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New Rule in São José do Rio Preto Prohibits Uber Drivers with Cars Manufactured More Than Ten Years Ago, Impacting the Income of Workers, the Number of Available Rides, and Even the Wait Time for Users.
App drivers operating in São José do Rio Preto (SP) face new restrictions starting this Monday (7), after the end of an injunction that suspended the application of a municipal law that prohibits vehicles older than 10 years from providing services on platforms like Uber.
The change, based on the municipal law No. 13,648, in effect since 2019, was already anticipated but has only now come into effect.
The injunction that had been granted to Uber temporarily prevented the application of the rule, but has now expired, which requires the company to fully comply with local legislation.
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As a result, drivers using cars manufactured before 2015 are prohibited from transporting passengers in the city.
According to information from Uber itself, drivers who fall under the new requirements were notified since February 2025, alerting them to the need to update their fleet or switch to other service modalities, such as Uber Flash, intended exclusively for the transport of packages.
Change Affects Workers’ Income and Raises Uncertainties
The new regulation directly impacts the lives of hundreds of drivers, such as Jonathan Pereira, who has been working on the platform for six years and uses a 2014 vehicle.
Because he does not meet the new criteria, he was automatically transferred to the delivery category.
“Today it is difficult to change cars.
In the situation we are going through, getting a new loan is complicated,” he said in an interview with TV TEM, a Globo affiliate in the region.
The financial difficulty faced by many self-employed drivers makes the requirement even tougher, especially in light of an unstable economic scenario, with high interest rates and reduced access to credit.
Many of these professionals rely solely on app-based transportation as their main source of income and now face the possibility of losing this activity.
Driver Association Pressures for Flexibility
Carlos Alexandre da Silva, leader of the Uber Drivers Association in the region, states that the entity has sought dialogue with municipal authorities.
“Apps are required to comply with municipal regulation, by constitutional force. We seek support from the Secretary of Transit and the mayor to try to align the law in Rio Preto with what is done in other cities,” explained the representative.
In other locations in the country, the maximum age allowed for app vehicles is up to 15 years, raising questions about the rigidity of the legislation in Rio Preto.
Uber also attempted to extend this limit in the municipality, but the request was denied by the courts last year.
Uber Reaffirms Commitment to Local Legislation
Uber, for its part, stated that it will continue to comply with the rules established by each municipality where it operates.
In an official statement, the company reiterated that, in cities where there is no legal limitation, the maximum usage time for registered vehicles can reach 15 years.
However, where there is specific legislation, such as in Rio Preto, local guidelines prevail.
The company also stated that it continues to dialog with authorities and representative associations of drivers to seek alternatives that do not compromise the access of professionals to the platform or the quality of service provided to users.
Passengers Will Also Be Impacted
With the decrease in the number of available vehicles, passengers should feel the effects of the new rule.
The expectation is that wait times will increase and ride prices will rise, especially during peak hours when demand is already high.
The situation reignites the debate about the limits of municipal regulation in technology services, which operate on a national scale but face different realities in each city.
Urban mobility experts warn that, without a balance between requirement and economic viability, the ones who suffer the most are the end consumer and the worker.
City Hall Signals Open Dialogue
The City Hall of São José do Rio Preto announced, through an official note, that it is willing to discuss possible changes to the current legislation.
Currently, the city sets a limit of up to 10 years of manufacturing for app vehicles, while taxi drivers can operate with cars up to 12 years old.
This difference in criteria has also been criticized by app drivers.
They argue that, although both provide similar services, there is inequality in the requirements.
The city hall, in turn, states that it is open to dialogue and that any changes will depend on discussions with the municipal Legislative Power.
National Debate on App Regulation
The discussion in Rio Preto is not isolated. In several Brazilian cities, the manufacturing time of vehicles that provide app services is the subject of controversy.
While some capitals relax rules to increase the inclusion of drivers, others tighten the criteria in the name of user safety and comfort.
According to experts in Labor Law and urban mobility, a standardized legislation at the federal level could avoid disparities and provide greater legal security for both companies and workers.
However, so far, decisions continue to be made at the municipal level, which creates a scenario of uncertainty and multiple interpretations.
The Future of Drivers in Rio Preto
While negotiations continue, drivers like Jonathan are still seeking alternatives to avoid being left out of the market.
Some consider renting newer vehicles, others are thinking about moving to another city or switching to delivery and light cargo transport services, which have different requirements.
There is also a growing concern about the possible exodus of professionals from the area and the decline in service quality offered to passengers.
With fewer active drivers, the balance of the platform may be affected, directly impacting the user experience.
In light of this scenario, the future of app transportation in Rio Preto remains uncertain, depending on the progress of negotiations among drivers, companies, and public authorities.
Do you think it’s fair to require vehicles up to 10 years old, even in light of the financial crisis and the difficulties faced by drivers? Share your opinion!
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