Payment by Pre-Authorized Debits

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.

Registering for payment by pre-authorized debits

You have three options if you want to apply for payment by pre-authorized debits:

• By mail
  • Complete the section entitled "The Pre-Authorized Debit Payment Plan" on the back of your payment notice.
  • Return your payment notice before the indicated deadline with a cheque specimen in your name or any other document provided by your financial institution on which your name, the institution number, branch number and your account number appear.
    • For the driver's licence:
      Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
      Case postale 19300, succursale Terminus
      Québec (Québec) G1K 8J3
    • For vehicle registration:
      Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
      Case postale 19100, succursale Terminus
      Québec (Québec) G1K 8J1
• In person
  • Go to one of our service outlets with the duly completed documents. An additional administrative fee will be charged.
• Online
  • You can register for pre-authorized debits through SAAQclic when using one of the following services :
    • Relinquishing a Driver's Licence Class
    • Replacing a Driver's Licence (only during a renewal period)
    • Taking a Vehicle Out of Storage
    • Accepting a Vehicle Transfer and Registering the Vehicle

Pre-authorized debit conditions

For payments to be withdrawn, you must:

• be the holder of the driver's licence or the owner or long-term lessee of the vehicle, which must be registered in your name
• be the sole or joint holder of the bank account

Make sure that you have the authorization of each person whose signature is required to debit the account.

Frequency of pre-authorized debits

You must choose the number of instalments desired from the options offered (1 or 12 debits per year) 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 per year).

Note that pre-authorized debits always start the month after your renewal. For example, if your renewal deadline is in March, the first instalment will be debited in April.

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.

Note that in the case of a trade-in, your pre-authorized debit payments will continue to be made, but only until your annual registration renewal date. At that time, you will have to reregister for pre-authorized debit payments.

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 mailed to you or uploaded to your SAAQclic file, depending on your communication preferences.

If you co-own a vehicle, check your schedule of instalments to find out the dates on which your instalments will be debited.

For businesses, 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 be given to you along with the service receipt. You must keep your schedule of instalments.

Pre-authorized debit amounts

The amount withdrawn will correspond to the total amount due (plus interest, if applicable) divided by the number of desired instalments. The minimum withdrawal is $4.

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.

You can calculate the amount of each instalment using the Simulate Pre-Authorized Debits⁠ ⁠ tool. 

If you carry out an operation in connection with your vehicle registration (for example, storing a vehicle) that affects your total amount due, you can see your new balance on the schedule of instalments.

Consequences of a default of payment

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 bewithdrawn due to insufficient funds, the closure of an account or any similar reason.

The SAAQ will apply a service charge of $35 for each instalment that cannot be withdrawn. Any registration covered by the instalment that could not be withdrawn could also be cancelled.

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.

Cancelling your authorization for pre-authorized debits

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 calling⁠ ⁠ 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.⁠ ⁠

Debit payment reimbursement

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:

• was not withdrawn in compliance with the authorization that was given
• or
• was withdrawn after your authorization was cancelled

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 website.⁠ ⁠

Account and personal information

The cheque specimen in your name or any other document provided by your financial institution on which your name, the institution number, branch number and your account number appear cannot originate from a credit card account.

When establishing payment through pre-authorized debits, the SAAQ provides its financial institution with only the legally required personal information.

Last update: March 28, 2024