Frequently Asked Questions
Suspension of the Progress Driving School (L523)
On August 5, 2026, the SAAQ temporarily suspended the certificate of recognition for delivering the Class 5 Road Safety Education Program for Progress Driving School (L523) located in Montréal.
In this situation, students can choose to wait until the end of the suspension period to continue their course at the same school, or take steps with the driving school to obtain a course attestation and a reimbursement of any amounts they may be owed under their contract with the school.
Do you have questions about driving schools or driving courses? Find the answers here!
Driving school recognized by the saaq, but temporarily suspended
As long as the school is suspended, it cannot:
- give driving lessons
- accept new students
However, its offices remain open so that it can:
- issue attestations for the driving lessons taken
- reimburse lessons that have been paid for but not taken (if applicable) to students who would like to continue the course in another school.
Driving school closed or no longer recognized by the SAAQ
A school that closes or that is no longer recognized by the SAAQ (revocation) ceases its activities. As a result, it can no longer give driving lessons for purposes of obtaining a driver’s licence.
If you were unable to obtain a driving course attestation before the school closed or if you have lost the attestation that was given to you, the SAAQ can issue a duplicate of a lost or missing attestation. Here are the steps to follow:
- Fill out and sign one of the forms below, in accordance with the licence class:
Request To Be Issued a Duplicate of a Lost or Missing Attestation – Class 5 (PDF, 124.8 KB)
Request To Be Issued a Duplicate of a Lost or Missing Attestation – Class 6 (PDF, 124.2 KB)
- Send us the duly signed and completed form along with the required documents.
The SAAQ will analyze your file and send you a course attestation that corresponds to the level you had reached when the school closed, as applicable. Driving schools are required to keep student files for seven years after service contracts end. Student files can be destroyed after the seven-year period in compliance with applicable laws and the SAAQ’s requirements (conditions for recognition).
Driving modules, sessions or courses completed before December 31, 2021
Between January 15, 2010 and December 31, 2021, record retention requirements were different and driving schools only had to keep student files for a five-year period after service contracts ended.
Like all private enterprises, driving schools are subject to the Act respecting the protection of personal information in the private sector, and are responsible for protecting the personal information they have on file as part of their operations.
If the school closes its doors during the contract term, you can refer to the website of the Office de la protection du consommateur for information on the reimbursement procedure: Courses – Business Closure (gouv.qc.ca)
Registering for a driving course
Visit the Penalty for Absence page on the Office de la protection du consommateur website.
You must purchase an unused and up-to-date course manual (also called the Road Access Binder in some schools) in a driving school recognized by the SAAQ.
To learn more about the contract for the purchase of supplies, visit the Knowing Where to Buy the Necessary Equipment page on the Office de la protection du consommateur website.
Make sure that you receive and keep the course attestation issued by the school after your cancellation. Otherwise, you will have to redo the part of the course that you have already taken.
To learn how to cancel your registration, visit the Cancelling a Course Registration on the Office de la protection du consommateur website.
Visit the Knowing the Cancellation Terms on the Office de la protection du consommateur website.
For any other question about the service contract and related fees, visit the website of the Office de la protection du consommateur .
Last update: July 24, 2026