Demerit points, tickets and licence suspension in Quebec
Quebec uses demerit points to track risky driving. Points are added to your SAAQ driving record when you are convicted of certain offences, and when you reach your limit your licence is revoked.
New drivers have the lowest limit of all: just 4 points. One ticket can be enough.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can name your demerit point bracket at each licence stage.
- You can explain when points are added and how long they stay.
- You can describe what happens when you reach your limit.
- You can name offences that alone are enough to revoke a novice licence.
What you need to know and understand
- Learner and probationary licence holders, and people without a licence, are in the 4-point bracket.
- Full licence holders: 8 points under 23, 12 points at 23 or 24, and 15 points at 25 or older.
- Points go on your record when you pay the fine or a judgment is given.
- For penalty purposes, points stay on your record for two years from the conviction date.
- A revocation lasts at least three months, and can be six or 12 months.
- Driving while revoked or suspended leads to a 30-day vehicle seizure and a $600 to $2,000 fine.
- Quebec shares point records with Ontario, Maine and New York State.
How the brackets work
Your bracket depends on your type of licence and your age. Reaching or passing the threshold triggers a revocation notice. People with an 8, 12 or 15 point bracket get a warning letter part way, but there is no warning in the 4-point bracket: the next letter is the revocation itself. Passengers can collect points too, for example for not wearing a seatbelt.
Offences that end a novice licence in one go
Each of these carries 4 points or more, enough on its own to revoke a learner or probationary licence:
- Driving with any alcohol in your body under the zero-alcohol rule: 4 points.
- Driving unaccompanied or between midnight and 5 a.m. as a learner: 4 points.
- Not yielding to an emergency vehicle or not respecting the move-over law: 4 points.
- Using a phone or portable device while driving: 5 points.
- Not stopping for a school bus with lights flashing: 9 points.
- Excessive speeding: at least 6 points, because the points for this offence are doubled.
What happens after a revocation
A full or probationary licence holder facing a first revocation in two years may ask a judge for a restricted licence if driving is essential to their main job. Our Quebec demerit points table lists the points for each offence.
- You receive a notice of revocation showing your points and how long they will stay on record.
- You may not drive for the revocation period: at least three months, or six or 12 months depending on your bracket, points and recent history.
- When the period ends, you must pass a reinstatement test before a new licence is issued.
- Points also raise your yearly licence cost through a higher insurance contribution.
Common mistakes
- Thinking points only matter once you have a full licence. Learners collect them too, with the lowest limit.
- Ignoring tickets from Ontario, Maine or New York. Those points follow you home.
- Driving during a revocation to get to work. The vehicle is seized for 30 days and the fine is $600 to $2,000.
- Assuming points vanish after one year. They count for two years from the conviction.
Test yourself: Demerit points, tickets and licence suspension in Quebec
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: SAAQ, Demerit Points; SAAQ, Offences and Demerit Points; SAAQ, Speed: What the Law Says. Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with your province or territory.