Heavy Vehicles

Preventative Maintenance Program (PMP)

Heavy vehicle owners may have their preventative maintenance program (PMP) recognized to be exempted from mandatory periodic mechanical inspections.

In brief

Under the Highway Safety Code, owners of certain vehicles, such as heavy vehiclesVehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, as indicated on the compliance label., are required to have their vehicles undergo mandatory periodic mechanical inspections.

Owners may implement a PMP and have it recognized by us to no longer have to submit their vehicles to a mandatory inspection. It is the owner's choice whether to do so.

Usefulness of a PMP and how it works

A PMP is an effective way of ensuring that vehicles remain safe at all times for all road users.

Vehicle owners with a registered PMP may do their own servicing or contract the work out to a third party, but they are responsible for seeing that the work is done correctly and at the proper intervals.

During preventative maintenance

Preventative maintenance allows mechanics to carry out inspections and make changes or adjustments.

If the mechanic detects an anomaly that may lead to the improper working order of a component before the next servicing, he or she must immediately make the necessary repairs, changes or adjustments, or plan to do so before the next servicing.

Mechanics who have been assigned to the preventive maintenance of road vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 7,258 kg or more must have passed a preventive maintenance examination recognized by the SAAQ (HSC, s. 543.3.1).

The SAAQ authorizes mechanics to carry out preventive maintenance on vehicles with a GVWR of less than 7,258 kg if they meet at least one of the following conditions (RSSRV, par. (4) of s. 209):

  • They hold a vocational study diploma in automobile mechanics recognized by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur and have 2 years of relevant experience in the repair of road vehicle mechanisms, particularly the suspension, steering and braking systems
  • They have 5 years of relevant experience in the repair of road vehicle mechanisms, particularly the suspension, steering and braking systems
  • They hold a certificate of competency issued by the SAAQ

Mechanics are therefore not required to hold a PMP card in order to carry out preventive maintenance on vehicles with a GVWR of less than 7,258 kg.

How to have a PMP recognized

  1. Step 1 – Carefully read the Guide d’information d’un programme d’entretien préventif (PDF, 672.3 ko)This file does not meet the Web accessibility standard. (in French only)
  2. Step 2 – Fill out the forms
  3. Step 3 – Send the documents to your local Service du contrôle routier

How to implement a PMP

Once your PMP has been recognized, you have obligations and responsibilities to meet, including:

  • making sure your mechanics are qualified
  • affixing compliance stickers on your vehicles
  • filling out and keeping the maintenance sheets
  • making major and minor repairs on your vehicles
  • respecting the mechanical maintenance interval schedule
  • keeping records

For more information on the PMP

Contact your local Service du contrôle routier.

A PMP does not release owners of the requirement to maintain their vehicles in good condition and other legal obligations.

Adding or Withdrawing a Vehicle

Owners who want to add a new vehicle to the PMP or withdraw a vehicle from the PMP must fill out the form Modification des véhicules soumis au programme d’entretien préventif (PDF, 160.2 ko) (in French only) and return it to the SAAQ.

  • After written confirmation from the SAAQ, the vehicle that has been withdrawn must undergo a periodic mechanical inspection. Owners will have 90 days to do so.
  • After written confirmation from the SAAQ, the vehicle that has been added must immediately comply with the owner’s preventative maintenance program. Owners must comply with their obligations in order to keep all their related privileges.

Last update: May 17, 2022