The Government of São Paulo is restructuring the model for the provision of vehicle removal, impoundment, and restitution services for vehicles seized due to traffic violations by Detran and DER. The proposal, which went through a public consultation and eight public hearings to gather suggestions for improvement, grants management of these services to the private sector, focusing on standardization, statewide coverage, higher quality and transparency — in addition to fairer and more predictable fees for citizens.
Around 50 companies have expressed interest in the proposal. Of these, 11 have already held meetings for clarifications, details, and suggestions.
Currently, services are provided through a fragmented network of impound lots under agreements with Detran and DER, leading to major disparities in costs and a lack of uniformity in procedures. In some cases, fees can vary by as much as 100%, depending on the location or type of road.
The new model sets fixed price ranges based on technical studies and establishes clear rules. Fees will only be charged for business days in cases where the vehicle is retrieved within seven days, effectively making the service more affordable for citizens, especially when the vehicle is recovered quickly.
In practical terms, a motorcycle towed within 30 km on an urban road, with up to seven days of impoundment, would see costs reduced from R$ 692.26 to R$ 620.00. If towed on a highway, the current fee of R$ 1,088.96 would also fall to R$ 620.00 under the new model.
For trucks impounded on a highway over the same distance, the fee could drop from R$ 2,705.05 to R$ 1,450.00 — a 47% reduction. For light vehicles, the proposal sets the fee at R$ 750.00, below the average currently charged on highways.
In addition to economic benefits, the model — which foresees around R$ 358 million in investments over 26 years — brings operational innovations. It establishes performance targets, 24-hour statewide service, GPS tracking, photographic records, and digital channels for requesting and monitoring services. The concessionaires — up to seven across the state — will be required to provide coverage in previously underserved regions, with monitoring centers, call centers, and integrated electronic platforms.
As a result, citizens gain predictability, standardized customer service, and transparent pricing — while society as a whole benefits from services that support traffic enforcement, road safety, and environmental control. The proposal was open for suggestions for one month and these contributions are now under review before the publication of the public tender, scheduled to take place in 2025.