Vintage Motorcycle
A vintage motorcycle must be registered at an SAAQ service outlet.
A vintage motorcycle, that is, a motorcycle whose model year is prior to 1981, must be preserved or restored to its original condition before it can be issued a licence plate with the prefix “C” followed by numbers.
Once it is registered under a restricted-area use licence plate, the motorcycle may:
- be operated only on roads with a speed limit of 70 km/h or less, provided those roads are not highways or A 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
Vintage motorcycles bearing a restricted-area use licence plate are authorized to be operated on all public roads when they are travelling as part of an event organized by a vintage motorcycle club registered in Québec.
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 motorcycle is prohibited from being put into operation 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.
When acquiring a motorcycle 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.
Before Going to an SAAQ Service Outlet
Call Revenu Québec to find out which documents are necessary for the calculation of QST in the following cases:
- if the vehicle is 25 years old or older (40 years old or older, 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
The documents you must present when you register your vintage motorcycle are different depending on the person or business from which you bought it. In all cases, the odometer reading must be specified.
| Bought from a dealership | Bought from an individual | Bought from a business or a self-employed worker A business or self-employed worker that is registered for and collects the GST and QST. For more information, phone Revenu Québec. |
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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 motorcycle.
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 motorcycle 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 motorcycle is authorized for road use in Québec.
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
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 motorcycle is purchased from an individual, you are only required to pay the QST.
The seller remains the owner and person liable for the motorcycle until...
It is registered in the buyer's name.
This means that should the buyer commit an offence or be involved in an accident with a motorcycle that is still registered in the seller's name, it is the seller who would be held responsible.
Last update: July 16, 2025