School transport can have annual inspection without restrictions and less bureaucracy for drivers

The school transport inspection system in Brazil may undergo reformulations with Bill (PL) 3.226/2026, currently in progress in the Chamber of Deputies. Authored by Deputy Julio Cesar Ribeiro (Republicanos-DF), the text proposes changes to the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB) to allow vehicles with a satisfactory record in inspections to carry out vehicle inspection once a year, in addition to reviewing requirements applied to drivers in the sector.

The initiative aims to reduce bureaucracy in the provision of the service, optimize the performance of traffic agencies and reduce operating costs, maintaining the strict safety criteria required for the transport of students.

Vehicle inspection: change from semiannual to annual

regime Currently, the CTB determines that all vehicles intended for the public transport of schoolchildren must carry out periodic inspections every six months. By PL 3.226/2026, this model now considers the vehicle’s compliance history:

• Annual inspection: Vehicles approved without any restriction in the immediately previous inspection may carry out the next evaluation within one year.
• Automatic return: The benefit is not definitive. If the vehicle fails any mandatory inspection, it will immediately return to the semiannual inspection regime until it obtains a new approval without reservations.

The measure seeks to redirect the focus of inspection authorities to vehicles that effectively present irregularities, avoiding the overload of public structures with frequent reassessments of up-to-date fleets.

Cost reduction and community inspection on a daily basis

According to the justification presented by the author of the project, the requirement of the exclusively biannual model imposes an unnecessary administrative burden on drivers, owners and executive traffic agencies.

In addition, the parliamentarian highlights a unique characteristic of the modality: the daily inspection carried out by the school community. Because they carry out frequent boarding and disembarking at the door of educational institutions, these vehicles remain under constant observation by parents, teachers and principals. This community monitoring acts as a complementary mechanism in the agile identification of any operational failures.

What changes for school transport drivers?

In addition to fleet management, PL 3.226/2026 repeals item IV of article 138 of the Brazilian Traffic Code.

The amendment aims to eliminate a requirement that subjected drivers in the sector to stricter rules compared to other professional drivers. According to Deputy Julio Cesar Ribeiro, the maintenance of this provision generates a disproportionate treatment, and may prevent the work of properly qualified and capable professionals.

Safety rules remain validThe text reinforces that bureaucratic flexibility does not imply a reduction in road safety standards. School transport drivers will continue to be subject to all penalties and legal requirements, such as:

1. Penalties provided for by the CTB;
2. Hypotheses of suspension or revocation of the right to drive;
3. Strict compliance with the infractions that generate the loss of the license.

Status of the proceedings in the Chamber of Deputies

PL 3.226/2026 awaits the order of the Presidency of the Chamber of Deputies to define which thematic committees it will be processed. If approved by the committees, by the Plenary of the National Congress and later sanctioned, the new rules will officially come into force in the Brazilian Traffic Code.