Reacquiring a Driver's Licence

Medical reason

Change

To reacquire your driver's licence that was suspended for a medical reason, you must prove that your state of health allows you to drive again.

1 What you should know

Several health problems can hinder a person's ability to drive safely. Here are a few examples:

Through a medical examination, a health care professional can determine whether a health problem hinders your ability to drive a vehicle. He or she will indicate the diagnosis in a medical report, which you must then send to us.

Once we have analyzed the report and your driving record, we will notify you in writing of our decision whether to suspend your licence or a class of licence.

What is a driver’s licence suspension?

A driver’s licence suspension means your licence is no longer valid for the length of the suspension period.

If you drive with a suspended licence, you face:

  • a fine of $300 to $600, in addition to legal and administrative costs
  • Seizure and impoundment of the vehicle you are driving for 30 days. The vehicle will be towed and impounded at the owner’s expense
1 What you should know

2 Procedure to reacquire a driver's licence

    • Documents to provide

      • Application for review
      • Favourable report from the attending physician

Step 1 – Decide whether you should apply for a review of a decision

When you apply for a review, you must be able to demonstrate, by providing a favourable report from a physician, that new facts render you able to drive safely. Such facts may be the result of:

  • an improvement in your state of health
  • surgery
  • medical treatment
  • long-term remission
  • having a prosthesis installed
  • acquiring new skills

Step 2 – Prepare your application for review

Your application for review must be filed in writing and include:

  • a favourable report from a physician
  • any other documents you consider relevant

Step 3 – Mail your application for review

Service de la revision
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
333, boulevard Jean-Lesage
Case postale 19500, succursale Terminus
Québec (Québec)  G1K 8J5

Step 4 – Await our decision

After analyzing your application for review, we will either authorize you to drive or uphold the suspension of your driver’s licence.

If our decision is favourable

You will be able to drive again without having to go to one of our service outlets, unless:

  • your driver’s licence has expired
  • we must add a condition or a new class to your licence

If your licence has been expired for 3 years or more, you must pass the proficiency examinationsProficiency examinations allow the SAAQ to check the knowledge and skills of drivers. They include both knowledge and road tests and differ based on the class of driver's licence. They are almost always mandatory when an individual wants to obtain a licence for the first time. (knowledge and road tests) to obtain the desired licence class .

If our decision is unfavourable

You can contest the decision before the Administrative Tribunal of Québec (TAQ) by filing a proceeding within 60 days of the date of our decision.

2 Procedure to reacquire a driver's licence

Last update: February 25, 2016