Brazil’s Automatic CNH Renewal Goes Live With Early Uptake and Widespread Ineligibility

Overview

• Practical application began on January 9 with retroactive effect to December 10, 2025, under a federal provisional measure.
• By January 14, the government reported 570 automatic renewals in Amapá, citing R$ 586.7 thousand in savings for residents.
• Eligibility requires zero points or infractions in the previous 12 months and active registration in the National Positive Registry of Drivers (RNPC).
• Local data show limited reach at launch, with two in three drivers in Campinas fined in the last year and therefore not qualifying.
• Age and medical rules restrict access, and issuance of a physical card remains a state service with fees, such as R$ 122.17 in São Paulo.