Congress overturns Lula’s veto and resumes the requirement for toxicological tests for driver’s licenses

The National Congress rejected, in a joint session held on the afternoon of this Thursday, 4th, a veto by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) that barred the requirement of toxicological examination for candidates for the first driver’s license in categories A (motorcycles and mopeds) and B (passenger vehicles).

The veto is overturned days after the approval of a reformulation in the process of obtaining the National Driving License (CNH) to eliminate the mandatory classes.

The requirement for a toxicological test represents, in fact, an expansion: carrying out the test is already mandatory for drivers in categories C, D and E (transport of cargo and passengers).

In justifying the veto, in June this year, the Lula government argued that requiring the exam for categories A and B would increase the costs of obtaining a driver’s license, which could influence the decision for more people to drive without a license – estimates indicate that there are around 20 million people in these conditions.

“Despite the good intentions of the legislator, the inclusion of the article to provide that drivers of all categories of vehicles are obliged to undergo a toxicological test to obtain a National Driving License (CNH) goes against the public interest, as it would result in increased costs for society and could influence more people to choose to drive without the appropriate license, which would, consequently, compromise road safety”, explained Planalto, in the veto.

Some of the parliamentarians understood that the argument, however, was outdated, since the National Traffic Council (Contran) recently issued a resolution authorizing less rigid rules for access to a driver’s license without having to attend traffic schools.

In a statement, the Brazilian Toxicology Association (ABTox) stated that it considers the “overturning of the veto on mandatory toxicological testing for the first license to be a decisive step forward for road safety in the country”.

“The measure reinforces a public policy that has proven to have a positive impact on society: since 2016, when it became mandatory for drivers in categories C, D and E, the exam prevented Brazil from an estimated loss of R$74 billion in accidents in its first year alone and allowed more than 28 thousand drivers who initially failed to return to their activities after treatment and rehabilitation”, estimates the entity.

According to ABTox, the decision also reflects the will of society: according to an Ipec survey from February 2025, 83% of Brazilians support the requirement for the exam for new drivers.

How the end of mandatory classes to obtain a driver’s license works

As shown by Estadão, the new resolution to facilitate obtaining a driver’s license provides for a free and digital theoretical course, greater flexibility in practical classes and permission for candidates to be accompanied by accredited Detrans instructors, and not just driving schools.

The process can also be started online, via the Ministry of Transport website or through the Digital Traffic Card (CDT).

The change targets the high costs and bureaucracy that keep millions of Brazilians away. Data from the National Traffic Secretariat (Senatran) indicate that around 20 million people drive without a license, and another 30 million are old enough to obtain a driver’s license, but are unable to cover expenses that can reach R$5,000. The government estimates that the new model can reduce the total cost of licensing by up to 80%.