Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence

To obtain a Class 5 licence, you must:

• be a Canadian citizen or authorized to stay in Canada for more than six months
• have your principal residence in Québec
• be at least 16 years of age
• have the consent of your father, mother or legal guardian, if you are under age 18

If you hold a driver's licence issued outside Québec

Visit the Driver's Licence Issued Outside Québec page to find out how to proceed.

To obtain a licence to drive a passenger vehicle:

• we recommend that you consult the Illness or Functional Impairment Checklist (PDF, 99.0 KB)⁠ ⁠ before registering for the driving course
• you must take the driving course at a school that is recognized by the SAAQ
  • You can register for the driving course before turning 16 in order to complete the theoretical component.

To learn more about the course, see the Automobile (Passenger Vehicle) page.

Deaf or hard of hearing persons

We pay for the services of certified sign-language interpreters for both the theoretical and practical (instructions before on-road outings and feedback after lessons) components of the course. 

To take advantage of this service, you can either contact us or contact a sign-language interpretation service provider under contract with us in order to have the cost of an interpreter authorized. The sign-language interpretation service provider must offer its services in the area in which the driving school is located. You must take your driving course at a driving school recognized by the SAAQ.

Interpretation service providers mandated by the SAAQ:

• Abitibi-Témiscamingue: Ressource pour personnes handicapées Abitibi-Témiscamingue/Nord-du-Québec⁠ ⁠⁠ ⁠(Québec Sign Language (QSL))
• Greater Québec, Eastern Québec, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord, Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec: Service régional d’interprétariat de l’Est du Québec⁠⁠ ⁠ (QSL)
• Eastern Townships: Service d’interprétation pour personnes sourdes de l’Estrie⁠ ⁠ (QSL)
• Lanaudière and Laurentides: Service d’interprétation visuelle et tactile⁠ ⁠⁠ (QSL)
• Montréal, Laval and Montérégie:
  • Service d’interprétation visuelle et tactile⁠ ⁠ (QSL)
  • Metropolitan Montreal Deaf Community Center⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ (American Sign Language (ASL))
• Outaouais: Interprétation signes et paroles⁠ ⁠⁠ (QSL)

Before obtaining a Class 5 learner's licence

You must: 

• complete the four modules of Phase 1 of the driving course

  Each module includes a two-hour theory component given in the classroom and a self-study component available in the Driving Course section of our website.

• pass the knowledge test given by your driving school (Module 5)

A learner's licence gives you access to the road network, provided a driving school instructor or an accompanying driverPerson who has held for at least 2 years a valid Québec licence of an appropriate class and who is able to provide the learner with help and advice. is in the passenger seat next to you.

See the Accompanying Driver’s Guide (PDF, 715.8 KB)⁠ ⁠.

Make an appointment at an SAAQ service centre

After passing the test at the driving school, you must make an appointment at an SAAQ service centre.

Here are the steps to follow:

• Go to the Make an Appointment page. In the “Service categories” drop-down menu, select “Driver’s licence.”
• In the “Services” drop-down menu, select “Obtaining a learner’s licence – With Canadian citizenship” or “Obtaining a learner’s licence – Without Canadian citizenship” and then enter your postal code, street name or municipality in the next section. Click on “Search.” 
• Choose a service outlet from among those listed and click on the “Make an appointment” button for that service outlet.
• In the booking tool, select the service you want.
• Select a date and time (dates with available time slots are in a darker font) and then enter your contact

Opening your file

If this is your first licence application, you must present two official documents, including one with a photo.

Documents you must present in order to obtain a driver's licence for the first time

If you were born in Canada

At least one of the two documents must be:

• the original copy of your birth certificate issued by the Directeur de l’état civil du Québec after January 1, 1994, or by the government body responsible for vital statistics in another Canadian jurisdiction (note that in the case of Ontario, the accepted documents are the short form birth certificate or the original certified copy of birth registration⁠ ⁠, which includes an official number and is issued by the Office of the Registrar General of Ontario)
• a Canadian citizenship certificate
• a Canadian passport
• an official Canadian Armed Forces identity card
• a Certificate of Indian Status

The other document may be:

• a Health Insurance Card
• a driver’s licence issued outside Québec

If you were not born in Canada

At least one of the two documents must be:

• a Canadian citizenship certificate
• a Canadian passport
• a passport from another country, or a copy of your passport that has been certified as a true and authentic copy of the original by the Canada Border Services Agency and is accompanied by a document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada proving your known legal status in Canada
• an official Canadian Armed Forces identity card
• a permanent resident card

The other document may be:

• a Health Insurance Card
• a driver's licence issued outside Québec

To obtain your learner's licence

You must follow the steps below:

Step 1 – Present the Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority (PDF, 128.7 KB)⁠ form, duly completed and signed by your father, mother or legal guardian, if you are under age 18.

Step 2 – Provide the original attestation with the driving school’s seal confirming that you successfully completed the four modules of Phase 1 of the driving course and passed the test administered by the driving school (Module 5). If you have attended more than one driving school, you must provide the attestation obtained from each one.

Step 3 – Pass the vision test and fill out the Declaration of Illness or Impairment.

Step 4 – Pay the learner's licence fee.

Payment options

At our service outlets, we accept payment:

• in cash
• by debit card (not available at 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.

With your learner's licence, you may get behind the wheel, provided you are accompanied by an instructor from a driving school recognized by the SAAQ or an accompanying driver.Person who has held for at least 2 years a valid Québec licence of an appropriate class and who is able to provide the learner with help and advice. See the Accompanying Driver's Guide (PDF, 715.8 KB)⁠.

You should take advantage of this opportunity to accumulate as many hours of driving as possible to gain confidence and make regular progress.

Obligations of learner's licence holders

• Always drive with someone who has a valid Québec Class 5 licence and at least two years of experience as a fully licensed driver who can provide you with help and advice
• Do not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
• Always remember that you are subject to:
  • the four-demerit-point bracket
  • the zero-alcohol rule (for more information, visit the Drinking and Driving: Impairment and Consequences page)

Before scheduling an appointment for the SAAQ knowledge test

You must have held a learner's licence for at least 10 months.

Deaf or hard of hearing persons

The knowledge test can be administered with the help of a sign language interpreter, at no extra cost, at service centres in Gatineau, Rimouski, Rouyn-Noranda, Saguenay and Sherbrooke, as well as the Hamel service centre in Québec and the Henri-Bourassa service centre in Montréal.

You can also take your knowledge test using interpretation services provided by videoconference at any other service centre where knowledge tests are administered. If you wish to use this service, please contact our call centre.

For more information: Sign-Language Services 

Special needs

If you have special needs and require accommodations to take the knowledge test, please contact our call centre so that the proper person may be notified.

Preparing for the test

1. Reference guides:
   • Driver’s Handbook (PDF, 22.9 MB)⁠ ⁠ (Driver’s Handbook with Sign Language Interpretation)⁠ ⁠
   • Driving a Passenger Vehicle (PDF, 19.0 MB)⁠ ⁠(Driving a Passenger Vehicle with Sign Language Interpretation)⁠ ⁠
   • Guide to Knowledge Test Illustrations (PDF, 5.6 MB)⁠ ⁠
2. Companion document:
   • Road Access Binder, available in French and English from driving schools recognized by the SAAQ
3. Modules, exercises and quiz:
   • passenger vehicle driving course modules and exercises (theoretical component)
   • Road Safety Quiz⁠ ⁠

Watch this video on preparing for the knowledge test⁠⁠ ⁠.

Passing mark

To pass the knowledge test, you must obtain a score of 75% on each of the three sections. If you fail the test, you must wait at least 28 days before you will be allowed to retake the test. You will only have to retake the sections of the test that you failed. Fees will apply each time you retake the test.

Contents of the test

The knowledge test is based on the Road Safety Education Program (RSEP) and divided into three parts:

• the Highway Safety Code
• road signs, pavement markings and traffic signals
• behaviours and techniques applicable to driving a passenger vehicle (specialization)

The knowledge test is comprised entirely of multiple-choice questions. To assist with reading, French- and English-language audio recordings of the questions and their possible answers are available.

Many test questions look like this:

Here are some helpful tips on answering this type of question:

1. Take the time to carefully read the question.
2. Expand the illustration if needed by clicking on it. It will then fill the entire screen.
3. Take the time to carefully analyze the illustration to decode all the information it contains:
   • look closely at what each vehicle is doing and identify any potential traffic offences based on what you know about traffic rules and signals, pavement markings, road signs and road-sharing principles;
   • identify which vehicles are being referred to in each statement (each vehicle is assigned its own number).
4. Select your answer (A, B, C or D).

On the day of the test

Before the test

• Go to the service outlet that you selected when you made your appointment.
• Present your learner's licence or a piece of photo identification.
• Pay the test fee.

Payment options:

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

Payment by credit card is not accepted.

Duration

The knowledge test takes between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.

Deaf or hard of hearing persons

You must use a vehicle equipped with a dual pedal system for your road test. We reimburse the cost of renting such a vehicle.

The road test can be administered with the help of a sign language interpreter at any service centre where road tests are administered (instructions before the test and feedback afterwards). We reimburse the fees for this service, which can be provided by the interpreter on site or online (via videoconference). If you wish to use in this service, please contact our call centre.

Preparing for the test

The road test is used to evaluate your driving ability to ensure you become a safe, cooperative and responsible driver.

Main Driving Skills Assessed
Independent driving	Analyzing the situation (observe) Making the right decision (evaluate) Performing the manoeuvre at the right time (act)
Performing visual checks	Checking over your shoulder when turning and changing lanes Scanning your surroundings
Controlling the vehicle	Controlling your vehicle and speed Keeping the vehicle properly positioned within the lane Maintaining safety margins all around your vehicle
Driving with confidence and adopting courteous driving	Observing the speed limit Using your right-of-way
Obeying traffic rules	Stopping at a red light or stop sign Respecting the posted speed limit Respecting the right-of-way

Road test vehicle

The SAAQ does not provide any vehicles for road tests. You must report to your test with a vehicle that is safe and in good mechanical condition. If the inspection reveals that the vehicle does not meet applicable standards, you will not be allowed to take the road test and will have to make another appointment. 

The examiner will check:

• the vehicle’s mechanical componentsIncluding the windshield, side windows, turn-signal lights, brake lights, rearview mirrors, etc., including:
  • the windshield, side windows and rear window
  • the turn signal lights, brake lights and headlights
  • the rear-view and side mirrors
  • the windshield wipers
  • the brakes, including the parking brake
  • the horn
  • the muffler
  • the speedometer
  • the headrests
  • the seat belts
  • the tires

Important rules to remember:

• Passengers and pets are prohibited from being on board the vehicle during the test.
• In the case of a rental vehicle, the rental contract or receipt must be presented.
• A removable sign provided by the SAAQ that reads “Examen de conduite” will be installed on the vehicle.

On the day of the test

Passing mark
To pass the road test, you must obtain a score of 75%. 

If you fail the test, you must wait at least 28 days before you will be allowed to retake the test. You will have to schedule another appointment and pay the required fee.

You may automatically fail the test if you make a mistake like failing to stop at a red light or stop sign, or driving over the posted speed limit or against traffic. 

On the day of the test

Before the test

• Go to the service outlet that you selected when you made your appointment.
• Present your learner's licence, the valid and signed registration certificate for the vehicle you will be using for the test, a paper copy of your proof of liability insurance, and your driving course attestationIf you have attended more than one driving school, you must provide the certificate obtained from each one. (if you attended more than one driving school, you must present the attestation obtained from each one).
• Pay the test fee.

Payment options:

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

Payment by credit card is not accepted. 

During the test

The road test takes approximately 30 minutes to complete (the whole appointment should take about one hour). 

Before the test, the examiner will inform you about the test procedure. 

After the test

Regardless of your test results, the examiner will take the time to indicate your strong points and those that need some improvement.

If you pass the road test, you will have to pay the required probationary licence fee. You should bring someone to your road test who will be able to drive the vehicle afterward if you fail the test.

Keeping your probationary licence

To remained authorized to drive, you must:

• have fewer than four demerit points
• abide by the zero-alcohol rule when driving
• comply with the rule regarding the number of passengers aged 19 or younger you are allowed to carry between midnight and 5 a.m., if you are 19 years of age or younger and have held a probationary licence for less than 12 months

Number of months of driving with a probationary licence	Number of passengers 19 years of age or younger
6 months or less	1
More than 6 months	3

Regardless of the number of months you have driven with a probationary licence, members of your immediate family are not taken into account in the authorized number of passengers aged 19 or younger.

The following people are considered immediate family members:

• your married, civil union or de facto spouse
• your children and your spouse's children
• your brothers and sisters
• any other child of your father or mother or of either's spouse

Restrictions on the number of passengers aged 19 or younger do not apply if someone who has held a full driver's licence for at least two years is seated in the passenger's seat beside you. This person should be able to give you assistance and good driving advice.

Obtaining a driver's licence

If you maintain a good driving record, you may obtain your full Class 5 driver's licence after two years.

Quick reference guide

Here is an illustrated guide (PDF, 469.6 KB)⁠ ⁠ to obtaining a Class 5 driver’s licence. 

Tutorials

This video shows how to obtain a learner's licence.

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This video shows how to make an appointment for a knowledge or road test via SAAQclic.