Registering a Vehicle

The vehicle cannot be registered…

If the buyer or the seller has an unpaid fine for an offence under the Highway Safety Code or under a municipal traffic or parking bylaw.

The Bureau des infractions et amendes and the municipal courts are responsible for collecting fines. You cannot pay a fine at an SAAQ service outlet.

To check whether the vehicle can be registered, you can use our online service. 

Registration in the Registre des propriétaires et des exploitants de véhicules lourds (register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles)

If the owner of the bus or minibus is a business, it must be registered in the Registre des propriétaires et des exploitants de véhicules lourds of the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ) because such a vehicle is considered to be a heavy vehicleVehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 4,500 kg or more, as indicated on the compliance label..

If the business that bought the bus or minibus is not registered in the Registre, it can still register the vehicle, but cannot put it into operation.

Mechanical inspection

• If the school bus or minibus is used, the most recent mechanical inspection must have been performed within the past 6 months.
  • If the most recent mechanical inspection was performed more than 6 months ago, you must make an appointment at a mechanical inspection centre to obtain a valid mechanical inspection certificate.
• If the vehicle is from outside Québec, you must present a valid mechanical inspection certificate, even if you bought it from a dealership.

To avoid unpleasant surprises

Before buying a used bus or minibus, check with the Registre des droits personnels et réels mobiliers (register of personal and movable real rights—in French only) to make sure it is free of debt. If you buy a bus or minibus that has not been paid for in full, it can be seized by the creditor.

You can also request a copy of the vehicle record from the SAAQ to find out:

• if it has been rebuilt
• if it has passed a mechanical inspection
• how many people have owned it
• how it has been used
• its odometer reading

To obtain a copy of the vehicle record, you can:

• go to one of our service outlets
• submit the Vehicle Record Request (PDF, 110.3 ko) form

If the bus or minibus is not authorized for road use or has been in storage for one year or longer

You must present it for a mechanical inspection. If it passes the inspection, you will be issued a valid mechanical inspection certificate and you will be asked to present the certificate when you register your vehicle.

Documents required

The buyer and the seller must present their driver's licence or another official photo ID document.

If the bus or minibus is new

You must present the Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant and Description du véhicule neuf forms that you received from the dealer.

If the bus or minibus is used

The documents you must present when you register your bus or minibus are different depending on the person or business from which you bought it. In any case, you must indicate the bus's or minibus's odometer reading.

Bought from a dealership	Bought from an individual	Bought from a business or a self-employed worker registered for the GST and QSTA business or self-employed worker that is registered for and collects the GST and QST. For more information, phone Revenu Québec.
The Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant form The registration certificate signed by the former owner and the dealer The most recent valid mechanical inspection certificate, which must be dated within the past 6 months	The most recent valid mechanical inspection certificate, which must be dated within the past 6 months	The sales contract between the buyer and the business or self-employed worker that owns the vehicle The most recent valid mechanical inspection certificate, which must be dated within the past 6 months

 

If you are under age 18

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.

If you do not have a driver's licence

Phone us to find out what documents you must bring with you when registering your bus or minibus.

If you cannot come to the service outlet in person

• If your business owns the bus or minibus, the person representing the business must present the original of a power of attorney signed by one of its directors to act on its behalf.
• If you are an individual, the person who goes to the service outlet to register the bus or minibus for you must bring the original of the Power of Attorney (PDF, 298.8 ko) form completed by you.

If the bus or minibus is from outside Québec

It is considered to be an imported vehicle. In that case, there are other documents you have to present so that we can verify whether the bus or minibus is authorized for road use in Québec. To find out more, visit the Registering a vehicle from outside Québec web page.

Registration fees

To find out the cost to have a private bus or minibus registered, visit the Rates and Fines section.

Payment options

At our service outlets, we accept payment:

• in cash
• by Interac (debit card)—not available in some service outlets
• by cheque or money order

Payment by credit card is not accepted.

Payment of the GST and QST

Whether the bus or minibus is new or used, you must pay the GST and QST if you buy it from a dealership, business or self-employed worker registered for the GST and QST.

For more information, phone Revenu Québec.

If the bus or minibus is purchased from an individual, you are only required to pay the QST.

You must have a civil liability insurance policy contracted from a private insurer providing minimum coverage of $50,000.

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:

• your driver's licence or your right to obtain one could be suspended
• all of your vehicles may be prohibited from being put into operation
• you will be fined $325 to $2,800