Driving Outside of Québec

Renewing your driver’s licence during your stay outside Québec

You can renew your driver’s licence before you leave for your temporary stay outside Québec, or while you are away.

Before leaving Québec

You can renew your driver's licence before leaving for your temporary stay outside of Québec if the licence will expire in less than 3 months. Simply go in person to one of our service outlets. This will ensure that the SAAQ does not send you a plastic licence without a photo or signature.

You can also pay for your driver's licence anytime within the 3 month period prior to the payment due date. Otherwise, a payment notice will be mailed to your address in Québec.

Payment options

At our service outlets, we accept payment:

  • in cash
  • by Interac (debit card)—not available in some service outlets
  • by one or more pre-authorized debits (a cheque specimen must be provided)
  • by cheque or money order

Payment by credit card is not accepted.

During a stay outside of Québec

To renew your plastic driver's licence and maintain your driving privilege, you must send the SAAQ a signed request 3 months before the payment due date. You may then be issued a licence without a photo or signature. You can apply by mail or by fax.

By mail

Division du traitement des avis, du permis de conduire et de l’immatriculation
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
333, boulevard Jean-Lesage
Case postale 19600, succursale Terminus
Québec (Québec) G1K 8J6

By fax

Québec area: 418-644-1497
Elsewhere (Québec, Canada, United States), toll-free: 1-855-465-7227

Your request must contain the following information:

  • The subject of the request
  • Your last name and first name
  • Your date of birth
  • Your driver's licence number
  • Your home address in Québec (Quebecers who are living temporarily outside of Québec are required to have and provide us with a valid home address in Québec)
  • Your address outside of Québec
  • The reason for your stay outside of Québec
  • The length of your stay outside of Québec
  • A telephone number where you can be reached
  • Your signature

Your licence will be issued as soon as we receive the required information and your payment (cheque or money order) by mail. Find out how much it costs to get a driver's licence without photo or signature (these fees are added to the cost of renewing your licence).

A plastic licence without a photo or signature can be issued for a maximum period of one year. This licence will therefore be valid until the next renewal date. A licence without photo or signature is a special measure that allows you to drive until you return to Québec.

If you would like to receive your driver's licence by express mail or courier, please mention it in your request and provide a credit card number, the card verification number (CVC) (3- or 4-digit security code located on the back of your credit card) and the credit card’s expiry date. We accept MasterCard, VISA and American Express cards. Please note, however, that credit cards can only be used to cover postal or courier costs.

Last update: May 13, 2022