The São Paulo State Traffic Department (Detran-SP) changed the route of the practical exam to obtain the National Driver’s License (CNH) in category A, intended for motorcycles. The change began to be applied in the state in 2026 and began to reverberate on social networks after videos of instructors and candidates showed the new format of the test.
The course no longer uses traditional obstacles — such as cones, boards and ramps — common in motorcycle exams held for decades. Now, the evaluation is made on a route closer to the situations found in urban traffic.
According to records released by traffic instructors, the candidate starts the exam by leaving with the motorcycle and converging to the right, goes to a “Stop” sign, makes a U-turn at a roundabout, repeats the sequence (in the opposite direction) and ends by parking the motorcycle.
Why did the motorcycle driver’s license test change in SP?
Detran-SP reported that the change was adopted to comply with CONTRAN Resolution No. 1,020/2025, which brought new guidelines for driver’s license exams in Brazil.
The ramp, one of the most feared points, should cease to exist in all states. (Photo: Internet | Reproduction)
The change generated debate among professionals in the sector. For instructor Lucas Borba, the new model represents an evolution in relation to the previous format, as it evaluates situations closer to real driving on the streets.
São Paulo is the state with the largest fleet of motorcycles in the country and also concentrates one of the highest numbers of fatal accidents involving motorcycles. The expectation is that the new exam will prioritize skills related to traffic circulation, such as observing signs, positioning the motorcycle and executing turns and returns.
The new route is already being used in the practical tests applied by the São Paulo DMV.
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