Other Vehicles with Restricted-Area Use

With a restricted-area use licence plate, a vehicle may:

• only be operated on roads where the speed limit is 70 km/h or under, provided those roads are not highways or limited access roadsA public road that may be entered or left only at the specially provided entrances or exits.
• perform a right-angle crossing on roads where the speed limit is above 70 km/h, provided those roads are not highways or limited access roads.

Vehicles bearing a restricted-area use licence plate are authorized to operate on any public road when travelling as part of an event organized by a vintage vehicle club registered in Québec.

Registration with the commission des transports du Québec

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 and it is owned by a business, 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 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

• If the heavy vehicle is used, the most recent mechanical inspection must have been performed within the past 12 months.
• If the vehicle is a bus or a minibus, a mechanical inspection must have been performed every 6 months.
• You must bring the mechanical inspection certificate confirming that the vehicle meets the applicable standards with you when you register your 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 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 SAAQclic⁠ ⁠. You can also use our automated telephone services by calling 1-800-361-7620 (choose option 4, then option 5, then option 4 again).

If the Vehicle Is Prohibited From Being Put Into Operation or if It Was 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.

When acquiring a vehicle that has been in storage, the date as of which a mechanical inspection becomes required is based on the date the former owner put the vehicle into storage. 

Documents required

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

If the vehicle 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 vehicle is used

The documents you must present when you register your vehicle are different depending on the person or business you bought it from. However, regardless of who you bought it from, you must always indicate the vehicle's odometer reading. In the case of a military vehicle, you must also present a valid mechanical inspection certificate if no mechanical inspection appears in the vehicle’s record.

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, if applicable	The most recent valid mechanical inspection certificate, if applicable	The sales contract between the buyer and the business or self-employed worker that owns the vehicle The most recent valid mechanical inspection certificate, if applicable

If you are under age 18

You must also present the Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority (PDF, 128.7 KB)⁠ ⁠ 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 vehicle.

If you cannot go in person

The person who goes to the service outlet for you must bring the original Power of Attorney (PDF, 657.0 KB)⁠ ⁠ form completed by you beforehand.

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.

Payment options

At our service outlets, we accept payment:

• in cash
• by debit card (not available at 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 GST and QST

Whether the vehicle 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 vehicle 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 for:

• a hand-crafted vehicle
• a vehicle with a net weight of 450 kg or less, other than a moped or motorized scooter or a tool vehicle

If you own a snowmobile with a net weight of over 450 kg, this civil liability insurance policy must provide a minimum coverage of $1,000,000.