Change in the evaluation rules comes into force this month gives "second chance" to candidates who commit minor infractions in the exam.
Following the trend of other states, the Detran of Rio Grande do Sul has implemented new guidelines for carrying out practical driving tests in 2026. The main change is the increase in the limit of negative points allowed during the evaluation, in a measure that aims to reduce the high failure rate — often attributed to the nervousness of candidates — and reduce the waiting list for obtaining the National Driver’s License (CNH).
Under the previous rule, based strictly on the federal resolution, the candidate was disapproved if the sum of the faults committed exceeded three negative points. With the new state flexibility, the DMV-RS adjusted the tolerance for infractions considered light and medium, allowing a slightly larger margin of technical error, as long as it does not compromise traffic safety.
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The change does not eliminate very serious faults (eliminations), such as advancing over the curb, not signaling maneuvers or disobeying the mandatory stop. They continue to fail the driver immediately.
However, minor errors — such as incorrect adjustment of the mirrors, letting the engine go out only once, or small inaccuracies in the vehicle’s positioning — will have a recalibrated weight in the final sum. The objective is to differentiate the lack of technical skill from the punctual error caused by the anxiety of the exam.
According to the Rio Grande do Sul traffic agency, the measure maintains the necessary rigor for the training of capable drivers, but modernizes the evaluation process. The expectation is that approval on the first attempt will increase, decongesting the Driver Training Centers (CFCs) and speeding up the process for those who need the document to work.
