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Bill 1,409/2025 Aims to Allow the Import of Used Cars by Individuals in Brazil. Understand the Changes, Impacts for Consumers, and Why the Automotive Sector Fears the Proposal.
The Bill 1,409/2025, currently under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, promises to bring a significant turnaround in the Brazilian automotive sector. The proposal, authored by federal deputy Luiz Philippe de Orléans e Bragança (PL-SP), authorizes individuals to import used vehicles that are up to three years old, something that is currently almost prohibited by national legislation. If approved, the text could change price balance, the dynamics of manufacturers established in the country, and reignite a debate that the government and the industry have avoided for decades: why are cars so expensive in Brazil?
The Proposal That Could Open the Market for Imported Used Cars
Currently, Brazil only allows the importation of new vehicles or used cars for specific purposes — such as collecting, military use, diplomatic use, or in sports competitions. The PL 1,409/2025 aims to change this, creating a legal loophole for any citizen to import up to two used vehicles per year, provided they are at least three years old and meet international safety and emissions standards.
The text also stipulates that the individual importer will be responsible for complying with the regulations of Contran, Anvisa, and Ibama, in addition to the full payment of federal and state taxes. In other words, the project does not eliminate taxes but liberalizes access to models that are not sold in Brazil or that cost twice the original price here.
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Direct Impact on the National Industry and Dealerships
If approved, PL 1,409/2025 will directly affect the price structure of the domestic market. The manufacturers established in the country argue that the measure could create unfair competition, as imported used vehicles would not bear the same production and local labor costs.
Moreover, there is the argument that second-hand cars from abroad may arrive without a reliable maintenance history, posing risks to safety and the environment.
On the other hand, supporters of the proposal argue that it represents an important step in the economic freedom of the consumer and an antidote to price cartelization.
According to the author, the measure will encourage reduction of average car costs and increase competitiveness, allowing Brazilians access to higher quality vehicles equipped with safety technologies and energy efficiency that often take years to enter the country.
The Political Struggle and Pressures from the Automotive Sector
The discussion of the PL has reignited pressures from major entities such as the Anfavea (National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers), which sees the text as a direct threat to national production. In a statement, representatives of the entity claimed that “the indiscriminate opening to the import of used cars could generate deindustrialization, job loss, and currency evasion.”
Meanwhile, lawmakers affiliated with the liberal agenda and consumer defense view the proposal as a “test of Brazil’s economic maturity.”
They argue that excessive market closure in the automotive sector is one of the main reasons why Brazilian cars are more expensive and technologically outdated compared to those sold in Europe and Asia.
What Changes for Consumers If the PL Is Approved
In practice, the project will allow any individual to import a car directly from another country, respecting the limit of two vehicles per year. These vehicles must undergo customs inspection, safety certification, and environmental certificate issuance. The text also establishes that the importer may not resell the vehicle for a minimum period, preventing commercial use of the legal loophole.
For more enthusiastic consumers, this could pave the way for the arrival of iconic models and low-cost hybrid or electric versions — such as Japanese compacts, European sedans, and Korean SUVs that are currently inaccessible due to tax burdens and profit margins in the national market.
Repercussions Among Experts and Economists
Experts in foreign trade warn that the measure may face diplomatic and environmental barriers, as Brazil would have to adapt its inspection and emissions standards for vehicles from different origins.
However, economists see in the project a potential trigger to artificially reduce new car prices, pressuring manufacturers to become more competitive.
According to a survey by Bright Consulting, cars in Brazil cost, on average, 35 to 50% more than equivalent vehicles in Europe, even considering logistical and tax costs. The approval of PL 1,409/2025 could, therefore, force a restructuring of internal prices, similar to what occurred in the electronics sector after the liberalization of imports in the 1990s.
A Debate That Could Redefine the Future of Mobility in the Country
The proposal still needs to pass through the committees of Economic Development, Transport and Communications, Environment, and Constitution and Justice before heading to the plenary. Depending on political pressure, the project could be voted on as early as 2025.
Regardless of the outcome, PL 1,409/2025 already plays a symbolic role: bringing the discussion about the automotive industry monopoly in Brazil and about the consumer’s right to choose what to drive and how much to pay for it.
If approved, it could represent one of the most significant changes in the automotive sector in recent decades. If rejected, it will reinforce the perception that the country remains hostage to a closed, expensive, and uncompetitive model.
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