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1906

It all started with Q-01

The City of Montréal registered the first automobile in Québec. The licence plate, number Q-01, was painted directly onto the vehicle's body.

By the end of that year, 167 automobiles travelled through city streets among streetcars, horse-drawn vehicles and pedestrians. The provincial legislature adopted the Act respecting motor vehicles. The sole purpose of a driver's licence was to identify motorists. Vehicle registration was mandatory, but no licence plate was provided—you had to make your own!

1910

The first tickets

Some motorists can be really hard-headed! Shouldn’t they realize that horse-drawn vehicles have the right-of-way and that certain limits should not be exceeded? To get through to them, "speed officers" were appointed to issue the first tickets in Québec.

1924

The first traffic law

There were already more than 100,000 vehicles on Québec roads! With its high stance and top speed of 80 km/h, the Ford Model T, also known as the "Tin Lizzie," was especially popular. The first Highway Traffic Act was therefore drafted to create a comprehensive and consistent set of road signs and traffic signals.

1938

A sobering road safety record

In 1938, 455,000 vehicles were registered in Québec. Speed, alcohol, as well as risky and reckless driving were behind more than 10,000 accidents, resulting in 402 victims. Those were significant numbers given the number of vehicles in use on Québec roads. As a result, new sections on impaired driving, hit-and-runs and high-risk driving were inserted into the Highway Traffic Act.

1952

The first driver's licences

The government of Québec created the Department of Transportation and Communication, whose first mission concerned the skills and training of drivers and mechanics who, until then, had been free to get behind the wheel and disregard road signs and basic safety rules. Starting in 1955, prospective drivers had to pass a driving test to obtain their driver's licence. Some recall that you had to be particularly negligent to fail the test.

1976

Passengers have to buckle up

Up until that year, belts were used exclusively to hold up one's pants. Fortunately, in 1959, an engineer working at Volvo, Mr. Nils Bohlin, had the brilliant idea of inventing the three-point seat belt, for the benefit of motorist safety. In 1976, a law made seat belt use mandatory for all front-seat passengers in Québec. In 1990, the law finally required rear-seat passengers to buckle-up as well.

1978

Implementation of a one-of-a-kind automobile insurance plan

Québec's public automobile insurance plan came into force with the implementation of the Automobile Insurance Act on March 1, 1978. The plan provides compensation for loss of earnings resulting from bodily injuries sustained by a driver, a passenger, a pedestrian, a cyclist or a motorcyclist in a traffic accident, regardless of where the accident occurred or who was at fault.

Foundation of the Régie de l'assurance automobile du Québec

The implementation of Québec's public automobile insurance plan led to the foundation of the Régie de l'assurance automobile du Québec. At that time, the Régie had about 400 employees to serve the entire population of Québec, which already included more than 6 and a half million potential service users.

From "La belle province" to "Je me souviens"

"La belle province", the slogan that had adorned licence plates since 1963, was replaced by Québec's motto “Je me souviens.”

1980

The Bureau des véhicules automobiles is transferred to the Régie

In December of that year, the Québec National Assembly transferred the Bureau des véhicules automobiles (BVA), which had been under the jurisdiction of Transport Québec, to the Régie de l’assurance automobile du Québec. The BVA had been responsible for driver's licence and vehicle registration services.

1982

The new Highway Safety Code

Experts had been working tirelessly on this for several months, and the results were well worth the effort: a number of provisions were added to the new Highway Safety Code. The new Code provided for higher fines, driver's licence revocation and more severe measures and stiffer penalties for impaired driving offences.

1985

Impaired driving becomes a criminal act

Since December 4, 1985, the Criminal Code has imposed stiff penalties on alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers. In addition to fines and a 3-year licence revocation, offenders lose a great deal of freedom as a result of a criminal record. They can also receive a prison sentence.

1990

The Régie de l’assurance automobile becomes... the SAAQ

The Régie de l'assurance automobile du Québec became the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), a government agency with a one-of-a-kind integrated management model based on prevention, enforcement, compensation and rehabilitation.

The new Automobile Insurance Act comes into force

While preserving the basic principles of the insurance plan, the new Automobile Insurance Act achieved better balance by eliminating over- and under-compensation of certain categories of traffic accident victims. The seriously injured were properly compensated, and the plan's management was streamlined.

1991

Contrôle routier Québec joins the SAAQ

On January 23, 1991, the SAAQ officially took on the mandate to monitor and control road transportation of goods and passengers through its carrier enforcement agency Contrôle routier Québec.

1997

The law clamps down on offenders

On December 1, 1997, the Highway Safety Code introduced tougher provisions for people driving while impaired or without holding the appropriate class of licence. In the case of drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol, these provisions included immediate licence suspension, installation of an alcohol ignition interlock device, mandatory participation in a rehabilitation program and, last but not least, a fine. In other words, major consequences.

Making appointments becomes simpler

The SAAQ set up an interactive voice response system for making appointments for Class 5 and 6 knowledge and road tests.

Accessibility programs 

The SAAQ began administering the accessible parking permit and vehicle adaptation programs for people with reduced mobility. These programs were previously administered by the Office des personnes handicapées du Québec. 

2003

Turning right on a red light

The introduction of right turns on red lights allowed Québec to harmonize its traffic rules with those of the other North American jurisdictions. This manoeuvre, which remains a "privilege," came with a number of important responsibilities, obligations and prohibitions—such as not honking at a driver who decides not to turn right on a red light.

2004

Creation of the Fonds d'assurance automobile du Québec

Since 1982, insurance contributions collected by the SAAQ had been insufficient, which led to an accumulated deficit that increased from year to year. To eliminate the deficit and ensure a financially sustainable automobile insurance plan, the government created the Fonds d'assurance automobile du Québec and made the SAAQ its trustee.

2006

The SAAQ tackles road safety

The Québec National Assembly proclaimed 2007 as Road Safety Year. In preparation for that year, and in accordance with its strategic plan, the SAAQ organized a major campaign to accept nothing less than safe roads for everyone. To bolster its efforts, the SAAQ entered into an agreement with representatives from every police force in the province.

2007

Road Safety Year

The Québec government proclaimed 2007 as Road Safety Year. Every year in Québec, approximately 50,000 people are injured and 700 others are killed in traffic accidents. In addition to human consequences, such a road safety record entails considerable social costs and compensation expenses. Concerted efforts on the part of all stakeholders and the continued presence of police forces have significantly decreased the number of persons killed or seriously injured.

2008

Fewer fatalities on Québec roads 

For the first time since the creation of the automobile insurance plan, the number of people killed on Québec roads in a given year dropped below 600.

2009

Important partnership with Québec financial institutions 

Financial institutions expanded their service offer to make it easier to make driver’s licence and vehicle registration renewal payments, to pay for accessible parking permits and to pay statements of account issued by the SAAQ. 

Contrôle routier Québec turns 60

On March 10, 2009, the carrier enforcement program in Québec celebrated its 60th anniversary. The event provided an occasion to recognize Contrôle routier Québec’s increasingly active role in road safety over the years, and the excellent work carried out across all sectors under its purview.    

2010

Commemorative licence plate 

The SAAQ issued a new commemorative licence plate for motor homes (weighing less than 3,000 kg) belonging to veterans. The new licence plate was offered to all those who met the eligibility criteria set by the Royal Canadian Legion. It featured a poppy and consisted of four numbers and a letter. 

2011

The SAAQ on social media 

The SAAQ made its debut on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Online services for businesses

Nearly 4 million operations were completed thanks to the launch of online services for businesses.

2014

The SAAQ among the most admired

The SAAQ ranked among the 50 most admired companies in Québec with an employee retention rate of 96%, a funding ratio for the Fonds d’assurance automobile du Québec of 116%, and customer satisfaction with online services at 85%.  

2015

Raising awareness regarding heavy vehicle blind spots 

The SAAQ broke new ground with its awareness-raising activity regarding heavy vehicle blind spots. This activity, during which people could climb onboard a heavy vehicle and visualize the size of its blind spots thanks to red carpets laid out on the ground, was repeated 73 times across Québec.  

2016

Insurance contributions: Caution pays off!

With up to $65 shaved off their insurance contributions for 2016, 2017 and 2018 because of improvements to the road safety record, drivers saw that “caution pays off.” 

2017

An evolving approach to customer service 

The SAAQ continued to improve customer service and take into account diversity and the needs of people with disabilities. 

As part of this process, it:

• revised certain questions on the passenger vehicle knowledge test to make them easier to understand
• made information about obtaining a Québec driver’s licence more readily available to newcomers
• enabled vehicle registrations to be carried out at used vehicle dealers
• made it possible for accident victims to claim their expenses online
• increased insurance coverage by over $15 million for certain types of expenses, such as dental care 

2018

40th anniversary of the Québec automobile insurance plan 

This milestone was marked by:

• the best road safety record up to that point, with 1,723 fewer accidents than in 2017
• the launch of personalized licence plates
• the use of the first mobile road safety unit for more direct interaction during awareness-raising activities
• the adoption of a new slogan that sought to reflect the SAAQ’s caring approach toward all road users: “Avec vous, au cœur de votre sécurité”

2019

First phase of a major digital transformation 

The first phase of the SAAQ's major organizational and digital transformation was launched internally on January 3, 2019. Management of its human, material, contractual and financial resources was migrated to a new SAP-based system. Work on the second phase of this major overhaul, which focused on external client interaction and customer services, began immediately afterward.   

2020

COVID-19, a learning opportunity for service development 

Because the SAAQ was already well prepared to handle a crisis, it was able to rapidly make informed decisions, despite numerous unknowns and the constantly changing situation. It was able to adapt and seize the opportunity to improve its services in a sustainable fashion, including setting up an online service for scheduling appointments. This new service allowed people to plan ahead and reduced wait times in service outlets.    

2021

Adapted services

During the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SAAQ continued to prioritize its customers, partners and employees by implementing measures that sought to reduce the impact of the pandemic on service delivery, while protecting everyone’s health. 

The SAAQ:

• continued to promote the use of its online appointment scheduling service to allow clients to plan ahead and keep wait times in service outlets to a minimum
• gradually resumed replacing the photo on driver’s licences  
• kept its clients and partners informed and adapted its procedures as health measures changed 

2022

For your safety and the safety of others

The SAAQ adopted a new self-declaration approach to monitoring the health of drivers once they turn 75. This simplified the lives of thousands of people by eliminating approximately 92,000 unnecessary medical consultations. The SAAQ noticed a positive impact on road safety, as this approach made it easier to identify drivers who presented a risk, while at the same time reducing by 84% the number of files processed annually for this age group. 

2023

The SAAQ was also one of the first public bodies to use the Ministère de la Cybersécurité et du Numérique’s new Government Authentication Service. To access the SAAQclic platform, many Quebecers created a Government Authentication Service account, which they can also use to access other government online services. 

2024 

Road safety at the heart of client relations

By opening two new modernized service centres, the SAAQ took a concrete step toward more accessible, efficient and needs-based services. These new service centres also feature awareness zones that put road safety in the spotlight.

Making québec roads safer since 1949

March 10, 2024 marked the 75^th anniversary of Contrôle routier Québec’s highway patrol, which monitors the goods and passenger transportation industries. Contrôle routier Québec’s mission has changed over the years to include vehicle safety and accident prevention.