Drivers license in Brazil

Your DL is good for the 90 days on a tourist/waiver visa (plus the 1 extension). If you decide to become a permanent resident you will need a BR DL. Begin at DETRANS. Make sure you have something from your US State showing what your DL covers in the US. Some have had issues with DETRANS as to proof of US DL covering a car, MC or truck (class of truck).
You fill out application and take a physc exam. Once issued it is for one year, then renew for a longer period.
You might go to AAA in the US and get an International DL, but many do not.

I do not drive often in Brazil.  Just short distances to supermarket or whatever.  Are road test required or just transfer license from home country to Brazil

DETRAN in Manaus, where I live and where your profile says you are, is pretty reasonable.   No road test for US licenseholders.  US license needs a Sworn Translation,  you take the vision test, the psychological test,  and have a choice between a written test or an ungraded course at DETRAN on the rules of the road.  DETRAN-AM lets you keep your  US license.  Other states can be less straightforward.
If you go to AAA, make sure to tell them that you'll be driving in Brazil.  AAA issues two almost identical documents, the International Driving License,  and the Interamerican Driving License.   I'm not sure about now, but as late as 2017, Brazil only accepted the Interamerican version.

AAA still does as of last year.
Good catch,
If in BR over your allotted days visa days, yes you will need BR DL.

My Brazilian license was issued on August 8, 2019.  Here are the documents that I needed to present:
-- CRNM
-- CPF
-- Proof of Residence
-- US Driver's License, original and copy, both sides
-- Sworn Translation of US Driver's License, front and back, original and copy
The fee at the time was about R$250; it goes up regularly.
The application form says, "FOREIGN DRIVER MUST SPEAK/UNDERSTAND PORTUGUESE."  Every DETRAN seems to interpret this requirement in its own way.

08/08/22 Thanks for your clarification.  Initially I could not find the Interamerican form at AAA but I just did. 

- @Droplover

......Also does anyone know if you have to relinquish your US drivers license when applying for your Brazilian one? 

- @Droplover

A couple questions. I re entered Brazil in early August. Got my RNM this week. I did overstay my visa but over the course of 12 months and with 3 separate trips. None of them were more than 6 months. Would I be in the period of the 6 months or would it be from this present entry only?

second I just have my CA license. Do I need to get it translated or any other official process or just give it a go?

lastly any experience in Bahia?

thanks!

10/28/22 @rnbtg. Congratulations on your CRNM! From now on, you'll be handing the Immigration Officer your passport with your CRNM every time you enter or leave Brazil; if the PF didn't require you to pay your overstay fines during the CRNM process, they were probably cleared by your change of status. If not, they would have been based on your days in Brazil during the twelve months preceding your last entry.

You can drive on your US license for six months, after that, you should request a Brazilian license.  Every state is a little different, so check the DETRAN-BA website for the exact requirements in Bahia. In general, you'll need to present authenticated copies of your CRNM and your US license, and a Sworn Translation, both sides, of your US license. You'll need a medical exam and a vision exam from a DETRAN-contracted clinic, and to pass a weird but interesting psychotechnical test. You may need to do something, either a test or a brief course, on the rules of the road. The good news is that they waive the road test. And, Brazil being Brazil, pay fees.

My time in Bahia was too long ago to be of much value to you, and I certainly wouldn't recommend some of the things that much younger man got up to in Salvador. Indeed, I wouldn't do some of them again myself, although they seemed like good ideas at the time. Fortunately, we have people with more recent experience who can take it from here! 🤣

About 6 weeks ago I went through the process of obtaining a Brazilian license in Santa Catarina.  My wife handled the paperwork, but as I recall I needed a translated version of my Texas DL, along with some other forms.  We went to DETRAN and met with someone there who had my paperwork validated in their Florianopolis office.  We then went back after the paperwork was validated, maybe three business days later. At that meeting they took my picture for my license.  That same day I took the psicotechnico test at a separate office, which is a psychological exam, and went to an eye exam.  With the forms saying I passed both exams we went back to DETRAN, submitted the forms and they sent it off to Florianopolis again. 

I downloaded the Carteria Digital de Transito app on my phone, created an account, and had a digital CFH in 7 business days.  After 21 days I went back to the DETRAN office and obtained my printed CFH.

The psicotechnico exam consisted of three tests, which I studied using these three videos:

https://youtu.be/zgkYXeeVXYM

https://youtu.be/7zqGC8hXGrA

https://youtu.be/gtoGTLRMPdU

Based on the others responses the process may vary based on your state, but that was my experience.

10/28/2022  @BRBC  Great videos -- thanks!

@Texanbrazil

Since you had auto and motorcycle endorsements on your TX license, I'm wondering if one could either,

1) Pay Detran more cash and get both endorsements OR

2) Repeat the process for the second endorsement?

I have moved here in the USA twice between states and have always been able to transfer both Auto an MC endorsements for an EXTRA fee.

Just curious.

Could be a case of unknowing bureaucratic. Sometimes if you don't get the answer you were expecting, talking to another bureaucratic on another day gets you a different answer.

@abthree Hi out of interest did they keep your US Licence?

11/09/22 @abthree Hi out of interest did they keep your US Licence?
-@ltoby955

Yes.  I only had to give them an authenticated copy and sworn translation of both sides.

For Detran in Sao Paulo, can you complete everything in one day with an appointment including the medical and psycho technical tests?  Do I have to go back for the physical license or can I send someone else?

@bepmoht

Not sure about US specifically, but when I did the process of getting my full Brazilian license (was a full UK holder), I was told I wouldn't be allowed to keep my motorbike privileges, which I was perfectly fine with as I've never ridden one in my life but our full UK license allows for mopeds. They made me sign a document stating I was ok to proceed but only for a car license and skipping the 1 year ordeal to finally receive my license, when I did, it amazingly has a motorbike license for Brazil included... which was unexpected.

Update I did it here in a small city in Bahia and it was remarkably easy. Got an official translation, brought my RNM and proof of residency. They were very flexible with proof of residency too. It was all done in one day. Then I scheduled the psychological exam and medical exam and passed. I will say I give tests of memory and the like in health care and found the picture/word test challenging! I think the translation of image to word interferes with my memory recall in ways that it doesn't in my native language which I found interesting. Thanks for all the help!

Hey man, really good to hear that it was straight forward! Out of curiosity, did you also have to do a 1 hour interview with a phycologist 100% in Portuguese as well?

Thankfully no! The interview was very short just small talk really along with a health history. It was maybe 5-10 minutes.

12/09/22 Thankfully no! The interview was very short just small talk really along with a health history. It was maybe 5-10 minutes.
-@rnbtg

One of the fascinating things about DETRAN is that it's the same everywhere, but different.  I often wonder how much of that they're even aware of.  Glad that it worked out so well for you. 👍🏻

One of the fascinating things about DETRAN is that it's the same everywhere, but different. I often wonder how much of that they're even aware of. Glad that it worked out so well for you. 👍🏻
-@abthree

The exam was done by some outside contractor. The bad part was the doctor. She was spouting anti mask and anti vaccine garbage to me unsolicited. I'm a health care provider and I know the studies and real world experience so it didn't go anywhere but it did make me worry about their influence. On the other hand I'm glad she was doing an extremely simple detran exam instead of taking care of people in higher stakes scenarios where those opinions could do more damage!

When I moved to Brazil, we did not own a car.  We  bought one during COVID and government offices were closed.    When they re-opened, I did not go get my license and drove anyway.   I got stopped at a road block and had to have my husband come get the car.    Do not do this  :-)

Paid an agency to translate my Florida Driver's license, gathered remaining documentation and submitted. 

The psicotechnico test was in Portuguese, however, they visually showed what to do.   I was very nervous and my hand was shaking so they pulled me to do additional testing. 

The employees at Poupatempo used their equipment to provide digital copies of all the required documentation - and the management signed off on it.  Even with this, it was rejected by the government and I had to go back and resubmit one of the documents.   I think 3 months wait until the rejection notification. Maybe 2 weeks after I resubmitted, I received the license in the mail.

I was able to keep my Florida license when I got my Brazilian one.   Brazilian one valid for 5 years.   

In the end, everything was so much simpler and easier than I expected.   

@amsp the problem with me is I don't understand the language

I some what do but I think driving is easy when you have experience but I not automatic not stick shift

@Texanbrazil I have one expired what does this do like the police stop you and your good to go? I'm a PR of São Paulo

I want to get my driver license there

01/01/22 @Texanbrazil I have one expired what does this do like the police stop you and your good to go? I'm a PR of São Paulo
I want to get my driver license there
-@dedecadaver

Every state has a little different interpretation of what are basically the same laws nationwide.  If you want to get a license in São Paulo, go to the DETRAN-SP site:

https://www.detran.sp.gov.br/wps/portal … BIS9nQSEh/

and research obtaining a license from them on the basis of a foreign license, according to their rules.  Many of their services are digital, so you may be able to do a lot of it online.  Since you're in São Paulo, Poupatempo is available to you; they may be able to help.

Chances are that they won't accept an expired license, and will require you to get a license through a driving school, but it's worth trying with your old license first. 

Here's how it works. 

If they can read, and your US Driver's license is expired, you are dead duck.

If you get caught past the 90 days, and they demand your driver's and then your passport, you are dead duck.

If you rented a car, and you drive as cautious as an old lady from Pasadena, no one is going to bother you.  These days, it's all done through cameras.  No more cops pulling you over for a shakedown. 

Unless there is a road blitz of some kind. 

In that case.....

Show your American's Driver, play dumb, chances are  they will problably let you off the hook.

If you must, for peace of mind's sake, then you march your Sorry American  Arse to the nearest Poupa Tempo ( Assuming you are in Sao Paulo State ), and jump the hopps to get your driver's license. 

I finally got up the nerve to get down to D-Tran in Bom Jesus today.

We arrived at 10:30am, a knock on the gate brought someone to a window.  He just said they were eating and come back in an hour.

We came back at 11:30 and they opened up after they saw up pull up.  Maybe four bureaucrats and two clients in the building, more fans than people, ancient building.  They told me I could not come in wearing shorts.  I offered to take them off, which elicited a smirk but no more help.

We drove home, changed, and came back.

They told us to wait, even though no one was seeing clients.

My Brazilian wife can be exceedingly impressive:  cheerful, friendly, polite, and pushy as hell.  She would not be put off, so we got an interview.

They had never faced this problem before so they had to look it up, although they made it sound like it should not be a great difficulty.  They just want official translations of my stateside drivers licence and proof of residency, which I did not have with me but its not difficult.  And maybe some more official translating.  So, there is only one official translate on the books in all of Bahia and surprise!, we are already friends.

I have to send copies of stuff to Lavinia (she lives in Salvador, of course, 500 miles away) and then see what happens next.

02/13/23 @Inubia.  Good luck.  I know that every DETRAN is different, but "come back later, we're eating" and "you can't come in here in shorts" are both new to me.  😂

Lavinia responded, "not now, I'm attending Carnival".  I would not mind that at all excepting that Maria will not let me go to any of these, ever.  Lavinia is older and more frail than she is, so ...... demorar, demorar .......

02/15/23 @Inubia.  Well of course - it's Carnaval, and she's a soteropolitana! First things first, your driver's license will just have to wait.

Meanwhile, the mental image of the elderly Sworn Translator of the State of Bahia following the trios elétricos through the streets of the Cidade Alta will keep me smiling through the rest of Carnaval.  Thanks for that!🥳

@Inubia that's a funny story. Great luck!!!

@abthree You are good at finding resources. Can you find where it says if you are in Brazil more than 6 months, you need a Brazilian license. I just want to read it for myself and I can't find it. Thanks much.

02/17/23 @abthree You are good at finding resources. Can you find where it says if you are in Brazil more than 6 months, you need a Brazilian license. I just want to read it for myself and I can't find it. Thanks much.
-@jasonlovesdogs

https://www.detran.rj.gov.br/_documento.asp?cod=136

Note that to be accepted, a US driver's license MUST be accompanied by the Inter-American Driving Permit, which can be obtained at AAA prior to travel.  There's some question as to whether the similar International Driving Permit (IDP -- also available at AAA) is also accepted.  It formerly was not, but that may have changed.