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. 

To register a vehicle to a business

The business must be registered with the Registraire des entreprises (enterprise register), because you need to provide your Québec enterprise number (NEQ) to register:

• a bus
• a minibus
• a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight ratingA vehicle's weight, including its maximum load capacity, according to the manufacturer's specifications. of 4,500 kg or more.

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

The business must be registered in the register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles of the Commission des transports du Québec (CTQ) if:

• the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight ratingA vehicle's weight, including its maximum load capacity, according to the manufacturer's specifications. of 4,500 kg or more
• OR
• the vehicle is a bus or a minibus

If the business purchasing the vehicle is not registered with the CTQ, it may still register the vehicle, but it cannot put it into operation.

Mechanical inspection

The most recent mechanical inspection must have been performed within the past 6 months for the following used vehicles:

• automobiles
• trucks
• buses
• minibuses
• trailers and semi-trailers
• scooters and other mopeds

For motorcycles, a mechanical inspection is required every 12 months.

You must present a valid mechanical inspection certificate when you register your vehicle.

Dual pedal system

If the vehicle requires a passenger (instructor) side pedal, you must obtain our authorization before registering the vehicle.

For details on the procedure, visit the Driving School Vehicle page.

To avoid unpleasant surprises

Before buying a used vehicle, check 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 vehicle that has not been paid for in full, it can be seized by the creditor.

You can also request the vehicle's ownership history 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 in the past, e.g. if it was used as a taxi before October 10, 2020

To obtain the vehicle's ownership history, you can:

• use the online service available via SAAQclic
• go to one of our service outlets

If the vehicle is not authorized for road use or has been stored for one year or longer

It cannot be put back into operation until it has undergone a mechanical inspection carried out by a road vehicle inspection agent authorized by the SAAQ and a mechanical inspection certificate has been issued confirming that the vehicle meets the applicable standards.

Documents required

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

If the vehicle is new

The buyer must present the Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant and Description du véhicule neuf forms given by the dealer.

If the vehicle is used

The documents you must present when you register the vehicle are different depending on the person or business from which you bought it. In any case, you must indicate the vehicle'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 Attestation de vérification form, if the vehicle is equipped with a passenger (instructor) side pedal	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 The most recent valid mechanical inspection certificate, which must be dated within the past 6 months

If the person registering the vehicle does not have a driver's licence

Phone us to find out what documents to bring when registering the vehicle.

If none of the business's directors can come to the service outlet in person

The person registering the vehicle will have to present the original copy of a document authorizing that person to act on its behalf.

If the vehicle comes from outside Québec

A vehicle from outside Québec is considered to be an imported vehicle, which means there are other documents the buyer will have to provide so that we can verify whether the vehicle can be used in Québec. Refer to Registering a vehicle from outside Québec section for more information.

Registration fees

To find out the cost to have a vehicle owned by a driving school 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 vehicle is new or used, the buyer must pay the GST and QST if the vehicle is bought from a dealership, business or self-employed worker registered for the GST and QST.

For more information, phone Revenu Québec.

If the vehicle is purchased from an individual, the buyer is only required to pay the QST.

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