Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Driver's Licence

Classes of Driver's Licence for Heavy Vehicles

A driver's licence of the appropriate class is required to be allowed to drive a heavy vehicle.

What you should know

The driver of a heavy vehicle must hold a driver's licence that corresponds to the type of vehicle used.

To drive a tow truck, you must hold a Class 5 driver's licence.

Consult our section entitled Classes of Driver's Licence.

Class 1, 2, 3 and 4B

These classes authorize their holder to drive a heavy vehicle:

  • anywhere in Canada
  • in the United States (unless Condition W appears on the driver's licence)

To add a class to your driver's licence

Consult our sections entitled:

Driver competencies

The competencies required to hold a Class 1, 2, 3 or 4B licence are assessed through knowledge and road tests.

If applicable, you must also prove that you have the knowledge required to drive:

  • combinations of road vehicles. You must successfully complete the Class 1 Road Safety Education Program offered by a service provider recognized by the SAAQ or the Trucking vocational training program that leads to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) from the Ministère de l’Éducation
  • a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission (M Authorizes the driver's licence holder to drive a certain type of vehicle or a vehicle equipped with certain types of equipment.)
  • a vehicle equipped with an air brake system (F endorsement)
  • a long combination vehicle (road train more than 25 metres long that requires a special operating permit) (T endorsement) 

Note that to obtain the T endorsement, you must now pass a course given at a school board transport training centre. 

Certificate of competence for carrying out school transportation

To drive a school bus or minibus, you must hold and have in your possession a certificate of competence for operating that type of vehicle.

To find out more, consult the following pages:

Blood alcohol concentration limit for heavy vehicle drivers

It is prohibited to drive or have the care or control of a heavy vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration equal to or above 50 mg of alcohol per 100 mg of blood (0.05).

If you drive a bus or a minibus, the zero-alcohol rule applies.

To find out more, go to the Alcohol page.

If your driver's licence has been revoked, suspended or modified

You are required to inform the owner and operator of the heavy vehicle you drive if your driver's licence has been revoked, suspended or modified. You must also inform them of any changes to the licence classes you hold, or of the loss of any endorsements you are required to have in order to drive the vehicle.

Demerit points and driving record

If you accumulate a number of demerit points that is equal to or higher than the threshold for your demerit point bracket, your licence will be revoked and you will no longer be allowed to drive.

This penalty will also be entered in your driving record.

Threshold values and conduct record of a heavy vehicle driver

If you reach or exceed any of the threshold values set forth in the Conduct Review Policy for Heavy Vehicle Drivers, or if a combination of critical events occurs while you are at the wheel of a heavy vehicle, your record will be transferred to the Commission des transports du Québec⁠ ⁠, which may impose corrective measures on you and even prohibit you from driving a heavy vehicle.

Last update: December 15, 2025