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New law approved in Sergipe ends the single fee for the driver’s license and separates the charges by stages. The driver who chooses only the digital license does not pay for the printed version, following federal rules for digitalization of traffic in 2026.
Those who are obtaining or renewing their driver’s license need to pay attention to an important change that will take effect in 2026. A new law approved in the Legislative Assembly of Sergipe ends the single fee that encompassed all costs of the licensing process and starts to charge separately for each stage. In practice, those who opt only for the digital driver’s license will not need to pay for the issuance of the physical document.
The Bill No. 37/2026, approved on Thursday (19), redefines the TFSD (State Fee for Inspection and Various Services) and adapts the state system of Sergipe to the latest federal rules regarding the National Driver’s License. The change follows a national trend of digitalization of traffic services and gives more autonomy to citizens to choose how they want to access their driver’s license.
What changes in the charging of the driver’s license with the new law
Until now, citizens who needed to obtain or renew their driver’s license paid a single amount that included all stages of the process and the issuance of the printed document. With the new rule, these costs will be separated, and payment for the service guarantees immediate access to the digital driver’s license. The printed version becomes optional, and the printing fee will only be charged if the driver requests the physical document.
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This means that those who feel comfortable using only the digital driver’s license on their phone can save money, as they will not incur the additional cost of printing. The measure brings more flexibility and clarity to the composition of fees, allowing each person to choose the format that best meets their needs. The previous model did not provide this option: the printing cost was included in the general fee, regardless of whether the driver wanted the document in hand or not.
How the new model of issuing the driver’s license works
With the change, the system for issuing the driver’s license in Sergipe will operate in two layers. In the first, the citizen pays for the service, which includes all processing of the licensing or renewal, and automatically receives the digital driver’s license. In the second, if they want the physical document, they request the printing and pay the corresponding fee.
The director-president of the Detran of Sergipe, Naleide de Andrade, explained that the new legislation brings more clarity to the composition of fees and accompanies the digital transformation of public services. According to her, the digital driver’s license already has the same legal validity as the printed version throughout the national territory, making the change viable without any detriment to the driver who chooses to forgo the paper document.
Why the law follows a national trend of digitalization of the driver’s license
The law approved in Sergipe is not an isolated initiative. It follows recent changes in federal traffic legislation that expanded the use of the digital driver’s license and restricted certain charges made by state Detrans. Among the federal updates are the free digital driver’s license and the possibility of automatic renewal for drivers with a good traffic record.
The digitalization of the driver’s license is part of a broader movement by the federal government to modernize public services and reduce costs for both the state and the citizen.
With the driver’s license available in the official app, the driver can present the document at any inspection without needing to carry the printed version. The trend is that other states will follow the example of Sergipe and adapt their state systems to the new national guidelines.
Who is affected by the change and when does it take effect
The change brought by the new law directly affects all drivers in Sergipe who need to obtain, renew, or request a second copy of the driver’s license from the official publication date.
After approval in the Legislative Assembly, the project goes to the governor for sanction and takes effect on the date of its official publication. The expectation, according to information from Alese, is for rapid implementation, as the new model merely adapts the state system to federal norms that are already in effect.
For those who already have the driver’s license in digital format, the change does not alter anything in daily practice. The greatest impact will be felt by those starting the first licensing process or renewing their license. These drivers will now have clarity about what they are paying at each stage and can choose not to incur the printing cost if they prefer the digital driver’s license.
What to expect from the digital driver’s license in the coming years
The approval of this law in Sergipe reinforces a path that Brazil has been following in recent years: the gradual replacement of physical documents with digital versions. The digital driver’s license is already accepted throughout the national territory, and the trend is that the printed document will become less and less necessary as the digital infrastructure of traffic agencies advances.
For drivers, the immediate advantage is financial: not paying for printing when it is not necessary. But the benefit is also practical, as the digital driver’s license can be accessed at any time on the phone, eliminates the risk of loss or deterioration of the document, and can be updated more quickly. The expectation is that the measure adopted in Sergipe will serve as a reference for other states to make similar adjustments in their systems.
The new law approved in Sergipe changes how drivers pay for the driver’s license by separating the charges by stages and making the printing of the physical document optional. For those who opt for the digital driver’s license, the direct result is the savings of not paying for a service they do not need.
With information from the portal NDMAIS.
Do you already use the digital driver’s license or do you still prefer the printed document? Do you think this change should apply to all states? Leave your opinion in the comments and share with those who are obtaining or renewing their driver’s license.
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