Emergency Vehicles: Sirens and Flashing or Rotating Lights

Emergency vehicles use sirens and flashing or rotating lights. Other vehicles require authorization by the SAAQ.

Emergency vehicles that use sirens and flashing or rotating lights

• Police vehicles
• Ambulances
• Fire department vehicles

Vehicles for which authorization is required

These include various vehicles that may be recognized as emergency vehicles if they are used to:

• transport emergency medical personnel or to dispatch emergency medical or rescue equipment to a site where an individual requires immediate care
• maintain public peace, order and safety, to prevent crime and violation of federal or provincial laws or in the search for perpetrators:
  • by a federal or provincial peace officer whose duties require the use of a vehicle recognized as an emergency vehicle
  • by a special constable whose mission is to maintain public peace, order and safety
• dispense professional training offered by the École nationale de police du Québec, provided the vehicle is owned by the École
• dispense professional training in pre-hospital emergency care or fire protection and services offered by a vocational institute recognized by the ministère de l'Éducation et de l'Enseignement supérieur⁠ ⁠
• travel to sites where the environment is threatened, provided the vehicle is owned by the ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques⁠ ⁠
• travel to the scene of a disaster or a fire, provided the vehicle is owned by the ministère de la Sécurité publique⁠ ⁠

To obtain vehicle authorization and recognition

Step 1 – Filing an authorization application

Fill out the form entitled Demande d'autorisation pour la reconnaissance de véhicules d'urgence (PDF, 161.7 KB)⁠ (in French only) and send it to us.

Step 2 – Filing a recognition application

If you have been granted authorization, we will send you an authorization number.

You must then have each of your vehicles recognized by filling out the form entitled Demande de reconnaissance d'un véhicule d'urgence (PDF, 150.6 KB)⁠ (in French only) and sending it to us.

If the vehicle is recognized as an emergency vehicle, we will send you:

• a confirmation letter
• a recognition certificate
• a sticker
• a new registration certificate

Processing time for authorization, recognition and replacement is 10 business days.

Step 3 – Keeping the certificate and sticker

• The recognition certificate must be kept on board the vehicle at all times
• The sticker must be applied in the lower left (driver's side) corner of the windshield

Validity period of the certificate of recognition

The certificate is valid for two years.

To renew or replace a certificate of recognition

Prior to the expiry date of the certificate, you will receive a renewal notice along with the form Renouvellement du certificat de reconnaissance d’un véhicule d’urgence (in French only).

Fill out the form and return it to us before the due date indicated on the notice to receive a new certificate and sticker.

If the certificate or sticker has been lost or damaged

You must file a new request by filling out the form entitled Demande de reconnaissance d'un véhicule d'urgence (PDF, 150.6 KB)⁠ (in French only) and sending it to us.

Important! Remember to indicate the number of the old certificate of recognition and the reason you are filing an application.

Cancelling authorization or a certificate of recognition

To cancel authorization that was granted for the recognition of an emergency vehicle, you must fill out the form Annulation d’une autorisation pour la reconnaissance de véhicules d’urgence (PDF, 154.0 KB)⁠ (in French only) and send it to us.

Important! Note that cancelling an authorization also cancels all certificates of recognition that were issued in connection with it.

To cancel a certificate of recognition for an emergency vehicle, you must fill out the form Annulation de la reconnaissance d’un véhicule d’urgence (PDF, 154.9 KB)⁠ (in French only) and send it to us.

Submitting forms

Send all duly completed forms to us:

By mail

Division de la liaison avec les corps policiers (act. 41025)
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
333, boulevard Jean-Lesage
Case postale 19600, succursale Terminus
Québec (Québec)  G1K 8J6

By fax

418-643-1262

By email

SAAQ.DLCP-Liaison@saaq.gouv.qc.ca This link opens your default email software.