The Transport and Traffic Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that guarantees candidates for a driver's license the right to free rescheduling of exams and repeat classes without additional fees if the absence is due to a confirmed health issue. The vote took place on August 17th.
Under current regulations, an individual who misses a stage of the process due to illness or accident may be forced to pay again to continue the procedure. The free provision stipulated in the text applies to physical and mental fitness exams, psychological assessments, as well as theoretical and practical driving tests.
The amounts that can be spent are quite significant. For example, at Detran São Paulo, a medical examination costs 122.17 reais, and a psychological assessment costs 142.53 reais; these payments are repeated with each postponement. The total cost of the full process of obtaining the first driver's license averages 746.29 reais just for fees.
To take advantage of this benefit, the candidate must provide medical justification within five working days of the absence. This document must contain the identification data of the healthcare specialist, the class council number, signature, and the period during which the patient could not attend.
The proposal also prohibits road authorities and Driver Training Centers (CFCs) from charging extra fees specifically because of such a postponement.
The adopted text is a replacement from the rapporteur, Deputy Beto Pret (PSD-PR), who merged Bill 4087/25 presented by Deputy Benedita da Silva (PT-RJ) and attached PL 4088/25. According to the rapporteur, the goal is to ensure a fairer treatment of unforeseen situations. He stated: 'We are only striving to guarantee the citizen the right to complete the stage later, lost due to a confirmed health problem.'
The discussion reached Congress at a time when the licensing process is undergoing the biggest change in decades. Since January, the resolution of the National Council for Traffic (Contran) abolished the mandatory registration in driving schools for categories A and B, with an official promise to reduce the cost of the driver's license to 80%. However, exam fees remain under the purview of state Detrans—and this is where the bill approved by the committee is aimed.
The bill will still be reviewed in its final form by the Committee on Constitutional Law and Citizenship (CCJ). If no appeal is filed for a vote in the plenary session of the Chamber, the text will go directly to the Federal Senate. Approval from both houses is required for it to become law.