CNH Renewal Time BR

CNH renewal phases (Brazil)

How often you renew the CNH comes down to your age and which category you hold. The basic interval is 10 years (under 50), then 5 years for drivers between 50 and 70, and 3 years once you pass 70. Professional categories (C/D/E) sit on a 5-year cycle no matter the age. Those longer intervals came in with Lei 14.071/2020. Plan on 15-30 days running from the physical exam (psychotécnico) until the printed card actually shows up.

The phases run like this: (1) exame médico at a DETRAN-credentialed clinic, about 30 min and R$ 80-150; (2) exame psicotécnico for C/D/E, roughly an hour; (3) pagamento de taxa DETRAN, R$ 100-200; (4) emissão e entrega of the CNH-e digital plus a physical card via correios. Going with the renovação CNH digital can spare you the second printed copy.

Applications

Useful for the DETRAN UF, Lei 9.503/97 CTB, clínicas credenciadas, the app CNH Digital, and professional drivers (Uber, 99, taxi).

FAQ

Can I drive with expired CNH? No. You're looking at a multa gravissima of 7 pontos plus R$ 293 and apreensão (CTB art. 162).

Posso renovar online? Sim, o DETRAN em SP, RJ e MG deixa você fazer o agendamento online; o exame médico continua presencial.

What if I miss the deadline? You get up to 30 days of grace. Miss that and the penalties climb, and once you're more than 5 years vence you have to start over (auto-escola novamente).