CNH 2026; Here’s How to Become an Autonomous Traffic Instructor

Among the changes in the process of obtaining the National Driver’s License (CNH) proposed by the Ministry of Transport, is the regulation of autonomous traffic instructors. This means that in the stage of practical driving classes, the CNH candidate in 2026 can choose to take the course with professionals accredited by the State Traffic Department (Detran), without a mandatory link with a driving school.

According to the government, the new modality is an opportunity both for citizens who are already traffic instructors linked to a driving school, and for those who like to drive and want to enter this market. But, to do this, it is necessary to meet a series of requirements and fulfill the training course with several modules and stages.

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Requirements to be a self-driving traffic instructor

The basic requirements to obtain the Professional Identification Card of autonomous instructor, which will be made available free of charge on the website of the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran), are:

• Be at least 21 years old and have a legal license to drive a vehicle for at least two years;
• Not have committed any traffic infraction of a very serious nature in the last 60 days, nor have suffered a penalty of revocation of the CNH;
• Completed high school;
• Specific training in pedagogical skills, with a focus on traffic legislation and safe driving;
• Certificate of specific course taken by the executive traffic agency;
• Vehicle used in classes duly identified as instruction and meet the safety requirements established by the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB);

In addition to the requirements for professionals, the vehicles used in classes also need to meet some standards:

• Motorcycles must be a maximum of 8 years old;
• Cars must be up to 12 years old;
• Cargo vehicles must not be more than 20 years old.

With these requirements met, the name of the traffic instructor must appear in the official records of the DMV and the Ministry of Transport. In this way, the student can check the name of the instructor and the times and places for classes on the respective websites.

Once hired by the candidate, the instructor must record and validate the student’s attendance and participation in each class. Even linked to a driving school, the instructor can offer classes independently.

During practical driving lessons, the instructor must carry the following documents:

• CNH;
• Instructor credential or badge provided by the competent body;
• Vehicle Learning License;
• Vehicle Registration and Licensing Certificate.

This is extremely important, as the traffic instructor can be inspected at any time by the traffic agencies, which can carry out inspections at any time to ensure that the activities are being carried out in accordance with the legislation”, informed the Ministry of Transport.

How the Detran instructor training course works

The course to become an instructor followed the rules established by Resolution 789/20 of Contran, a norm that governed the rules and standards for obtaining the CNH before the recent changes. The training provided for a workload of 116 class hours. This total included several modules and a limit of 10 class hours per day.

Now, to become a traffic instructor, just access the CNH do Brasil application or theMinistry of Transport website and log in with your gov.br account.

The new free course from the Federal Government deals with pedagogical techniques and other knowledge to guide new drivers. The training is organized in three modules, totaling 27 classes, which cover everything from the fundamentals of education to advanced practices of safety and behavior in traffic.

Course Modules

• Fundamentals of Education — essential pedagogical principles for adult education, reinforcing values such as kindness and tolerance;
• Applied Didactics — methods and strategies for teaching theoretical and practical classes, including planning, recommended approaches, and others;
• Traffic Safety and Behavior — technical and behavioral in-depth, with content such as safety and applied physical principles, preventive maintenance, road signs, and first aid

To receive the certificate of completion, it is mandatory to take the online assessment at the end of the journey. The test has 30 questions that have no time limit. Once approved, you receive the “Traffic Instructor” certificate immediately.

At this point, although the course is completed, the authorization to carry out the activity depends on registration with the DMV.