My experience was similar to Kevbo's.  I think the key is if your foreign license is still valid when you apply for a BR license.  If it's expired, you have to do the driving school b.s.  At least that's the way it is here in SC.

If your license is still valid, you merely get it officially translated, take it DETRAN, they stamp the translation, and tell you to drive with that document for the next six months (I have yet to determine the "why" behind that time period).  Then six months later, you go back to DETRAN, and jump through the hoops Kevbo just posted.  Then a week later (it's always "mais tarde" in Brasil, right?), you go back and pick up your actual license.

@kevbo: If you Brits are better drivers, then WHY are you always driving down the WRONG side of the road?!? 

Originally posted by jota pe Originally posted by tamte Originally posted by malboa How do you transfer US license to Brazilian? What kinds of fees are there and the process in general? Thanks!   You need permanent/work visa. Before 180 days in Brazil, you need to do the swap. The US DL has to be translated by a sworn in translator.   Go to the local DETRAN, ask for "Estrangeiro para Nacional CNH"   It cost R$125, includes all the stuff as well medical and psychotechinal tests. 15 hours of DD is required (sitting in a class, fun and good language training and you may get some local features learned about the traffic, no test)   They will take your picture (like in US) also they will 10 fingerprint you (even this was done in PF when getting the RNE and CIE).   Pretty simple (need to understand basic Portuguese) and with that DD class it all takes about 2 weeks (3 hours per day 5 days for the DD class).           where in brazil do you live, will they let you transfer a license with a protocol for the PV?  Im in guarulhos

Edited by tamte - 19 March 2012 at 21:25

what is the SINCRE document? I have a CPF, which i know is different than a RNE, I thought I couldnt get my RNE until after I get married and apply for the PV

well, it didn't work like that for me. It went like this for me:

1st trip to BH -
Your medical exam is not in the file (of course not sh*thead - it's all online!)

2nd trip to BH -
"The doctor didn't sign the medical exam"

3rd trip to BH -
"Okay okay.. go down and pay the fee and we'll do it for you."
- Paid the fee.
- Wife calls back a week later and they said my file had been incinerated.

This was really the worst experience I've had in Brazil. I ended up just doing the driving school and shelling out more than 1k reais. I passed on the first attempt, not surprisingly. I seriously wish someone would go to that little office and taser those grumpy old men.

Passed the test an will start doing the MC next week