Hand-crafted vehicle
ChangeThere are several steps you must follow before you can register a hand-crafted vehicle with the SAAQ.
Before hand-crafting a vehicle, you should read the following documents:
ou can also contact an engineer or the Direction générale de l'expertise légale et de la sécurité des véhicules to check whether your vehicle will meet road safety standards.
Direction générale de l'expertise légale et de la sécurité des véhicules
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Case postale 19600, succursale Terminus
Québec (Québec) G1K 8J6
dgelsv@saaq.gouv.qc.ca This link opens your default email software.
418-528-3214
Phone your local police department, which will check whether the vehicle contains any components of suspicious origin (such as stolen or modified parts).
You must be able to show the origin of your vehicle's components and prove that you own them, for example, by providing invoices.
The police department will issue you a form confirming that the identification of vehicle components has been verified and affix stickers to the vehicle.
You will need these documents in order to apply for a vehicle identification number plate.
To apply for a vehicle identification number (VIN) plate, you must send us a letter containing the following information:
Careful with the deadline!
You have 60 days after signing the Vérification des pièces d'identification d'un véhicule form to send your application to the following address:
Division de la liaison avec les corps policiers
Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec
333, boulevard Jean-Lesage, secteur 41025
Case postale 19600, succursale Terminus
Québec (Québec) G1K 8J6
To make sure we will be able to process your application:
We will send you a letter indicating to which mechanical inspection centre you can go to have the vehicle identification number (VIN) plate installed.
The mechanical inspection centre will call you to set up an appointment for installing the plate.
Careful with the deadline!
You have 30 days from the mailing date of our letter to have the plate installed by the mechanical inspection centre. After that deadline, the plate will be cancelled and you will have to submit a new application.
If the hand-crafted vehicle is intended to be used only on private roads and property
You can go to one of our service outlets to register it.
After completing your hand-crafted vehicle project, you must check to see whether it meets standards.
To do so, you must make an appointment at a mechanical inspection centre to create the hand-crafted vehicle record. During this inspection, you can also have the plate installed on the vehicle.
The mechanical inspection centre will send us your file so that we can study it. The mechanical inspection centre will send us your file so that we can study it. Based on the complexity of your file and when you submit it, the analysis may take some time.
At this stage, we may require:
The mechanical inspection ensures that the hand-crafted vehicle is safe.
For the inspection, you must make an appointment at a mechanical inspection centre. The inspection is at your expense.
If the vehicle meets the safety standards for road vehicles, the mechanical inspection centre will issue you a valid mechanical inspection certificate.
You will need the certificate to put the vehicle back on the road.
Mechanical inspection certificate: keep it in your vehicle at all times
You may be asked to produce this certificate when you modify your vehicle registration or if you are pulled over by the police.
You must present:
Other documents may be required depending on the type of hand-crafted vehicle and how you use it.
You must also present the Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority (PDF, 123.4 ko) form completed by your father, mother or legal guardian.
Phone us to find out what documents you must bring with you to register the vehicle.
The person who goes to the service outlet for you must bring the original of the Power of Attorney (PDF, 298.8 ko) form completed by you.
At our service outlets, we accept payment:
Payment by credit card is not accepted.
You may not be required to pay the GST and QST when you register your vehicle.
For more information, phone Revenu Québec.
A passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle is considered a luxury vehicle if it meets the following 3 criteria:
In such a case, a surcharge is added to the registration fee equal to 1% of the portion of the vehicle's value over $40,000.
A passenger vehicle, motor home or commercial vehicle is considered to be a large-cylinder capacity vehicle if:
AND
No surcharge is added to the registration fee for the following large-cylinder capacity vehicles:
You must have a civil liability insurance policy contracted from a private insurer providing minimum coverage of $50,000. The minimum is $1 million if you are a carrier and $2 million if you haul hazardous materials.
If you are not insured and you are pulled over by the police or involved in a traffic accident that causes more than $500 in damage to the property of another party:
At any time you may be pulled over by the police and be issued a statement of offence requiring you to have your vehicle inspected at a mechanical verification centre.
Mechanical inspection certificate: keep it in your vehicle at all times
You may be asked to produce this certificate when you modify your vehicle registration or if you are pulled over by the police.
Last update: May 16, 2022
