If your driver's licence was revoked as a result of a Criminal Code conviction for an offence other than impaired driving, you must wait until the penalty period has ended and pass a reinstatement test to obtain a new licence.
These offences are criminal both in Québec and elsewhere!
If one of these offences is committed elsewhere in Canada or in an American state with which Québec has entered into a reciprocity agreement, it is entered in the driver's record and results in the same penalties as if the offence had been committed in Québec.
Conviction
If you are found guilty of an offence under the Criminal Code, your licence will be revoked and you will be prohibited from driving anywhere in Canada and in the American states with which Québec has entered into an agreement.
You will also be prohibited from obtaining a licence for the entire length of the driving prohibition period.
Revoked licence = cancelled licence
You will have to undertake the procedure to reacquire a licence. In most cases, you will be required to pass a reinstatement knowledge test.
Driving with a revoked licence: very stiff penalties
Driving with a licence that was revoked as a result of a Criminal Code conviction can lead to very severe penalties, such as:
additional criminal charges
a fine of $1,500.00 to $3,000.00, in addition to legal and administrative costs
seizure and impoundment of the vehicle you are driving for 7, 30 or 90 days, depending on the situation. The vehicle is towed and impounded at the owner's expense
Length of the driving prohibition
The penalty usually comes into effect on the day the court has rendered a guilty verdict. The length of the penalty period is determined on the basis of:
the nature of the offence
the driving prohibition period ordered by the court
the number of criminal convictions you have received over the 10 previous years
Driving prohibition: 1st offence
1 year
4 years for failure to stop after being involved in an accident (hit-and-run) or when pursued by police
Driving prohibition: 2nd offence
3 years
5 years for failure to stop after being involved in an accident (hit-and-run) or when pursued by police
the driver's licence. The cost varies based on the class and validity period of the licence
the additional insurance contribution, which is calculated on the basis of the number of offences of which you were found guilty under the Criminal Code over the 5 previous years
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.
If you fail the reinstatement knowledge test
You must wait at least 28 days before you will be allowed to retake the test. You will have to make another appointment.
If your licence has been revoked or suspended for 3 years or more
You will have to retake the knowledge and road tests for the class of licence you wish to obtain.
the driver's licence. The cost varies based on the class and validity period of the licence
the additional insurance contribution, which is calculated on the basis of the number of offences of which you were found guilty under the Criminal Code over the 5 previous years
Payment options
At our service outlets, we accept payment:
in cash
by Interac (debit card)—not available in 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.
If you fail the reinstatement knowledge test
You must wait at least 28 days before you will be allowed to retake the test. You will have to make another appointment.
If your licence has been revoked or suspended for 3 years or more
You will have to retake the knowledge and road tests for the class of licence you wish to obtain.
