Obtaining a Driver's Licence

Combination of Road Vehicles (Class 1)

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To obtain a Class 1 driver's licence to be authorized to drive a combination of road vehicles, you must have held a valid Class 5 driver's licence for at least 2 or 3 years, depending on the situation, have a good driving record, be in good health, and pass a knowledge test and 2 road tests.

A Class 1 licence authorizes its holder to drive a combination of road vehicles consisting of:

  • a road tractorA motor vehicle that has no cargo space and that is permanently equipped with a fifth wheel. with 2 axlesA crosspiece, located under a vehicle, to which are attached the wheels that support the vehicle. and a net weightWeight of the vehicle and the equipment permanently attached to it, excluding the weight of its load. of 4,500 kg or more, hauling one or more trailers or semi-trailers
  • a road tractor with three axles or more hauling one or more trailers or semi-trailers
  • a truckRoad 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. covered by Class 3 hauling a trailer or semi-trailer whose net weight is 4,500 kg or more and which is only used to transport equipment, tools or furnishings as part of its permanent equipment
  • a truck covered by Class 3 hauling any trailer or semi-trailer other than those described above and whose net weight is 2,000 kg or more

A Class 1 licence also authorizes its holder to drive all other types of road vehicles, except for motorcycles (Class 6).

F and M endorsements

While you are taking the steps to obtain a Class 1 licence, you can go through the procedure to obtain:

  • the F endorsement, which attests to the ability to drive a heavy vehicleVehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, as indicated on the compliance label. equipped with an air brake system
  • the M endorsement, which attests to the ability to drive a heavy vehicleVehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, as indicated on the compliance label. equipped with a manual (standard) transmission

1 Eligibility

Driving record

  • You must have fewer than 4 demerit points entered in your record.
  • Your driver's licence must not have been suspended or revoked in the previous 2 years as a result of an accumulation of demerit points or a driving-related Criminal Code offence.

Driving experience

  • You must have 36 months of experience as a holder of a Class 5 (automobile) driver's licence or probationary licence
  • OR
  • You must have 24 months of experience as a holder of a Class 5 (automobile) driver's licence or probationary licence if you have:
    • completed training leading to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) in truck transportation issued by the Ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur 
    • OR
    • completed 300 hours of driving a Class 1 vehicle on public roads, including at least 40 hours of driving with a driving school 

Driving schools that offer the DEP in truck transportation

Centre de formation en transport de Charlesbourg (website in French only)

700, rue de l'Argon
Québec (Québec)  G2N 2G5
Telephone: 418-634-5580

Centre de formation en transport routier de Saint-Jérôme (website in French only)

17000, rue Aubin
Mirabel (Québec)  J7J 1B1
Telephone: 450-435-0167
Toll free: 1-877-435-0167

École du routier G.C. inc. (website in French only)

2220, rue Louis-Allyson
Trois-Rivières (Québec)  G8Z 4P3
Telephone: 819-379-9209

École du routier R.C. inc. (website in French only)

2150, rue André-C.-Hamel
Drummondville (Québec)  J2C 8B1
Telephone: 1-888-472-9209

École du routier professionnel du Québec (1996) inc. (website in French only)

12305, boulevard Métropolitain Est
Montréal (Québec)  H1B 5R3
Telephone: 514-640-1666

Extra centre de formation (website in French only)

1263, rue Volta
Boucherville (Québec)  J4B 7M7
Telephone: 450-641-2626

If your driving school does not offer the DEP

The training must include at least 40 hours of driving given by a heavy vehicle driving school and a professional internship for the number of hours needed to complete the required 300 hours of driving on public roads.

1 Eligibility

2 Medical examination and vision test

The first step in obtaining a Class 1 learner'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 Report on a Person's State of Health - Driver's Licence (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 of the form is duly completed. Otherwise, you will have to have your eyesight tested by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist or at one of our service outlets.
  • Go to one of our service outlets to undergo a vision test and obtain the Report on a Person's State of Health - Driver's Licence form. You must have the form filled out by a physician or a specialized nurse practitioner. 

In both cases, you must return the form via SAAQclic, 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 1 licence.

2 Medical examination and vision test

3 Preparing for the knowledge and road tests

To obtain a Class 1 driver's licence, you must have the required theoretical and practical knowledge.

To prepare for the tests

We recommend that you study the following publications:

They are available for purchase from Publications du Québec and in bookstores.

3 Preparing for the knowledge and road tests

4 Knowledge test and obtaining the learner's licence

    • Costs

      • Knowledge test: $12.40
      • Learner’s licence: $77.85 (18 months)

    • Delivery time frame

      • Approximately 1 hour

    • Documents to provide

      • Driver’s licence

Passing the knowledge test allows you to obtain a Class 1 learner's licence. This licence authorizes you to drive on the road with an accompanying driverPerson who has held for at least 2 years a valid licence of an appropriate class and who is able to provide the learner with help and advice..

This test assesses:

  • your understanding of traffic rules and the skills required to handle a heavy vehicle
  • your knowledge of circle check standards
  • your knowledge of the standards for hours of driving and off-duty time
  • your knowledge of safe behaviours to adopt 

Safe Driving Behaviours to Adopt Every Day

Distractions, blind spots, driver fatigue or failure to wear a seat belt are some examples of hazards that you may experience when driving a heavy vehicle. All these subjects and more are discussed in the Heavy Vehicles section.

Taking the Knowledge Test

Please note that from now on knowledge and road test appointments are made on SAAQclic.

This means that if you wish to make, modify, cancel or check an appointment for a knowledge test, you must log in to SAAQclic. For more information about creating your Government Authentication Service account, please refer to the section on SAAQclic in our FAQ.

If you want to obtain the F endorsement…

  • You may register at the same time for the knowledge test for the F endorsement—driving vehicles equipped with an air brake system.
  • If you do not register for both these tests at the same time: 
    • you will have to schedule another appointment to take the F endorsement test before you take the road tests.
    • additional fees will apply.
To register:

1-800-361-7620

On the day of the test

Step 1 – Go to the service outlet where 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 learner’s licence: $77.85 (valid for 18 months), if you pass the test

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

The passing mark is 75%.

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 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.

4 Knowledge test and obtaining the learner's licence

5 On-road learning period

Once you have obtained your learner’s licence, you will have to practise your skills to master:

  • the circle check
  • driving manoeuvres
  • behaviours to adopt in certain driving situations

Mandatory minimum on-road learning period

To register for the road tests, you must have held a Class 1 learner’s licence for at least:

  • 3 months
  • OR
  • 1 month, if you meet any of the following requirements:
    • you are registered in the truck driving training program which leads to the Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) issued by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur and have successfully completed all mandatory sections of the program required to drive on the road without an accompanying rider
    • you are 25 years of age or older
    • you have accumulated 5 years of experience as a holder of a Class 5 (automobile) licence
    • you hold a Class 2 or 3 driver’s licence

Practical experience with an accompanying rider

When you practise on the road, you must always have an accompanying riderPerson who has held for at least 2 years a valid licence of an appropriate class and who is able to provide the learner with help and advice. with you.

If the vehicle is equipped with an air brake system—F endorsement—or a manual transmission—M endorsement, your accompanying rider’s driver’s licence must include these endorsements.

Given that driving a heavy vehicle is a complex task, you should drive as often as possible, on different roads, both day and night, and in a variety of weather conditions.

Importance of the circle check

Before getting behind the wheel, drivers must make sure that a circle check of their vehicle was completed within the previous 24 hours. If this is not the case, a new circle check must be performed. Through practice, you will develop an efficient inspection technique that will allow you to check the vehicle’s compliance and increase road safety.

Other requirements

You must also comply with the other obligations of heavy vehicle drivers, such as load securement standards and the hours of driving and off-duty time.

Driver Fatigue

Abiding by the hours of driving and off-duty time reduces the risk of driver fatigue. Your lifestyle also plays a major role. The North American Fatigue Management Program can provide valuable assistance.

5 On-road learning period

6 Road tests: circle check test and road test

    • Costs

      • Circle Check Test: $12.40
      • Road Test: $61.75
      • Adding a Class to a Driver’s Licence: $17.10 (including photo fee)

    • Delivery time frame

      • Circle Check Test: 20 minutes
      • Road Test: Approximately 1 hour

    • Documents to provide

      • Learner's licence with photo
      • Original copy of the valid and signed registration certificate
      • Proof of liability insurance for the vehicle you will use for the tests

Once you have completed the practical learning period, you can register for the 2 road tests.

Please note that using a portable electronic device (phone, watch, etc.) to record images during the circle check test or heavy vehicle road test is prohibited. If you fail to respect this rule, you will immediately fail the test.

Circle check test

This test covers the mechanical components that all drivers must inspect when carrying out a circle check before using a heavy vehicle.

During the 20-minute test, you must describe everything you are doing, as well as the defects you are looking for, to your examiner. You must carry out your inspection safely and efficiently.

The heavy vehicle road test assesses:

  • your driving skills in regard to commonly executed manoeuvres
  • your observance of traffic rules and use of recognized driving techniques
  • your driving behaviour
  • your ability to execute the double-clutch technique, if you are driving a vehicle with a manual transmission—M endorsement

Obtaining the F and M endorsements

If you want to drive a heavy vehicle equipped with an air brake system—F endorsement—or a manual transmission—M endorsement, you must pass the road tests with a vehicle that is equipped accordingly.

Obtaining the T endorsement

To obtain the T endorsement, which authorizes you to drive a road train longer than 25 metres requiring a special travel permit, you must:

  • have held a Class 1 driver’s licence for at least 5 years
  • successfully complete a 2-day course at a transportation training centre and bring your certificate to an SAAQ service centre. The course is given at the following centres:

Taking the tests

Vehicle used for the road tests

You must report to the road tests with a vehicle (or combination of vehicles) that:

  • is a Class 1 vehicle fitted with the equipment that corresponds to the endorsements you would like to obtain:
    • air brake system (F endorsement)
    • manual transmission (M endorsement)
  • is free of any major mechanical defects
  • bears a valid inspection sticker

During the test, you will not be allowed to:

  • carry any passengers
  • transport any dangerous substances
If the vehicle fails to meet our requirements

You will not be allowed to take the tests.

If you cannot make it to the tests…

You must cancel at least 48 hours in advance, or you will be charged a $24.70 fee.

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 circle check test: $12.40
  • the road test: $61.75
  • the addition of a class to your driver’s licence: $17.10, including the photo

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 marks

The passing marks are:

  • 75% for each road test
  • 75% for both the F and M endorsement tests

If you fail any of the tests

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.

If you only have to retake the heavy vehicle road test

You will be required to have carried out a circle check before reporting to your test.

You will be asked to provide the circle check report for the current day.

Taking the road test

To make, modify, cancel or check a road test, you must log in to SAAQclic. For more information about creating your Government Authentication Service account and logging in to SAAQclic, please refer to the section of the FAQ that deals with SAAQclic.

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

6 Road tests: circle check test and road test

Last update: May 12, 2022