Before you can have a severely damaged and rebuilt vehicle registered, you must make sure it is authorized for road use in Québec.
It is branded "irrécupérable" (irreparable), meaning it can never be put back on the road. It can only be used for its parts. For more information, refer to the Flood-Damaged Road Vehicles page.
Important: Only some parts of a flooded vehicle may be reused. For more details, see the Ministerial Order.
To put a severely damaged and rebuilt vehicle back on the road, there is a multi-stage procedure you must follow, including a technical appraisal and a mechanical inspection. Only then can the vehicle be declared roadworthy.
Since June 18, 2018, when carrying out the technical appraisal of severely damaged vehicles that have been rebuilt, road vehicle inspection agents take into account new measures that have been implemented to improve vehicle safety. These new measures aim to ensure the safety of rebuilt vehicles, as well as compliance with the applicable regulations. For more information, refer to the page on full-body sectioning (clipping) of a vehicle and repairs to structural members (in French only).
The following rebuilt vehicles do not have to undergo a technical appraisal and mechanical inspection before they are put back on the road:
The buyer must have the vehicle inspected at a mechanical inspection centre to obtain:
If you wish to repair a severely damaged vehicle in order to put it back on the road, you must keep a rebuilding record as you carry out the repairs. The rebuilding record must be provided when you apply to have your rebuilt vehicle declared roadworthy using the form entitled Demande de certification d’un véhicule reconstruit (in French only). If any information is missing from the record, your application may be refused.
A sign with the date and the last 8 characters of the repaired vehicle’s VIN must appear in each photo. A sheet with this handwritten information must be clearly visible near the photographed part (see the example provided in the page on full-body sectioning (clipping) of a vehicle and repairs to structural members (in French only)).
The alignment certificate must be accompanied by an alignment report showing that the wheel alignment meets the manufacturer’s specifications. This report must contain the following information: the vehicle’s year, make, model and VIN, the manufacturer’s specifications and the results of the alignment. It must be dated and signed by the mechanic who carried out the alignment. If the signature is not sufficiently legible to identify the person signing the report, his or her name must appear in block letters. All this information must appear on the printed report.
The alignment results must be within the tolerance ranges specified by the manufacturer for each measure; otherwise, the report will be refused.
The alignment results must be within the tolerance ranges specified by the manufacturer for each measure; otherwise, the report will be refused.
The Demande de certification d’un véhicule reconstruit (in French only) must be duly completed and signed.
The complete rebuilding record must be given to the road vehicle inspection agent at the time of the technical appraisal.
When the rebuilding record is complete, you must make an appointment at a mechanical inspection centre.
On the day of the appraisal, you must present the rebuilding record. The appraisal is at your own expense.
Make sure that…
The requirements for replacing the following safety equipment are as follows:
The mechanical inspection centre will issue you a technical compliance certificate if the rebuilt vehicle meets the SAAQ’s requirements.
It must undergo another technical appraisal as soon as you have made the required corrections.
Once a technical compliance certificate has been issued, the vehicle must undergo a mechanical inspection.
If the vehicle meets the safety standards for road vehicles, the mechanical inspection centre will issue you a mechanical inspection certificate confirming that the vehicle meets the applicable standards.
You must obtain both a technical compliance certificate and a mechanical inspection certificate confirming that the vehicle meets the applicable standards before putting the vehicle back on the road.
You must present:
Other documents may be required depending on the type of rebuilt vehicle and how you intend to use it.
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.
Phone us to find out what documents will be required for you to put the vehicle back on the road.
The person who goes to the service outlet for you must bring the original of the Power of Attorney (PDF, 224.7 ko) form completed by you.
At our service outlets, we accept payment:
Payment by credit card is not accepted.
You may not be required to pay the GST and QST when you register your vehicle.
For more information, phone Revenu Québec.
A passenger vehicle or a commercial vehicle is considered a luxury vehicle if it meets the following 3 criteria:
In such a case, a surcharge is added to the registration fee equal to 1% of the portion of the vehicle's value over $40,000.
A passenger vehicle, motor home or commercial vehicle is considered to be a large-cylinder capacity vehicle if:
AND
No surcharge is added to the registration fee for the following large-cylinder capacity vehicles:
You must have a civil liability insurance policy contracted from a private insurer providing minimum coverage of $50,000.
If you are not insured and you are pulled over by the police or involved in a traffic accident that causes more than $500 in damage to the property of another party:
Last update: December 9, 2022
