Minister of the Supreme Court maintains automatic renewal of CNH for good drivers and validates rules that reduce costs and the obligation of driving schools
Minister Flávio Dino, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), decided last Thursday (29) to deny a request to suspend the new rule that allows the automatic renewal of the National Driver’s License (CNH) for drivers who have not been fined in the last twelve months.
In the decision, Dino points out that the Brazilian Association of Traffic Psychology (Abrapsit), an entity that appealed to the STF, does not have legal standing to question Provisional Measure 1,327 of 2025, which now provides for the measure.
The association criticized the adoption of the register of good drivers to exempt drivers from carrying out physical and mental fitness exams to renew the document.
The minister also decided not to analyze the direct action of unconstitutionality filed by the entity.
“To admit the extraordinary legitimacy of Abrapsit means attributing to it the representation in court of interests of a much broader community than that of its members, initiating a collective process in which the majority of the members of the group, category or class would potentially be represented by those who defend interests that do not coincide or even contrary to their own”, Dino decided.
The automatic renewal of the CNH is intended for drivers enrolled in the National Positive Registry of Drivers (RNPC), which brings together drivers without traffic violations in the last 12 months.
For this group, renewal occurs automatically in the system when the CNH expires, at no additional cost. Joining the RNPC can be done through the CNH Digital application or through the Services Portal of the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran).
The benefit, however, does not apply to all drivers. Drivers aged 70 and over are not eligible for the measure, while drivers over 50 can use the automatic renewal only once, at the expiration of the document, without charging fees or requiring face-to-face exams. The benefit is individual and cannot be reused.
Drivers who have had their driver’s license reduced by medical recommendation, in cases of progressive diseases or conditions that require continuous health monitoring, in addition to those with the document expired for more than 30 days, as established by traffic legislation, also do not fall under the rule.
The automatic renewal of the CNH for good drivers came into effect earlier this month. According to the Ministry of Transport, the measure has already benefited 323,459 drivers. About R$ 226 million were saved by drivers. The amount includes the amounts that would be paid in exams and fees.
Another measure taken by the government with the purpose of lowering the cost of obtaining a driver’s license was the waiver of the obligation of driving school in the training of the candidate. According to the new rules, the theoretical course is offered free of charge in digital format by the Ministry of Transport.
For the practical part, the candidate will be able to opt for classes with autonomous instructors accredited by Detrans, eliminating the exclusivity of driving schools. The opening of the process can be carried out directly through the ministry’s website or through the Digital Transit Card (CDT) application.
Entities linked to driving schools criticize the measure, pointing out risks to driver training and road safety. The government, however, maintains that the rigor in the exams will guarantee the technical capacity of the new qualified.
