Learn how to indicate the main driver in the CNH do Brasil app and avoid fines that are not yours

Having a shared vehicle or frequently lending the car to family, companions or friends is a very common practice in the daily lives of Brazilians. However, the division of the steering wheel can bring headaches to the owner when it comes to managing traffic fines. This is because you can be held responsible for an infraction you did not commit, this includes the debt of the fine, the score on the National Driver’s License (CNH) and other penalties.

To solve this problem, the CNH do Brasil application provides the main driver registration feature. Popularly known as “real driver”, the tool allows you to indicate in advance to the national traffic system who uses the car on a daily basis.

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In this way, infractions recorded in your vehicle without the face-to-face approach of an agent, such as fines for speed camera or traffic light advance, for example, generate points directly on the driver’s license of the person who was actually driving, sparing the vehicle owner from unfair punishments. This configuration is completely free and carried out 100% digitally.

This registration of the real driver still saves you from the bureaucracy of appealing administratively after the issuance of the fine to transfer points. This often requires filling out physical forms, signatures, and strict deadlines.

Step by step: how to register the main driver in the app

The procedure is simple and can be done directly on the cell phone screen. Follow the official instructions:

1. Open the CNH do Brasil app on your smartphone;
2. Access the tab called “Vehicles” (make sure your car is properly registered in the app);
3. Select the desired car, which is identified on the platform by the license plate and model;
4. Tap on the “Main Driver” option;
5. Enter the CPF number of the person who uses the car regularly, the driver must have an active Digital CNH (CNH-e);
6. After filling it out, the indicated driver will receive a notification in the app or by email;

In this case, confirmation of the real driver is mandatory, so the indicated driver must click on “accept” to validate the link. If there is no acceptance, the registration will not be completed.

It is also possible to do this through the website of the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran):

1. Access the Services Portal;
2. Log in with Digital Certificate or CPF and password, clicking on “Login with gov.br”
3. After access, go to “Vehicles”;
4. Select “Consult My Vehicles” and choose the desired vehicle;
5. Click on the “Main Driver” option;
6. Enter the CPF and CNH number of the person who will be indicated;

After confirmation, the system will send an email to the indicated person, who can authorize or deny the nomination.

What changes in the driver’s routine after the nomination?

As soon as the indicated driver accepts the invitation through the application, the system validates the link immediately. From this moment on, all future fines related to driving the vehicle will be scored directly on the driver’s license record of the driver appointed as the main/actual driver.

This optimization represents a bureaucratic relief, as the original owner no longer has to worry about presenting defenses or manually indicating the driver at each new electronic fine.

Please note: Not all fines can be transferred

It is important to note that the registration of the main driver does not exempt the owner from all legal obligations. Infractions linked to the structural conditions of the car or to the regularity of the documents remain under the strict responsibility of those who own the property.

The vehicle owner continues to be responsible for fines for:

• Worn tires (bald tire);
• Burnt out lamps or headlights;
• Annual licensing or IPVA delayed;
• Conservation problems or irregular structural modifications.

What happens to old infractions and legal deadlines

A common question among users is about the destination of the fines prior to filling out the digital form. The system does not retroact: fines committed before the confirmation of the main driver’s registration do not migrate automatically.

Thus, if there is any prior pending matter applicable to another driver, the owner will still need to resort to the traditional method of indicating the real offender. According to Detran/TO, the legal deadline for this conventional procedure is 30 days, counted from the date of receipt of the notice of infraction.