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Proposal Aiming to Reduce the Cost of the Driver’s License Advances and Foresees Classes with Credentialed Independent Instructors; Government Will Open a 30-Day Public Consultation to Debate the Topic.
The federal government, with the approval of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has taken a decisive step to radically change the process for obtaining the National Driver’s License (CNH). The proposal, confirmed by the Minister of Transport, Renan Filho, and reported by the InfoMoney portal, provides for the end of the mandatory driving schools, allowing theoretical and practical classes to be taught by independent instructors. The measure seeks to significantly reduce the cost of the document, making it more accessible to the population.
The initiative, according to the minister, aims to combat what he described as an “exclusive system”, which prevents many Brazilians from obtaining a license due to the high fees currently charged. The next step for the implementation of the change will be the opening of a public consultation, which will be available for 30 days, allowing civil society and experts to contribute to the debate before the final formalization through a resolution from the National Traffic Council (Contran).
How Will the New Model for the CNH Work?
The proposal being developed by the Ministry of Transport suggests a complete restructuring of the driver training system. Currently, Driver Training Centers (CFCs), commonly known as driving schools, hold exclusivity in applying theoretical and practical classes. With the new rule, CNH candidates would have the option to hire independent instructors for their training, provided these professionals are duly accredited and licensed by the government.
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This change does not eliminate the need for training, but decentralizes the service. Independent instructors would need to undergo a rigorous certification process to ensure teaching quality. The goal, as reported by InfoMoney, is to create a more competitive market, offering more alternatives to citizens and, consequently, pressuring prices downward. The theoretical and practical exams administered by the state traffic departments would remain mandatory steps.
What is the Expected Impact of the Change?
The main argument from the government, detailed by Renan Filho, is the social and economic impact. The minister stated that the current model acts as a “barrier to entry”, forcing a significant portion of the population to drive without the proper license because they cannot afford the costs. “People drive without a license, which is the worst of worlds”, he stated, emphasizing that the measure aims to include these drivers within the law. The expectation is that by reducing the costs of the CNH process, more people will regularize their status, increasing traffic safety.
To illustrate his criticism of the current system, the minister compared the mandatory driving schools to a hypothetical requirement that a student could only take university entrance exams if they had attended a private preparatory course. “Driving school is that”, he concluded, in a statement quoted by InfoMoney. The disassociation between training and a specific physical structure, such as that of a CFC, is seen as the way to democratize access to licensing.
The proposal to eliminate the requirement to attend driving schools to obtain a CNH represents one of the most significant changes to traffic regulations in the country in recent decades. By allowing the participation of independent instructors and focusing on cost reduction, the government bets on a model that could include millions of Brazilians in the legal driving system. Now, the public consultation will be the stage for a fundamental debate on the pros and cons of this transformation.
Do you agree with this change? Do you think it impacts the market and the quality of driver training? Share your opinion in the comments; we want to hear from those living this in practice.
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