosing between the digital and printed CNH is part of a policy of simplifying services.
The Director of Licensing and Drivers of the agency, Talita Rodrigues, states that the intention is to bring the process closer to the financial reality of the citizen.
“Our goal is to make licensing more compatible with the citizen’s reality. Digital transformation allows us to eliminate costs while expanding each driver’s freedom of choice. We are simplifying processes without compromising the security of services,” said Talita Rodrigues.
By reducing the dependence on the printed version, digitalization also cuts logistical steps associated with the production and delivery of the paper document.
Without the need to print and send the license, the driver avoids additional costs and can access the license through the official app, provided they meet the requirements of the requested service.
The digital option, however, does not prevent the driver from requesting the physical version at another time, if deemed necessary.
In this format, printing is no longer a mandatory step for all users and becomes dependent on the individual choice of each driver.
Digital document gains adherence among drivers
The accumulated savings of R$ 51.3 million shows that the adoption of the digital CNH has gained scale in São Paulo.
The number of 372,324 drivers also draws attention, indicating the growing acceptance of the electronic document as the main form of proof of license.
For those obtaining their first license, the main change is the separation between mandatory costs of the process and optional services.
The fee of R$ 105.66 specifically refers to the scheduling of theoretical and practical exams at Detran-SP, not the total cost of the entire driver training process.
This distinction helps avoid confusion, as the first license involves different stages, some paid directly to the traffic authority and others linked to clinics, instructors, or training centers.
Although it reduces the expense of the final document, the free digital CNH does not eliminate all other requirements for obtaining the license.
With this measure, São Paulo reinforces the strategy of offering traffic services in digital format and reducing charges associated with the physical issuance of documents.
The benefit mainly reaches drivers who do not see the need to receive the printed CNH and prefer to concentrate access to official documents on their mobile phones.
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