Photo: Gabriel Picard, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Quebec probationary licence lasts 24 months after you pass the SAAQ road test. You lose it for at least 3 months if you reach 4 demerit points, you must keep zero alcohol in your body, and if you are 19 or younger there are passenger limits between midnight and 5 a.m. in your first 12 months. This page explains each rule and what losing the licence means. It is part of the Quebec learner driver guide.
Key facts
- Length: 24 months.
- Demerit limit: 4 points means losing the licence for at least 3 months.
- Zero alcohol for the whole probationary period, at any age.
- Night passenger limits for drivers 19 or younger in their first 12 months.
- You cannot be an accompanying rider for a learner.
How many demerit points can a probationary driver have in Quebec?
You must keep fewer than 4 demerit points. Reach 4 and the SAAQ revokes your licence for at least 3 months, on top of any fines. The SAAQ tells you in writing when your licence is revoked.
Worked example
A probationary driver collects 4 points from a single conviction (for example, the zero alcohol offence below). That one conviction reaches the limit: the licence is revoked for at least 3 months. Speeding offences also carry points, and higher speeds carry more, so two smaller tickets can add up to 4 just as fast. Check the SAAQ’s demerit table for the points attached to each offence.
Zero alcohol on a probationary licence
Zero alcohol applies for as long as you hold a probationary licence, whatever your age. Drive with any alcohol in your body and you face:
- an immediate 90-day licence suspension
- a fine of $300 to $600
- 4 demerit points on conviction, which revokes the licence for at least 3 more months
Full details: zero alcohol in Quebec until 22.
Passenger limits between midnight and 5 a.m.
If you are 19 or younger and have held your probationary licence for less than 12 months, these limits apply between midnight and 5 a.m.:
| Time on probationary licence | Passengers aged 19 or younger allowed |
|---|---|
| First 6 months | 1 |
| After 6 months, up to 12 months | 3 |
- Immediate family members do not count toward the limit. The SAAQ lists your spouse (married, civil union or de facto), your children and your spouse’s children, your brothers and sisters, and any other child of your father or mother or of either one’s spouse.
- The limit does not apply if a driver with at least 2 years of experience sits in the front passenger seat.
- Breaking the rule carries a fine of $200 to $300 and, in the SAAQ’s demerit table, 4 demerit points. That alone reaches the probationary limit.
Other rules for probationary drivers
- No supervising: you cannot be an accompanying rider for a learner, and probationary time does not count toward the 2 years a rider needs.
- Winter tires: compulsory from 1 December to 15 March on Quebec-registered vehicles. See Quebec winter tire law.
- Montreal: right turn on red has its own rule on the island. See right turn on red in Quebec.
What happens after 24 months?
Once the probationary period ends, you move to a regular Class 5 licence, with the higher demerit threshold that applies to experienced drivers. If you are still under 22, the zero alcohol rule continues until your 22nd birthday.
Common questions
How long is a probationary licence in Quebec?
24 months.
What happens if I get 4 demerit points?
Your licence is revoked for at least 3 months, and you must follow the SAAQ’s process to get it back.
Can I drive friends home after midnight?
If you are 19 or younger and in your first 12 months, only within the limits above (1 passenger aged 19 or younger in the first 6 months, then 3), unless an experienced driver sits in the front.
Can I have one drink if I am over 22 on a probationary licence?
No. Zero alcohol applies to all probationary licence holders, whatever their age.
Can I supervise my younger sibling?
No. A probationary licence holder cannot be an accompanying rider.
Sources
- SAAQ, “Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle Driver’s Licence (Class 5)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Demerit Points: Driver’s Licence” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Demerit Points: Penalties” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “First Driver’s Licence” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Drinking and Driving: Impairment and Consequences” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Accompanying Rider’s Guide: passenger vehicle” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Quick Reference Guide: Obtaining a passenger vehicle driver’s licence (Class 5)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)