Obtaining a Driver's Licence

Emergency Vehicles (Class 4A)

Change

To obtain a Class 4A licence to drive an emergency vehicle, you must first hold a valid Class 5 licence and pass a knowledge test.

With this licence, you can drive an emergency vehicle, namely:

  • an ambulance
  • a police car
  • a fire department vehicle
  • any other road vehicle that satisfies the criteria established by regulation and is recognized as an emergency vehicle by the SAAQ

This licence also authorizes you to drive:

  • a bus or a minibus with a seating capacity of 24 or fewer passengers (Class 4B)
  • an automobileVehicle with 2 axles and whose net weight is under 4,500 kg. (Class 5)
  • a moped or scooterA 2- or 3-wheel passenger vehicle equipped with an electric motor or a gasoline-powered engine with a cylinder capacity of no more than 50 cc and an automatic transmission. (Class 6D)
  • a farm tractor (Class 8)

If you hold a Class 1, 2 or 3 driver's licence, you may also drive Class 4A vehicles.

1 Eligibility

Driving experience required

  • You must hold a Class 5 probationary licence and have passed an emergency vehicle driving course recognized by the SAAQ

  • OR

  • Hold a Class 5 driver's licence (automobile)
1 Eligibility

2 Medical examination and vision test

The first step in obtaining a Class 4A driver's licence is to have your eyesight tested and provide us with a medical examination report so that we can ensure that your state of health meets the requirements set out in the Regulation respecting the health of drivers. Two options are available:

  • Download the Medical Examination Report (PDF, 280.1 ko)
    • Write “Adding a class” at the top of the form for your application to be processed within the appropriate timeframe.
    • Have the form filled out by a physician or a specialized nurse practitioner and ensure that section 1 – Vision disorders is duly completed. Otherwise, you will have to have your eyesight tested by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist or in one of our service outlets.
  • Go to one of our service outlets to undergo a vision test and obtain the Medical Examination Report form. You must have the form filled out by a physician or a specialized nurse practitioner.

In both cases, you must return the form by mail or bring it to one of our service outlets. After we have analyzed the report, we will inform you of our decision regarding your eligibility to obtain a Class 4A licence.

2 Medical examination and vision test

3 Preparing for the knowledge test

The knowledge test consists of 30 questions covering specialized driving techniques.

To help you prepare for the test

We recommend that you study the following guides:

They are available for purchase from Publications du Québec or at bookstores.

3 Preparing for the knowledge test

4 Knowledge test

    • Costs

      • Knowledge Test: $12.40
      • Adding a Class to Your Licence: $17.10

    • Time/Duration

      • Approximately 1 hour

Passing the knowledge test allows you to obtain a Class 4A driver's licence or probationary licence.

Taking the test

To make, modify, cancel or check a knowledge test, you must log in to SAAQclic. For more information about creating your Government Authentication Service account and logging in to SAAQclic, .

Please note that from now on you must use SAAQclic to make an appointment for a knowledge or road test.

On the day of the test

Step 1 – Go to the service outlet with which you scheduled your appointment for the test, and bring:

  • your driver’s licence

Step 2 – Pay the fees for:

  • the knowledge test: $12.40
  • the addition of a class to your driver’s licence: $17.10

Payment options

At our service outlets, we accept payment:

  • in cash
  • by Interac (debit card)—not available in some service outlets
  • by cheque or money order

Payment by credit card is not accepted.

Passing mark

You must correctly answer at least 22 of the 30 questions.

If you cheat on the knowledge test

The only material you are allowed to use during the test is a dictionary that does not contain any illustrations, and the material provided by the SAAQ. Any other documents and all electronic devices are prohibited during the test (“cheat sheets,” notes, cell phones, smart watches, etc.). Having any prohibited material or electronic devices with you at the test, regardless of whether or not you actually use them, or trying in any way to contact someone or obtain outside assistance, will be considered cheating. Anyone found cheating will automatically fail all sections of the test and will have to wait at least 56 days before being allowed to take the test again. If it’s not the first time that person has been caught cheating, that person will have to wait at least 90 days.

If you fail the knowledge test

You must wait at least 7 days before being allowed to take the test again. You will have to make another appointment and pay the test fees again.

Emergency vehicles and Road Safety

Emergency vehicle drivers are required to master defensive driving methods and techniques used in emergency situations, but they must also obey the Highway Safety Code. For your safety and the safety of others, read our advice in the Automobiles section.

4 Knowledge test

Last update: May 13, 2022