When travelling on public roadways, operators of farm machinery and combinations of farm vehicles wider than 2.6 m must comply with certain special obligations to ensure their safety and the safety of other road users.
Any equipment, whether motorized or not, designed and used solely for agricultural purposes.
Within the meaning of the Highway Safety Code, farm machinery includes, for example, farm tractorsA tractor that is equipped with tires and is generally used for agricultural purposes, whether or not it is authorized for use on public roads. The tractor must belong to an individual or company that owns or leases a farm and whose principal occupation is farming, or that is a member of an association certified under the Farm Producers Act..
A combination consisting of a farm machine or vehicle drawing a farm machine or a farm trailer.
Outsized vehicles
Farm machinery wider than 2.6 m that does not belong to a farmer is considered an outsized vehicle.
Before travelling on a public roadway, find out more about your obligations by visiting the Web site of the ministère des Transports.
This regulation came into effect on December 1, 2013. It aims to protect operators of farm machinery and combinations of farm vehicles wider than 2.6 m travelling on public roadways and ensure the safety of other road users.
Operating farm machinery or a combination of farm vehicles wider than 5.3 m is prohibited:
Farm machinery and combinations of farm vehicles that belong to a farmer, depending on their width, must:
Owners and operators of farm machinery or combinations of farm vehicles and escort vehicle drivers who fail to comply with obligations are liable to a fine. The list of fines is included in the guide (PDF, 2.4 Mo).
To help farmers who own farm machinery or combinations of farm vehicles wider than 2.6 m adapt their equipment, we have prepared the Guide to the Regulation respecting the visibility and traffic of farm machines wider than 2.6 metres (PDF, 2.4 Mo) in cooperation with the Union des producteurs agricoles, the ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l'Électrification des transports and Contrôle routier Québec.
To pass farm machinery, you may encroach upon:
However, you may do so only if:
Farm machinery – other than tractors used on public roadways – is exempt from vehicle registration.
For more information, see our section on registering a tractor or another farm vehicle.
The minimum age for operating farm machinery is 16. To operate a farm tractor for agricultural purposes, you must hold at least a Class 8 driver's licence.
For more information, see our section on obtaining a licence to operate a tractor (Class 8).
Last update: November 14, 2021