Taxis and Other Comparable Vehicles

To drive a vehicle used to provide remunerated passenger transportation, you must hold both a licence and a permit.

1. A Class 5 driver's licence, or a higher class of licence, namely a licence to drive:
   • combinations of road vehicles (Class 1)
   • buses with a seating capacity of more than 24 passengers (Class 2)
   • trucksRoad vehicle with two axles and a net weight over 3,000 kg manufactured exclusively to transport goods or equipment to which it is permanently affixed or to transport this equipment or goods. (Class 3)
   • emergency vehicles (Class 4A)
   • minibuses and small buses with a seating capacity of 24 or fewer passengers (Class 4B)
2. An authorized driver's permit issued by the SAAQ.

To obtain an authorized driver's permit

You must:

• hold a Class 5 driver's licence or a higher class of licence and have at least 12 months of driving experience (excluding experience as a probationary licence holder)
• understand, speak and read French
• provide a certificate of no judicial record, which is a confirmation of a criminal record check, issued by a municipal police department or the Sûreté du Québec, and not by a private firm or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 
• have completed authorized driver training and passed the required test given by a recognized  training centre and provide proof that you have:
  • completed the training 
  • passed the test

For more information regarding training, contact one of the recognized training centres.

You must not:

• hold a licence bearing Condition I, X or Y
• hold a licence that is under penalty when you submit your application or that has been under penalty at any point during the past 12 months 

To find out the steps to follow to obtain an authorized driver’s permit, visit the Drivers Qualified to Provide Remunerated Passenger Transportation by Automobile page.

Under the Act respecting remunerated passenger transportation by automobile, if you are found to have offered remunerated passenger transportation by automobile without holding a driver’s licence of the appropriate licence class or without being an authorized driver (or a driver registered with a transportation system operator), a peace officer will immediately:

• suspend your driver’s licence or your right to obtain one for a period of seven days
• seizure and impoundment of the vehicle you were driving at the owner’s expense for a period of seven days

If you are convicted of such an offence, you are liable to a fine of $2,500.00 to $25,000.00.

In the case of a second offence, your driver’s licence will be suspended and the vehicle seized and impounded for 30 days. In addition, the minimum and maximum fines will be doubled.

Any further convictions will result in a 90-day licence suspension and vehicle impoundment period, and the minimum and maximum fines will be tripled.