Amendments to the Regulation respecting licences
Amendments to the Regulation respecting licences will take effect on June 5 and introduce changes that aim to improve road safety, ensure the driver licensing procedure is equitable, and harmonize our practices with those of other Canadian jurisdictions.
Newcomers
If you settle in Québec and hold a driver’s licence issued in another jurisdiction, you are authorized to drive a passenger vehicle during the first 6 months following your arrival. Once those 6 months are over, you must obtain a Québec driver’s licence.
Knowledge and road tests
If your driver’s licence was issued by a country with which Québec does not have a reciprocity agreement , you may be able to exchange your licence for a Québec licence, provided you have held your licence for at least one year, and that you pass a knowledge and road test.
What has changed:
If you fail the road test
If you fail the road test, you will no longer be authorized to drive with your foreign driver’s licence. You will instead be issued a learner’s licence.
Your learner’s licence will authorize you to drive while accompanied, so that you can practice in preparation for taking the road test again. You can retake the test as many times as required until you pass. However, you must wait at least 28 days between each attempt.
Your learner’s licence will allow you to drive, provided you comply with the following conditions:
- You must be accompanied while driving by someone who holds a valid Québec Class 5 driver’s licence and has at least 2 years of driving experience.
- You must not drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
- You must abide by the zero-alcohol rule.
- You must always have fewer than 4 demerit points on your driving record.
Things to keep in mind:
- Make arrangements for someone to go with you to the road test who can drive you home if need be should you fail the test.
- Fees apply for the learner’s licence.
- You must make a new appointment each time you retake the road test.
For more information about these changes and how they may affect you, please refer to the guides, videos and other material found in the section of our website devoted to helping newcomers prepare for their knowledge and road tests at saaq.gouv.qc.ca/preparing-tests.
Other amendments made to the Regulation respecting licences
Operating three-wheeled motorcycles
If you already hold a Class 5 driver’s licence, you will be able to add Class 6E to your licence and operate three-wheeled motorcycles after taking the three-wheeled vehicle driving course.
Class 3 — Truck tractors
If you hold a Class 3 licence, you will be authorized to drive truck tractors:
- with 2 axles and a net weight of 4,500 kg or more;
- with 3 or more axles, provided they are not hauling a trailer or semi-trailer
Make sure you understand these new rules before heading out on the road.