Restricted Licence Related to an Accumulation of Demerit Points

If your probationary licence or driver's licence is revoked because you have reached or exceeded the number of demerit points in your demerit point bracket, a court could grant you a restricted licence so you can continue exercising your main employment. The restricted licence includes the licence classes that you already hold and is issued upon presentation of an order from a judge of the Court of Québec.

This licence allows you to drive during the penalty period following the revocation of your licence. A penalty period can be 3, 6 or 12 months. You may undertake the procedure to obtain a restricted licence as soon as you receive your penalty notice from the SAAQ. You do not need to wait until your penalty period starts to apply for this licence.

A restricted licence related to an accumulation of demerit points authorizes you to drive a vehicle only for the purposes of exercising your main employment.

Here are the eligibility criteria for obtaining a restricted licence related to an accumulation of demerit points (sections 118 to 121 of the Highway Safety Code):

• You hold a Québec driver’s licence or probationary licence.
• Your licence has not been expired for more than three years.
• Your licence was suspended or revoked due to an accumulation of demerit points.
• Your licence was not revoked, or your right to obtain a licence was not suspended, in the last two years due to a Criminal Code offence or an accumulation of demerit points.
• You have no active or upcoming suspensions or penalties entered in your driving record.
• (If the application is related to remunerated passenger transportation by automobile) You have no penalties for a Criminal Code offence entered in your driving record in the five years preceding the penalty for the accumulation of demerit points.
• You can prove to the judge that you need to drive in order to exercise your main employment.

How to apply for a restricted licence

1. File an application with a Court of Québec judge in your local judicial district. To do so, you must:

• fill out the Application for a Restricted Licence⁠ ⁠ (the court clerk is available to assist you in completing your application) and pay the legal fees
• submit the required documents online in PDF format, including our penalty notice regarding the revocation of your driver's licence

Note that you do not have to go to your local courthouse if you submit your application and documents online. If you prefer, you can still go in person to submit your application and pay the required court fees.

2. At the hearing, demonstrate to the judge that you need to drive in order to exercise your main employment.

3. Ask the judge to issue an order allowing you to obtain a restricted licence.

4. Go to one of our service outlets with the court order to get a restricted licence and pay the required fees.

If you fail to abide by the terms and conditions of your restricted licence

You will be considered to be driving without a licence, which renders you liable to a fine of $300 to $600.