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With the New Driver’s License, the Lula Government Releases Free Digital License for Approved Individuals, Keeps Physical Version Optional and Paid, Reduces Exams by Up to 40 Percent, Eases Mandatory Classes and Creates Automatic Renewal for Good Drivers Without Points Nationwide, Standardizes Theoretical and Practical Driving Tests
On December 9, 2025, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a provisional measure that changes a historic rule of the National Driver’s License. From the publication in the Official Gazette, the new driver’s license becomes free only in digital format, while the physical document remains optional and subject to fees defined by each state DMV.
In practice, the government aims to reduce the total cost of obtaining a driver’s license, review the requirement for driving school classes, and use a new national app to consolidate tests, courses, and document issuance. At the same time, the new driver’s license creates a clear division between those who choose the savings of the free digital license and those who still prefer to pay to continue with the traditional plastic license.
Free Digital Driver’s License and Paid Physical License: What Changes for Drivers’ Wallets
The central change of the new driver’s license is the definitive separation between the digital and physical documents.
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The digital license will be free for those approved in the practical exam, automatically released after completing the process at the DMV and linked to the new CNH app of Brazil, announced by the Ministry of Transportation.
The physical driver’s license will no longer be standard and will become only optional.
Those who want a paper or plastic card will continue to pay the issuance fee charged by the DMV, with values varying by state.
The official text reminds that:
in São Paulo, the issuance fee is R$ 122.17
in Alagoas, the amount reaches R$ 144.12
in Acre, the current charge is R$ 89.75
In other words, the free option promises to ease the budget for those content with the new driver’s license digital, but maintains a significant cost for those who still require the physical document out of habit, professional requirement, or lack of familiarity with apps.
End of Mandatory Classes in Driving Schools and More Flexible Training
Another axis of the new driver’s license is the complete reformulation of the pathway to the first license.
The government abolishes the requirement for driving school classes and opens space for a more flexible model based on online content and independent instructors accredited by the DMVs.
According to the new rules:
driving school classes are no longer mandatory
the theoretical content will be offered for free on the official platform, within the CNH app of Brazil
there will no longer be a minimum required hours for the theoretical part
students will be able to use their own car for practical classes
it will be possible to hire a qualified independent instructor outside the traditional driving school structure
In practice, the new driver’s license lowers the entry barrier for those who already drive informally or have prior experience.
The minimum practical classes decrease from 20 hours to only 2 hours, either with a driving school or with an independent instructor.
The theoretical and practical exams remain in-person, as do the medical exam and biometric collection.
Another relevant point is that those who fail the first exam will be able to retake the practical exam once without paying a new fee, reducing the financial impact of an initial failure.
In addition, there is no longer a one-year deadline to complete the licensing process, providing more time for candidates with less availability.
Costs of the New Driver’s License, Cheaper Exams, and Promise of Up to 80 Percent Reduction
Despite the free digital license, the new driver’s license does not make the entire process free. The candidate still bears a range of costs, though lower than the current ones.
The provisional measure provides for a 40 percent reduction in the cost of medical and psychological exams, with a ceiling of R$ 180 for this set of services.
The theoretical and practical tests continue to incur charges, and the values vary from one DMV to another, as does the optional issuance of the physical driver’s license.
Nevertheless, the Ministry of Transportation asserts that, when summing all the cuts, the cost to obtain a license could drop by up to 80 percent compared to the current level, which can reach around R$ 5,000 in many states.
The government justifies the new driver’s license with a striking fact: the National Traffic Department estimates that 20 million people currently drive without a license and that 30 million are of age to obtain a license but cannot afford the process.
The easing of classes and the free digital license are presented as a way to bring part of this contingent into legality, reducing infractions and accidents caused by untrained drivers.
Automatic Renewal for Good Drivers and Exclusion Criteria
In addition to initial training, the new driver’s license also changes the logic of document renewal.
The provisional measure creates the figure of the “good driver”, who will have the right to automatic and free renewal, without needing to return to the DMV for new tests, as long as they meet strict requirements.
To be considered a good driver, the motorist must:
- have no points registered on the driver’s license
- not have received any infractions during the validity period of the document
If these criteria are met, the new digital driver’s license can be automatically renewed, without the usual issuance fees. However, the rule does not apply to everyone:
drivers aged 70 and older are excluded from automatic renewal
drivers aged 50 and over can only use the benefit once
people whose driver’s license validity was reduced by medical recommendation due to progressive diseases or specific health conditions will also not be eligible for automatic renewal
Driving with an expired license remains a serious violation, subject to 7 points on the license and a fine of R$ 293.47, which applies pressure for drivers to comply even with the facilities brought by the new digital driver’s license.
Step by Step for Obtaining a License with the New Driver’s License Through the App
With the implementation of the CNH app of Brazil, the government intends to migrate almost the entire flow of licensing to the digital environment, leaving only the essential moments of exam and test in-person.
The basic roadmap of the new driver’s license will be:
the candidate takes a free and mandatory theoretical course through the app, on a computer or mobile phone
upon completing the course, they receive a certificate that qualifies them to schedule the theoretical test
before the exam, they must go to the DMV for biometrics and official photo
they take the medical exam and, if necessary, the psychological evaluation, with any accredited doctor or psychologist
they take the theoretical test in person
upon passing, they can hire a driving school or independent instructor for practical classes
at the end of the classes, they take the practical exam in person
upon passing, they automatically receive the new digital driver’s license, with the option to request the paid physical version if desired
Independent instructors will be identified and registered within the app, electronically recording each practical class.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, the theoretical and practical tests will be standardized nationally, and the app will allow simulations with identical questions to those used in official exams, which tends to standardize the level of demand throughout the country.
Impacts on Driving Schools, Instructors, and Traffic Enforcement
By abolishing the requirement for minimum hours in driving schools and freeing independent instructors, the new driver’s license dismantles a structure that, according to the government, functioned as a market reserve.
The official expectation is that many professionals will migrate to the autonomous model, being compensated directly by students and registered within the national system.
On the other hand, traffic enforcement gains a cheaper license, but one that is stricter regarding driver behavior.
The good driver who maintains the new driver’s license without points is likely to be rewarded with automatic and free renewals, while repeat offenders will continue to face fines, required exams, and full renewal costs.
The complete digitalization of the new driver’s license, with standardized tests, a single app, and a free digital license, brings the licensing process closer to other 100 percent online public services.
At the same time, it raises practical questions for those who are not tech-savvy, rely on the physical document, or live in areas with limited internet access.
Given these changes, do you plan to opt for only the free digital version of the new driver’s license or do you still feel safer paying for the traditional physical document by your side?
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