Getting your Quebec learner licence

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether you are eligible to apply.
• You can describe what you must finish at the driving school before applying.
• You can gather the right documents for your SAAQ appointment.
• You can explain how long the learner's licence lasts and what it costs.

What you need to know and understand

• You must be 16 or older, live in Quebec and be a Canadian citizen or authorized to stay in Canada for more than six months.
• If you are under 18, a parent or legal guardian must sign the SAAQ consent form.
• You must finish the four Phase 1 modules of the driving course and pass the school's test (Module 5) first.
• You can register for the course before turning 16 to complete the theory part.
• At the service centre you pass a vision test and fill in a declaration about illness or impairment.
• The learner's licence is valid for 18 months and can be renewed for 12 more months if needed.
• The SAAQ listed the fee as $88.35 in 2026, including the photo. Check the current amount before you go.

Before you book: the driving school part

Phase 1 of the passenger vehicle course covers the vehicle, the driver, the environment and at-risk behaviours. Each module has a two-hour classroom session plus self-study. When you have finished, the school gives you a test (Module 5). Pass it and the school gives you an attestation, which you need at the SAAQ. If you studied at more than one school, bring the attestation from each one.

The SAAQ suggests reading its Illness or Functional Impairment Checklist before you register, so any health issue that affects driving is dealt with early.

At the SAAQ service centre

Book an appointment for a learner's licence at an SAAQ service centre. On the day, the steps are:

1. Hand in the parental consent form, completed and signed, if you are under 18.
2. Show the original attestation that you passed Phase 1 and the school test.
3. Take the vision test and complete the Declaration of Illness or Impairment.
4. Pay the learner's licence fee. Cash, debit, cheque, money order and pre-authorized debit are accepted, but not credit cards.

Documents for a first licence

For a first licence you must show two official documents, one of them with a photo. If you were born in Canada, one document must be something like a recognized birth certificate, a Canadian passport or a citizenship certificate; the second can be your health insurance card. If you were born elsewhere, one document must prove your status, such as a Canadian passport, a permanent resident card or a foreign passport with proof of legal status. The SAAQ lists exactly which papers it accepts, so check its list before your appointment.

What the learner's licence lets you do

With the learner's licence you can drive on public roads as long as a driving school instructor or an accompanying driver sits beside you. The accompanying driver needs a valid Quebec Class 5 licence and at least two years as a fully licensed driver. You may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., you must keep zero alcohol in your body, and you are in the 4-point demerit bracket. Our guide to learning to drive in Quebec covers the full journey.

Common mistakes

• Arriving without the driving school attestation. The SAAQ will not issue the licence without it.
• Bringing photocopies instead of original documents. Take originals.
• Planning to pay by credit card. It is not accepted at SAAQ service outlets.
• Forgetting the consent form when under 18. Get it signed before the appointment.

Test yourself: Getting your Quebec learner licence

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Exchanging a foreign licence in Quebec
• Learning to drive in Quebec
• Quebec demerit points table