Obtaining a Driver's Licence

Passenger Vehicles (Class 5)

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Before you can hold a licence to drive a passenger vehicle (automobile), you must obtain a learner's licence, pass the driving course, and then pass the SAAQ's knowledge and road tests.

A Class 5 licence authorizes its holder to drive

  • an automobileVehicle with 2 axles and whose net weight is under 4,500 kg.
  • a motor homeA motor vehicle permanently converted into living quarters., also known as a recreational vehicle (RV)
  • a tool vehicleA road vehicle, other than a vehicle mounted on a truck chassis, designed to perform a task and having a workstation integrated into the cab. A truck chassis is a frame fitted with the mechanical components found on a vehicle made for the transportation of passengers, freight or equipment.
  • a service vehicleA vehicle used to supply, repair or tow road vehicles.
  • a moped or motorized 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.
  • a tractorA tractor that is equipped with tires and is generally used for agricultural purposes, whether or not it is authorized for use on public roads. The tractor must belong to an individual or company that owns or leases a farm and whose principal occupation is farming, or that is a member of an association certified under the Farm Producers Act.
  • a 3-wheel T-Rex- or SlingshotA motorcycle-like vehicle equipped with seats that the occupants sit in instead of straddling and that has a structure that partially or completely encloses the occupants (what encloses the occupants must be more than simply the part of the vehicle in front of the driver and the seat backrest).-type vehicle 

1 Eligibility

To obtain a Class 5 licence, you must:

  • 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 are not a Canadian citizen

Call us to check whether you can obtain a driver’s licence, depending on your status in Canada. You must make an appointment by telephone before you begin the process and register for a driving course.

  • Montréal area: 514-954-7771
  • Elsewhere in Québec: 1-888-356-6616
1 Eligibility

2 Registering for a driving course

To obtain a licence to drive a passenger vehicle, you must:

To learn more, see the Driving Course: Automobile.

If you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

We pay for the services of certified sign-language interpreters for the theoretical parts of the driving course. 

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

Interpretation services mandated by the SAAQ:

2 Registering for a driving course

3 Obtaining a learner's licence

    • Costs

      $74.30 (valid 18 months, includes cost of photos)

Before obtaining a Class 5 learner's licence

You must: 

  • complete the 4 modules of Phase 1 of the driving course. Each module includes a 2-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 (Module5)

You may then go to one of our service outlets to have your file opened and be issued a learner's licence.

The learner's licence gives you access to the road network provided you are accompanied by a driving school instructor or 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..

See the Accompanying Rider’s Guide: Passenger Vehicle.

Opening the file

If this is your first licence application, you must present 2 official documents, including one with 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 the 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 with photo
  • 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 by another jurisdiction
If you were not born in Canada

At least one of the two documents must be:

  • a Canadian Citizenship Certificate with photo
  • a Canadian passport
  • an official Canadian Armed Forces identity card
  • other proof of known legal presence in Canada
  • Permanent Resident Card

The other document may be:

  • a health insurance card
  • a foreign driver’s licence

To obtain your learner's licence

You must follow the steps below:

Step 1 – Present the Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority (PDF, 123.4 ko) form, duly completed and signed by your father, mother or legal guardian, if you are under age 18.

Step 2 – Provide an attestation from the driving school confirming that you successfully completed the 4 modules of Phase 1 of the driving course  and passed the test administered at the driving school (Module5). If you have attended more than one driving school, you must provide the certificate obtained from each one.

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

Step 4 – Pay the applicable fee for the learner's licence.

Payment methods

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.

Payment methods

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.

3 Obtaining a learner's licence

4 Practical training

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 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.

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 accompanied by a person who has held a valid Class 5 driver's licence for at least two years and who is qualified to provide you with help and advice
  • Do not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
  • Always remember that you are subject to:
4 Practical training

5 Knowledge test

    • Costs

      $12.00

    • Time/Duration

      • Approximately 30 minutes

Before scheduling an appointment for the SAAQ knowledge test

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

To pass the knowledge test, you must prepare:

Contents of the test

You will take a test that covers:

  • the Highway Safety Code
  • signs and signals
  • behaviours and techniques applicable to driving a passenger vehicle (specialization)

Taking the knowledge test

You must schedule an appointment

Online

Driving

Using the automated telephone service

On the To Reach Us webpage, under the heading Appointment for a Driving Test – you will have to provide your learner's licence number

For individuals with special needs

Do you require special assistance to take the knowledge test? Do not hesitate to inform our staff so that the proper person may be notified.

If you are deaf or hard of hearing

The knowledge test has been adapted for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The test can be administered with the help of a sign-language interpreter, whose services are paid for by us, at the following service centres:

  • Gatineau service centre
  • Hamel service centre in Québec
  • Henri-Bourassa service centre in Montréal
  • Rimouski service centre
  • Rouyn-Noranda service centre
  • Saguenay service centre
  • Sherbrooke service centre

TDD/TTY:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30 a.m. to  4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Montréal area: 514-954-7763
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-565-7763

On the day of the test

You must:

Step 1 – Go to the service outlet with which you have scheduled an appointment to take the test

Step 2 – Present your learner's licence

Step 3 – Pay the applicable fees for the knowledge tests

Payment methods

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.

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 test

You must wait at least 28 days before you will be allowed to retake the knowledge test. You will have to schedule another appointment.

5 Knowledge test

6 Road test

    • Costs

      • Road Test: $30.00
      • Probationary Licence: $54.60 (covers 24 months)

    • Time/Duration

      Approximately 1 hour

The SAAQ's road test is the final step before obtaining your probationary licence.

Before you schedule an appointment for this test

You must:

  • have passed a driving course at a driving school recognized by the SAAQ
  • have held a Class 5 learner's licence for at least 12 months
  • have passed the knowledge test

Procedure for the road test

You must schedule an appointment.

Online

Driving

Using the automated telephone service

On the To Reach Us webpage, under the heading Appointment for a Driving Test – you will have to provide your learner's licence number

If you are hearing-impaired

The road test must be carried out using a vehicle equipped with a dual pedal system. We reimburse the cost of renting such a vehicle.

TDD/TTY:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Montréal area: 514-954-7763
Elsewhere in Québec: 1-800-565-7763

Cancelling the test

If you cannot make it to your test, we ask that you cancel the appointment at least 48 hours in advance, otherwise you will be charged a cancellation fee.

In case of poor weather, check to make sure your appointment has not been cancelled.

On the day of the test

You must:

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

AND

  • your learner's licence
  • your attestation of successful completion of a driving course (if you have attended more than one driving school, you must provide the certificate obtained from each one)
  • 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

Step 2 – Pay the applicable fees for:

  • the road test
  • the probationary licence (if you pass the test)

Payment methods

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.

Payment methods

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.

Vehicle used to take the road test

  • Note that 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 is not in good mechanical condition, the road test will not take place, and you will have to make another appointment. The examiner will check the vehicle’s mechanical components, including the windshield, side windows, rear window and rear-view and side mirrors. For a complete list of the mechanical components of the vehicle that will be checked, refer to page 14 of the Prospective Passenger Vehicle Driver (PDF, 732.4 ko)This file does not meet the Web accessibility standard. guide.
  • Regardless of the vehicle used, you will not be allowed to carry any passengers or pets.

The examiner will ask you to install a removable sign on the vehicle's roof bearing the words “Examen de conduite”, which we will provide.

If you rent an automobile

Bring the rental contract or receipt with you to your test.

Road test procedure

Before the test, the examiner will inform you about the test procedure. After the test, whether you pass or fail, the examiner will take the time to indicate your strong points and those that need some improvement.

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

If you fail the road test…

You must wait at least 28 days before you will be allowed to retake the road test. You will have to schedule another appointment.

To keep your probationary licence

You must:

  • have fewer than 4 demerit points on your driving record
  • abide by the zero-alcohol rule while driving (for more information, visit the Drinking and Driving: Impairment and Consequences page)
  • 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.
Months of driving experience 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:

  • 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 you are accompanied by someone who has held a driver's licence for at least 2 years, who is in a position to give you assistance and advice and who is seated in the front passenger's seat.

Obtaining the driver's licence

If you maintain a good driving record, you may obtain your Class 5 driver's licence after 2 years.

The probationary licence does not authorize its holder to act as an accompanying driver for a learner driver

To act as an accompanying driver, you must have held a valid driver's licence for at least 2 years.

6 Road test

Last update: January 25, 2022