Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec

Vehicles Qualified for Remunerated Passenger Transportation

Vehicles are considered qualified for remunerated passenger transportation when they are authorized by the SAAQ (authorized vehicle) or registered with a transportation system operator (registered vehicle) who is authorized by the Commission des transports du Québec website⁠ ⁠ (in French Only). You need to contact the transportation system operator in order to register. 

Changes Concerning the Taxi Industry

The Act respecting remunerated passenger transportation by automobile⁠ ⁠ came into force on October 10, 2020. To find out more about the obligations set forth under the Act and its attendant regulations, see the reference document⁠ ⁠ (in French only) or visit the Transport rémunéré de personnes par automobile⁠ ⁠ page (in French only) on the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable website.

Who can apply to have their automobile authorized for remunerated passenger transportation?

  • Owners of a vehicle registered in Québec
  • Co-owners or co-lessees of vehicles registered under more than one name

Vehicles eligible for remunerated passenger transportation

  • Passenger vehicles intended for personal use
  • Passenger vehicles intended for commercial or special use (F plate)
  • Electric passenger vehicles
  • Amateur radio operator vehicles (VA2 or VE2 plate)

Vehicles that are not eligible for remunerated passenger transportation

  • Trailers, camping trailers and tent trailers (R plate)
  • Buses or minibuses (A plate)
  • Off-road vehicles (V licence plate)
  • Heavy vehicles (L plate)
  • Passenger vehicles used by members of a consular corps or a foreign delegation (CC plate)
  • Passenger vehicles used by members of a diplomatic corps or the International Civil Aviation Organization (CD plate)
  • Vehicles with a dealer plate (X plate)

Vehicle eligibility criteria

Standard vehicle

  • The vehicle is authorized for road use.
  • The vehicle does not belong to a person who owns one or several vehicles whose authorized vehicle attestations are currently suspended or revoked, or have been suspended or revoked at any point during the past 5 years.
  • The vehicle is a sedan, family sedan, sport utility vehicle or minivan and designed to carry up to 9 occupants at a time.
  • The vehicle is not equipped with an alcohol ignition interlock device.
  • The vehicle is equipped with a GPS device (for the Montréal area).
  • The vehicle is not more than 10 years old at the time of the application for authorization or renewal.
  • The vehicle has a wheelbase of at least 261 cm (256 cm for electric vehicles).
  • The vehicle has a net weight of less than 3,500 kg.
  • The vehicle is equipped with at least 4 seat belts. As of April 1, 2021, the vehicle must also be equipped with a seat belt extender compatible with the vehicle's seat belts.
  • The vehicle has a solid roof.
  • The vehicle has at least 4 side doors (vans and sports utility vehicles must have 3 or 4 side doors).
  • Vans must have a running board.

Adapted vehicle

  • The vehicle is equipped with an access ramp or platform lift.
  • Wheelchair access is on the vehicle’s right side (lateral access).
  • The net weight is 4,000 kg or less.

Limousine

  • The vehicle corresponds to the most luxurious make marketed by its manufacturer at the time.
  • The vehicle has a wheelbase greater than 280 cm.
  • The vehicle has a net weight of less than 4,000 kg.

We recommend that you view the list of qualified vehicle makes and models (PDF, 516.9 KB)⁠ ⁠ (in French only) for remunerated passenger transportation. 

The SAAQ reserves the right to refuse or withdraw a vehicle’s authorization for remunerated passenger transportation if it no longer meets the eligibility criteria or was used to commit an offence.

Required documents

You must go to one of our service outlets and bring:

If you are eligible, we will give you:

  • a certificate attesting that the vehicle is authorized for remunerated passenger transportation
  • a government-issued accessory, if your vehicle is not equipped with a dome light

Note that the vehicle authorization and the government-issued accessory are not transferable.

Every year, the SAAQ sends a renewal notice to the owners of authorized vehicles that are used to provide remunerated passenger transportation. 

Payment

  • You can mail a cheque to the following address:
    Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
    Case postale 19800, succursale Terminus
    Québec (Québec) G1K 8X7

    OR
     

  • Go to one of our  service outlets to make your payment

When to renew your authorized vehicle’s attestation

The attestation renewal period varies depending on the type of vehicle and how you use it.

Passenger vehicles (plates without a prefix, personalized plates and veteran’s plates)

Attestation renewal occurs each year at the same time that the vehicle’s registration is renewed. The first letter of your last name determines the month in which your vehicle's registration is renewed.

First letter of last name Renewal month 
BJanuary
A – C – WFebruary
D – E – FMay
G – H – JJune
M – N – O – VAugust
LSeptember
P – Q – ROctober
I – K – S – T – U – X – Y – ZNovember

Commercial-use vehicles (F plate)

The attestation of authorization for passenger vehicles used mainly (more than 50% of the time) for remunerated passenger transportation is renewed in March.

Amateur radio operator vehicles

The attestation of authorization for vehicles bearing an amateur radio operator plate is renewed in March.

Restricted-use vehicle (C plate)

The attestation of authorization for restricted-use vehicles is renewed in March.

Modifications made to your authorized vehicle

Keep your authorized vehicle attestation payment notice. You may need it to inform us of modifications made to your vehicle during the year. 

Cancellation of your vehicle authorization

If a vehicle is no longer in your possession or is no longer used to provide remunerated passenger transportation, you must inform the SAAQ. To do so, you can fill out the “Cancellation” section of your authorized vehicle attestation payment notice and return it to us by mail.

All vehicles authorized for remunerated passenger transportation are required to undergo a mechanical inspection depending on the vehicle’s age and odometer reading. 

If the vehicle is 4 years old or older, or if the vehicle is less than 4 years old but has reached 80,000 km, a mechanical inspection is required every year or every 60,000 km. 

If the vehicle is 8 to 10 years old, the mechanical inspection must be carried out every 6 months. 

You must schedule an appointment with an SAAQ road vehicle inspection agent.

If the vehicle is found to be compliant, the road vehicle inspection agent will affix an inspection sticker on the vehicle. If the vehicle is not compliant, the necessary repairs will have to be made.

Cost for an authorized vehicle attestation

$273.18 (including taxes) for issue (pro rata based on the date of issue) or renewal

$10.50 (including taxes) for replacement

Cost of the government-issued accessory

$19.90 (including taxes) for issue or replacement

Last update: May 22, 2025