You can pay for your driver's licence or vehicle registration by pre-authorized debits, under certain conditions, unless your situation requires that your payment be made in cash or by certified cheque.
You have two options if you want to apply for payment by pre-authorized debits:
By registering or changing your banking information using our online service, you authorize the SAAQ and your financial institution to withdraw payment for your driver's licence or the registration of your vehicle from your account. Below is a summary of the conditions prescribed by regulation. Starting in January, a new version of this service will be offered through the SAAQclic online services platform. Discover SAAQclic.
Make sure that you have the authorization of each person whose signature is required to debit the account.
The cheque specimen in your name or any other document provided by your institution on which your name, the institution number, branch number and your account number appear cannot originate from a credit card account.
The banking information registered using the online service will be used for any other debits that you authorize from this account.
For payments to be withdrawn, you must:
You must choose the number of instalments desired from the options offered when you apply for payment by pre-authorized debits. If you forgot to indicate the number of instalments, the SAAQ will withdraw one instalment payment every month (12 debits).
The number of instalments can only be changed at the time of your next renewal. Unless you notify us otherwise, your authorization for pre-authorized debits is valid for the current year and for subsequent years.
The amount withdrawn will correspond to the total amount due (plus interest, if applicable) divided by the number of desired instalments. You can calculate the amount of each instalment using the Simulate Pre-Authorized Debits tool. Starting in January, a new version of this service will be offered through the SAAQclic online services platform. Discover SAAQclic.
If you make changes to your record that affect your balance, the SAAQ will adjust the amount of your instalments without prior notice and issue you a new statement. The minimum withdrawal is $4, except for the final payment of a given period, which may sometimes be less. When changes are made, your statement may indicate an amount of $0 even though one withdrawal still needs to be made. Please refer to the schedule of instalments that you will have received previously.
The first instalment may be withdrawn before you receive confirmation of your registration. You are responsible for ensuring that you have sufficient funds in your account to cover its payment. To know the amount that will be withdrawn, refer to the Simulate Pre-Authorized Debits tool.
Withdrawals are usually made on the day of the month corresponding to your birthday or on the next business day, according to the schedule of instalments that will be sent to you along with your confirmation. For businesses and shared vehicles, withdrawals are made on the last day of the month. If the transaction is carried out at an SAAQ service outlet, the schedule of instalments will appear on the service receipt that will be given to you. You must keep your schedule of instalments.
You may, at any time, cancel your authorization for pre-authorized debits and choose another method of payment.
You must notify the SAAQ at least 7 days before the date of the next withdrawal by going to a service outlet or phoning the SAAQ. Any outstanding balance must be paid immediately. Choosing another method of payment does not result in the cancellation of the driver's licence or vehicle registration(s) covered by the instalment(s).
To obtain a cancellation form or more information about your right to cancel your authorization for pre-authorized debits, contact your financial institution or consult the Canadian Payments Association's Web site.
You are held responsible for the consequences of a default of payment or of any legal obligations.
A default of payment occurs when a payment cannot be withdrawn due to insufficient funds, the closure of an account or any similar reason. The SAAQ will apply a service charge of $35 for each payment that cannot be withdrawn. Any licence or registration covered by the instalment that could not be withdrawn could also be suspended. If such a situation occurs, the SAAQ is authorized to withdraw these service charges from your bank account, either separately or at the same time as the next scheduled withdrawal.
The SAAQ has determined that every pre-authorized debit belongs to the “personal” category. This means that you have 90 calendar days to request reimbursement by your financial institution for any payment which:
To request reimbursement, you must complete an application for reimbursement form available at your financial institution.
For more information about your rights of recourse, contact your financial institution or consult the Canadian Payments Association's Web site.
When establishing payment through pre-authorized debits, the SAAQ provides its financial institution with only the legally required personal information.
Please note that the SAAQ will not agree to withdraw any amount from an account that is not in your name.
