Vehicle Registered for Off-Road Use
ChangeVehicles that are designed for operation on public roads but operated solely on private roads or property must be registered under a V licence plate at an SAAQ service outlet.
Vehicles that can be registered for off-road use include:
Owners of certain off-road vehicles 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 must register in the Commission des transports du Québec's register of owners and operators of heavy vehicles.
Vehicles registered as off-road vehicles are not authorized to travel on public roads.
Operation of such vehicles is restricted to private roads or property, in particular:
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.
Before buying a used vehicle, 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:
To obtain a copy of the vehicle record, you can:
The buyer and the seller must present their driver's licence or another official photo ID document.
Call Revenu Québec to find out which documents are necessary for the calculation of QST in the following cases:
You must present the Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant and Description du véhicule neuf forms that you received from the dealer.
You must present the form entitled Attestation de transaction avec un commerçant and the vehicle’s registration certificate signed by the former owner and the dealer, if the vehicle was bought from a dealership.
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.
Call us to find out what documents you need to bring to register your vehicle.
The person registering the vehicle on your behalf will need to provide the original Power of Attorney (PDF, 224.7 ko) form completed by you beforehand.
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.
At our service outlets, we accept payment:
Payment by credit card is not accepted.
Whether the vehicle is new or used, you must pay the GST and QST if you buy it from a dealership.
If the vehicle is purchased from an individual, you are only required to pay the QST.
The vehicle is considered a luxury vehicle. This is the case when the vehicle meets all 3 of the following criteria:
Where this is the case, an additional registration fee—equal to 1% of the vehicle's value exceeding $40,000—must be paid.
Certain vehicles, such as motor homes, are exempt from the additional registration fee.
You must hold private civil liability insurance for at least $1,00,000 to ensure compensation for any bodily injury or property damage caused by your vehicle.
Check with the SAAQ to find out if you are entitled to financial compensation for injuries sustained in an accident involving your vehicle registered as an off-road vehicle.
Last update: May 13, 2022
