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In Brazil, a driver's licence (officially named Carteira Nacional de Habilitação in Portuguese, shortened as CNH and translated as "National Qualification Card") is required in order to drive cars, buses, trucks and motorcycles. Current CNHs can be used as identity cards in all the national territory.
 | This article needs to be updated. (January 2024) |
It was formerly called PGU, but in 2008 CONTRAN (Conselho Nacional de Trânsito, translated as "National Traffic Council") overhauled the system, requiring all driver's holders to re-register, so they could be grouped in Renach (Registro Nacional de Condutores Habilitados, National Register of Qualified Drivers).
Minors, the illiterate and people without an ID card are not allowed to have a CNH.
Until 2008, 20 hours of theory classes and 15 hours of practical classes were required in order to obtain a CNH. However, from 2009 on, a total of 45 hours of theory classes are required for all categories, these classes now covering the previously optional subjects such as Brazilian traffic law, defensive driving and first aid. After attending the classes, students are subjected to a 30-question test, and are approved if providing at least 21 correct answers. Finally, at least 25 hours of practical lessons must be taken plus more 4 hours of night lessons, and 5 hours in a car simulator, accompanied by an instructor from a certified driving school.
When a vehicle is spotted (either by a traffic agent, the police or an automated system such as a speed camera) violating traffic regulations, its owner receives a notification by post, including details of the violation: type; location; the penalty fine; and proof, if available, like pictures taken by speed cameras. Fifteen days after this notification is received, the actual ticket is issued. During these 15 days, the owner can submit a form to inform the traffic authority if they were not the one driving the car when the offence was committed. For example, if Marcos lends his car to Paulo, and Paulo commits a traffic offence, Marcos will receive the notification. He then fills the form with Paulo's information, has Paulo sign it and submit it to the traffic authority within the 15 days. Then all fines and other sanctions for that violation will be issued to Paulo instead of Marcos.
Traffic violations in Brazil issue points against the driver's license. Offences are divided in four categories: "minor" (3 points), "medium" (4 points), "serious" (5 points) and "very serious" (7 points). The points for a traffic violation last for one year, starting at the day of the offence.
If at any time the total score passes 20 points (which means the driver has obtained more than 20 points within one year), the license will be suspended and the local traffic authority will notify the driver, who can enter a defense within the next sixty days. In after the 60 days the traffic authority will decide the duration of the suspension, which can vary from 1 to 24 months. Once the suspension period ends and the driver completes an "offender driver reeducation course", the suspension is terminated.
Also called PPD ("Permissão Para Dirigir" translated as "Permission To Drive"). The first driving licence is a 1-year permit. It is basically the same as a fully-fledged licence, but with some particularities regarding infractions and penalties. The permit may be revoked (instead of only suspended) in the case of committing any "very serious" or "serious" infraction, or two "medium" infractions. The 20 points system remains the same. Having the CNH permit revoked means the driver must restart the entire process to acquire a new CNH permit.
The Brazilian driving licence is valid for 30 days after the expiration date. It means one may still drive for 30 days using the expired licence.
CNHs are divided in five categories, according to the vehicles the driver is allowed to drive:[1]
The requirements for each category are as follows:
Some types of vehicles or uses require additional training. The additional courses are:
The driver is not allowed to sign up for any of these courses if they committed a serious or very serious or more than one medium offence less than a year before or if their CNH is suspended.
The Brazilian National Driving Licence will change from a paper format to a plastic card with a microchip, containing information on the driver.
A resolution of the National Traffic Council (Contran) said that the change would become effective on 1 January 2019.[2]
The resource will facilitate supervision and will allow the provision of services: such as road user toll payment, public transportation and biometric identification according to the Ministry of Cities.
The new document should increase durability, reduce fraud and enable integration with other countries.[3]
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