Finding a Recognized Driving School

If you wish to take a driving course to obtain a driver’s licence, it is important that you register with a driving school that is recognized by the SAAQ.

Even if a school is recognized by the SAAQ, it may be temporarily suspended further to an inspection. If the school is suspended, it cannot offer driving courses on a temporary basis, but it can still issue an attestation for the lessons that you have taken there.

Find your school in the list of driving schools recognized by the SAAQ (PDF, 199.1 KB)⁠.

Tips

Before you register for a driving course

1. Complete the questionnaire to fill out before starting a driving course (PDF, 99.0 KB)⁠.

Before you sign a contract with a driving school

1. Make sure that the school is on the list of driving schools recognized by the SAAQ. Its recognition certificate must be displayed on the premises.

When you sign the contract

1. Make sure that the contract mentions the Road Safety Education Program (Programme d’éducation à la sécurité routière).
2. Make sure that the contract is made in the name of the driving school with which you are registering, and ask for a copy of the contract when you sign it.
3. If you are taking a course to drive an automobile (Class 5), make sure the fee is no higher than $1,130 + tax (maximum fee determined by the government). For courses to drive a motorcycle (Class 6A, 6B or 6C), a 3-wheel motorcycle (Class 6E) or a moped or motorized scooter (Class 6D), no maximum fee has been determined by the government.
4. Ask for a receipt for each instalment you pay. Make sure that the receipt is in the name of the driving school with which you are registered. Here is the number of instalments that you can expect to pay, depending on the driving course:
   • Automobile: 6 instalments
   • Motorcycle: 4 equal instalments
   • Moped or motorized scooter and 3-wheel motorcycle: 2 equal instalments

For any questions concerning registering for a driving course, see the frequently asked questions.

During the course

1. Make sure that you complete all the necessary course hours of the Road Safety Education Program (RSEP).

   Find out more about the duration and structure of the different driving courses by visiting the Driving Course web page.

2. Make sure that the theoretical components are covered in class with the instructor and that you are not only studying them on your own.
3. Complete all practical training (on-road) sessions according to the RSEP and talk to your instructor about your strengths and the aspects requiring improvement.
4. Write down the dates on which you cover the theoretical modules and have practical sessions (on-road and closed track).
5. Check the accuracy of the information on the student’s sheet (e.g. your name, the name of your instructor, the dates of the lessons) that you sign at the end of each lesson.

To help improve your driving, the school may recommend that you take complementary driving lessons. You are allowed to refuse them if they are not part of the RSEP.

If a module or a part of a course is not given, if an instructor behaves disrespectfully or inappropriately or if road safety rules are not followed during practical training sessions, you can share your concerns.

When you receive an attestation

1. Make sure that the school gives you your attestation (free of charge, even if your contract has expired).
2. Check the accuracy of the information on the driving course attestation (e.g. name of the school, address).
3. Make sure that the school’s seal has been placed at the bottom of the attestation given to you at the end of the course.
4. Keep your contract, attestation and proof of payments until you obtain your driver’s licence or the licence class you were seeking.
5. Note that driving schools are required to keep student files for 7 years after service contracts end. Student files can be destroyed after the 7-year period in compliance with applicable laws and the SAAQ’s requirements (conditions for recognition).

If you notice that a driving school is not complying with these guidelines, you can file a complaint with the SAAQ.

File a complaint

Driving schools are responsible for delivering quality services to their students and, by the same token, handling their complaints.

If you are dissatisfied with the service delivery at one of our recognized driving schools, you need to approach the school in question directly. Your complaint will be handled in a more timely fashion than with our involvement. 

Driving schools are authorized to provide mandatory driving courses for licence classes determined by the SAAQ and must comply with the Conditions for the Recognition of an RSEP Service Provider (PDF, 447.6 KB)⁠ to obtain SAAQ recognition and maintain their recognized driving school status.

Driving schools partner with the SAAQ to teach driving courses under the Road Safety Education Program, but they do not operate on behalf of the SAAQ.

How to file a complaint

Step 1: Contact the person directly concerned or the person in charge of complaints at the driving school.

Step 2: If you are not satisfied with the outcome of step 1 and your school is part of a chain, you can contact the person who handles complaints for the chain (e.g. Tecnic, AECQ, ConduiPro, CAA).

Step 3: If you still remain dissatisfied, you can submit your complaint to the SAAQ. The SAAQ can then conduct any necessary follow-up with the school. 

Confidentiality

Information submitted to the SAAQ is handled confidentially and is not shared unless the persons concerned consent to its disclosure.

Schools that have closed or that are no longer recognized by the SAAQ

For more information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.