Drivers of mopeds, electric or combustion vehicles with speeds limited to 50 km/h will have until December 31, 2025 to adapt to the new traffic rules. From January 1, 2026, helmets, licenses and license plates will become mandatory throughout Brazil.
The measure aims to reduce accidents and organize urban traffic, especially in large cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, where the use of these vehicles has grown rapidly in recent years.
According to sector data, obtained by TV Globosales of electric mopeds increased by 32% in the country in the first eight months of 2025, and by 72% in the capital of São Paulo.
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New rule
According to the Brazilian Traffic Code (CTB), mopeds are two- or three-wheeled vehicles, with power of up to 4,000 watts and a maximum factory speed of 50 km/h. Today, most of these drivers drive without identification, helmets or licenses, which makes inspection difficult.
With the new standard, the scenario changes:
• Mandatory helmet: the safety item is now required for all drivers and passengers;
• Plate and registration: mopeds must have registration plates and vehicle documents, as is the case with motorcycles;
• Qualification: category A (for motorcycles) or ACC (Authorization to Drive Mopeds), which is more simplified, will be required;
• Restricted circulation: It remains prohibited to travel on cycle paths and cycle lanes, an infraction that will be monitored more closely.
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The regulation also facilitates the work of traffic authorities, who will be able to apprehend and fine anyone who does not comply with the rules.
Why the change?
The increase in unregistered mopeds and electric bicycles has generated safety and coexistence problems in traffic, especially in areas with a large flow of pedestrians and cyclists.
The aim of the new rules is to distinguish between different types of vehicles and ensure that only models that comply with the standards can travel on public roads.
Inspection will be gradual throughout 2025, with educational campaigns, before the punishment comes into force.
What doesn’t change
The new rules do not apply to electric bicycles with pedal assistance, nor to electric scooters and unicycles — the so-called self-propelled ones, which reach up to 32 km/h. For these, the current rules apply, which vary according to municipal regulations.
