Driver's Licence Renewal and Fee Payment

You have to renew your plasticized driver's licence every 4 or 8 years. You must also pay the required fees and insurance contribution every year to keep your driving privilege.

Renewal of the plasticized driver's licence

Will your need to have your photo taken to renew a plasticized driver’s licence set to expire between now and September 2023?

If your plasticized driver's licence is set to expire between June 1 and September 1, 2023 and a new photo would normally be required, a grace period now applies. Your driver’s licence will remain valid during that period.

You will have 90 days following your birthday within which to pay the required fees. Furthermore, you will not need to go to an SAAQ service outlet to have a new photo taken. You will receive your payment notice and your new driver’s licence in the mail. We will reuse the most recent photo we have of you and the signature we have on file.

Renewal of your health insurance card

You do not need to go to an SAAQ service outlet to renew your health insurance card if you have received your renewal notice and your card expires before June 2023. Instead, you must complete, date and sign the renewal notice you received from the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) and return it to the RAMQ by mail. You will be mailed a new health insurance card bearing the most recent photo of you that the RAMQ has on file. 

Once you receive your driver's licence renewal notice, you must go to one of our service outlets prior to the payment due date to:

You will receive your new plasticized driver's licence in the mail within 10 business days.

Note that your driving privilege (for which you pay annual licence renewal fees) is valid for one year starting on your birthday.

To take this opportunity to renew your Health Insurance Card

You must bring:

  • your health insurance card
  • your driver's licence
  • your renewal notice from the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec

If your birthday is in April or May

If you have not yet received a payment notice for your driver’s licence renewal fees, please refer to the following table to find out when your notice will be mailed and when it will be available in SAAQclic:

Birthday Notice availaible in SAAQclic Notice mailed by
April 1 to 15 March 27 March 29
April 16 to 30 March 30 April 3
May 1 to 15 April 3 April 11
Mai 16 to 31 April 7 April 12

Note that if your birthday is in April, the deadline for paying your renewal fees has been extended.

Payment of the annual driver's licence fees

Every year, before your birthday, you will receive a payment notice by mail.

The payment notice indicates:

  • the total amount payable for annual fees
    • The amount includes fees to keep your driving privilege, the insurance contribution (which is based on your driving record) and administrative fees.
  • the deadline to renew your driver's licence, which is actually your birthday
  • the Declaration of Illness or Functional Impairment regarding your state of health 
  • a section to notify us of a change of address or to justify non-payment of your driver's licence fees

Payment methods

  • Through your financial institution:
    • online
    • at an ATM
    • at the counter
    • by phone
  • By one or more pre-authorized debits. Use our tool to simulate the number of instalments and estimate their amount.
  • By a cheque mailed to the following address:
    Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
    Case postale 19300, succursale Terminus
    Québec (Québec)  G1K 8J6

Payment deadline and bimonthly pre-authorized debits

Pay by the deadline indicated on the notice.

Avoid paying these additional fees

  • For late payment (minimum fee, may vary according to the situation): $12.40
  • For each NSF cheque: $35.00
  • For each rejected pre-authorized debit: $35.00 (if you are charged twice for the same pre-authorized debit, contact the SAAQ to receive a reimbursement)

Change: If you had chosen bimonthly pre-authorized debits (6 instalments per year), please note that this option is no longer available. Instalments will instead be withdrawn 12 times per year. Smaller amounts for less hassle!

If your driver's licence has expired

  • Driving without a valid licence is an offence punishable by a fine of $300 to $600, in addition to other fees. Also, the vehicle could immediately be seized and impounded for 30 days.
  • If your licence has been expired for 3 years or more, you will have to pass the knowledge and road tests again to obtain a new driver's licence

If you choose to not renew your driver’s licence

You must inform us before the payment due date. Otherwise, you will be required to pay a portion of the licence fees and insurance contribution. In addition, late fees may apply.

Last update: June  2, 2023