Registering a Vehicle

Snowmobile or All-Terrain Vehicle Sold Between Individuals

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When an off-road vehicle (snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle) is sold between individuals, both the buyer and seller must go to an SAAQ service outlet to have the vehicle registered in the buyer's name.

What qualifies as an off-road vehicle

  • SnowmobilesA self-propelled winter vehicle that is designed to travel primarily over snow or ice and may or may not be equipped with a ski or steering blade. with a net weightWeight of the vehicle and the equipment permanently attached to it, excluding the weight of its load. of 450 kg or less
  • The following motorized all-terrain vehicles:
    • quad bikes, which are four-wheel vehicles equipped with a straddle seat and handlebars (also called four-wheelers)
    • recreational off-road vehicles, which are four-wheel vehicles equipped with one or more non-straddle seats, a steering wheel, pedals and a protective structure—and all of whose wheels are driving wheels and whose net mass does not exceed 450 kg in the case of single-seat vehicles and 750 kg in the case of multi-seat vehicles (also called side-by-side vehicles (SSV) and utility task vehicles (UTV))
    • trail bikes, which include dirt bikes, enduro motorcycles and motocross bikes
    • other motorized all-terrain vehicles that have 3 or more wheels and handlebars, are designed to be straddled and whose net weight does not exceed 600 kg

1 Before registration

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. You will be charged a fee for this service.

To avoid unpleasant surprises

Before buying a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle from an individual, 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 vehicle 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

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

1 Before registration

2 When you register your snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle

Documents required

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

The seller must also bring the vehicle registration certificate. If the seller doesn’t have one, he or she must call us before going to a service outlet.

Before Going to an SAAQ Service Outlet

To find out which documents are necessary for the calculation of QST, call Revenu Québec:

  • if the vehicle is more than 25 years old (more than 40 years old, in the case of a truck)
  • if the vehicle is a used luxury vehicle less than 25 years old and not listed in the reference guide used by Revenu Québec (luxury vehicles that are not listed: Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Hummer, Lamborghini, Lotus, Maserati and Rolls Royce)
  • if the vehicle comes from outside Canada
  • if the used vehicle is damaged or has unusual wear

If you are under age 18

You must also present the Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority (PDF, 103 KB) form completed by your father, mother or legal guardian.

If you do not have a driver's licence

Call us to find out what documents you need to bring to register your snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.

If you cannot go in person

The person registering the vehicle on your behalf will need to provide the original Power of Attorney (PDF, 178 KB) form completed by you.

If the vehicle is from outside Québec

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

2 When you register your snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle

3 Costs and payment

Payment methods

At our service outlets, we accept payment:

  • in cash
  • by Interac (debit card)—not available in some service outlets
  • by one or more pre-authorized debits (a cheque specimen must be provided)
  • by cheque or money order

Payment by credit card is not accepted.

Payment of the QST

You must pay the QST when you register your vehicle, even in the case of a used snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. The SAAQ collects the QST, which is calculated on the agreed sale price or the vehicle’s estimated value, whichever is higher.

You do not have to pay the GST, however, because the sale is between individuals.

Additional fee for trail maintenance

In addition to the annual registration fee, you must pay an additional charge that will be used to maintain Québec's network of snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle trails.

3 Costs and payment

4 Insurance

You must hold private civil liability insurance for at least $1,000,000 to ensure compensation for any bodily injury or property damage caused by your vehicle.

Such insurance coverage is required with the following vehicles:

  • snowmobiles with a net weightWeight of the vehicle and the equipment permanently attached to it, excluding the weight of its load. of 450 kg or less and whose width does not exceed 1.28 m, equipment included
  • four-wheel vehicles that are equipped with a straddle seat and handlebars (quad bikes)
  • four-wheel vehicles that are equipped with one or more non-straddle seats, a steering wheel, pedals and a protective structure— and all of whose wheels are driving wheels and whose net weight does not exceed 450 kg in the case of single-seat vehicles and 750 kg in the case of multi-seat vehicles (recreational off-road vehicles)
  • trail bikes
  • any other motorized all-terrain vehicles that have 3 or more wheels and handlebars, are designed to be straddled and whose net weight does not exceed 600 kg

Check with the SAAQ to find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for injuries sustained in an accident involving your snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.

The seller remains the owner and person liable for the vehicle until...

…the vehicle is registered in the buyer's name.

This means that if a buyer were to commit an offence or be involved in an accident with a vehicle that was still registered in the seller's name, the seller would be held responsible.

4 Insurance

Last update: October  2, 2017