Driver's license without driving school: what changes to get a license?
The discussion about the implementation of Driver's license without driving school. It took over the news and conversations in 2025. The high cost of obtaining a driver's license in Brazil is fueling this intense debate.
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Many citizens see this proposal as a real chance for freedom. After all, the fees charged by Driver Training Centers (CFCs) have become prohibitive for a large part of the working population.
The goal of this text is to clarify, responsibly and with real data, the progress of this project. You will understand the pros, cons, and feasibility of this long-awaited legislative change.
Browse through the content we've prepared for you:
Summary:
- Why was this bill created?
- How would learning with an independent instructor work?
- What are the current costs versus the new proposal?
- What do the experts say about security?
- When can the measure come into effect?
- Conclusion and FAQ.
Why was the driver's license project without driving school created?
The main motivation for Bill 6485/2019 is strictly economic. Obtaining a National Driver's License today costs, on average, more than R$3,000.00 in several Brazilian states.
This high cost excludes millions of Brazilians from the formal job market. Many job openings require a driver's license, transforming the CNH (National Driver's License) into an essential career tool and not just a leisure activity.
Senator Kátia Abreu and Representative Kim Kataguiri, authors of similar proposals, advocate for reducing bureaucracy. They argue that the monopoly of driving schools increases the cost of the process without necessarily guaranteeing better drivers.
Furthermore, the current model is considered too rigid by many critics. The requirement for a specific number of practical and theoretical classes in commercial establishments is the target of the proposed changes.
Therefore, the proposal aims to democratize access to the document. The idea is to allow citizens to choose how they wish to learn, provided they prove their technical ability in official Detran (Brazilian Department of Motor Vehicles) tests.
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How would the process work with an independent instructor?
The proposal of Driver's license without driving school. This does not eliminate the need for official exams. You would still need to pass the theoretical and practical tests administered by the State Department of Transportation (Detran) in your region.
The biggest change occurs in the practical learning stage. Instead of being required to pay for classes at a driving school, the candidate could choose to train with an independent instructor.
This instructor cannot be just any qualified person. The draft bill stipulates that the "instructor" must have held a driver's license in the same category for at least five years to guarantee experience.
Another crucial requirement is that the instructor has not received any serious penalties. The driver's record must be clean of very serious or serious traffic violations in the last five years of driving.
In this way, learning could take place in the family car. The vehicle would need to be properly identified, indicating that there is a learner in training inside, ensuring the safety of other drivers.
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What are the current costs involved in obtaining a driver's license?
Understanding the discrepancy in values is fundamental to supporting or criticizing the measure. Currently, state taxes represent only a fraction of the total cost paid by future Brazilian drivers.
The largest portion of the investment goes towards mandatory classes. The rental of the driving school vehicle for the practical test also adds a considerable amount to the final total.
Below is an estimated comparison, based on average data from 2024/2025, illustrating the potential savings if the mandatory requirement for driving schools were removed from the licensing process.
| Cost Item | Current Model (With Driving School) | Proposed Model (Independent Instructor) |
| Medical and Psychotechnical Examination | R$ 250.00 – R$ 400.00 | R$ 250.00 – R$ 400.00 |
| Theoretical Classes (CFC) | R$ 400.00 – R$ 600.00 | R$ 0.00 (Autonomous Study) |
| Practical Classes (20 hours/class) | R$ 1,500.00 – R$ 2,000.00 | R$ 0.00 (Fuel cost) |
| Practical Exam Fee | R$ 100.00 – R$ 200.00 | R$ 100.00 – R$ 200.00 |
| Issuance of the driver's license | R$ 120.00 – R$ 180.00 | R$ 120.00 – R$ 180.00 |
| Estimated Total | R$ 2,370.00 – R$ 3,380.00 | R$ 470.00 – R$ 780.00 |
Data based on national averages. Values vary by state.
The table shows a drastic reduction in costs. Savings could reach 80% of the total value, making the license accessible to classes C, D, and E.
What do experts say about road safety?
Not everything is rosy in the proposed change. Traffic-related entities and road safety experts are expressing serious concern about the technical skills of new drivers trained at home.
The central argument is the lack of pedagogy. Knowing how to drive doesn't mean knowing how to teach, and driving instructors undergo specific courses to transmit knowledge in a didactic and safe way.
Furthermore, there is the fear of "bad driving habits." Family members tend to pass on incorrect driving habits, such as resting their foot on the clutch or not using the turn signal correctly.
On the other hand, proponents cite the American model. In the United States, self-teaching is common and, according to them, there is no direct correlation with an increase in accidents due to incompetence.
Enforcement would be the biggest challenge of the new model. The Department of Motor Vehicles would need to be much more rigorous in practical exams to filter out candidates who have not received adequate instruction.
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When will the new law officially come into effect?
It is crucial to keep expectations aligned with the legislative reality of 2025. As of the time of this publication, the bill is still being processed in the National Congress and has not yet become law.
The legislative process in Brazil is slow and bureaucratic. The text needs to go through committees in the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate before going to the president for approval.
There has been significant progress in discussions in recent years. Public pressure for lower costs has accelerated the debate, but strong resistance from the driving school lobby is hindering rapid approval.
Therefore, don't go driving with your father or mother just yet. Current legislation (Brazilian Traffic Code) still requires classes at accredited driving schools, under penalty of fine and vehicle impoundment.
Pay close attention to official government channels. Changes of this magnitude are widely publicized and have an adaptation period (vacatio legis) before they effectively take effect in the streets.
How should we prepare if the law is passed?
If approved, the preparation will be different. The candidate will need a lot of discipline to study traffic laws independently, using online materials and updated study guides.
Choosing a mentor will be the most important step. You should look for someone patient, who knows the laws thoroughly and has a vehicle in good mechanical condition for training.
Civil liability will increase considerably for families. In the event of accidents during training, the family instructor will be legally responsible for the trainee's actions, requiring extra caution.
Remember that the practical test will continue to be the main filter. The level of rigor from the DMV examiners will likely increase to compensate for the lack of standardized training offered by driving schools.
Conclusion
The possibility of removing the Driver's license without driving school. It represents a revolution in mobility. It promises social inclusion and easier access to the job market for millions of Brazilians currently excluded.
However, road safety cannot be neglected in this process. Driver training requires responsibility, technique, and collective awareness, regardless of who teaches the practical or theoretical classes.
We'll have to wait for the next chapters of this legislative dispute. In the meantime, the best option remains to research prices and look for driving schools with good pass rates in your city.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Has the law allowing driver's licenses without driving school already been approved for 2025?
No, the bill is still being processed in the National Congress. The current rules, which require classes at driver training centers, remain in effect throughout the country.
2. How much will a driver's license cost if the project is approved?
It is estimated that the cost will fall to somewhere between R$ 500.00 and R$ 800.00. This amount would only cover state fees and mandatory medical examinations.
3. Can anyone teach me how to drive?
No. The instructor must have held a license in the relevant category for at least 5 years. Furthermore, they cannot have any serious or very serious traffic violations in their recent record.
4. Will the DMV tests cease to exist?
Absolutely not. The theoretical and practical exams will continue to be mandatory and administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles (Detran). They will guarantee that the candidate is qualified.
