Supervised practice and driver education in Quebec

By the end of this topic you can

• You can describe the structure of the compulsory driving course.
• You can explain who may supervise you outside lessons.
• You can plan practice drives that match each phase of the course.
• You can keep a simple record of your practice.

What you need to know and understand

• The course lasts at least 39 hours: 24 hours of theory in 12 modules and 15 hours of in-car lessons.
• In-car sessions last about 55 minutes each, with a briefing before and feedback after.
• The 12 modules are grouped into four phases with minimum lengths of 28, 28, 56 and 56 days.
• You need your learner's licence before the in-car sessions in Phase 2 can start.
• Your instructor does formative evaluations at in-car sessions 5, 10 and 15; session 15 is a summary before the road test.
• An accompanying driver must hold a valid Quebec Class 5 licence and have at least two years as a fully licensed driver.
• The SAAQ does not set a minimum number of practice hours with an accompanying driver, but encourages as many as possible.

How the course is built

Theory can be taught in a classroom or online. The phases follow a clear progression:

• Phase 1 (at least 28 days): the vehicle, the driver, the environment, at-risk behaviours, then the school test (Module 5). Passing leads to the learner's licence.
• Phase 2 (at least 28 days): accompanied driving and the OEA strategy (observe, evaluate, act), with guided in-car sessions.
• Phase 3 (at least 56 days): speed, sharing the road, and alcohol and drugs, with semi-guided sessions.
• Phase 4 (at least 56 days): fatigue and distractions, and eco-driving, as you move toward independent driving.

Practising with an accompanying driver

Between lessons, practise the skills your instructor has just covered. The SAAQ publishes an Accompanying Driver's Guide and an Accompanied Driving Log you can use to plan and record drives. Remember the learner rules on every outing: the accompanying driver sits in the front passenger seat, you stay off the road between midnight and 5 a.m., and you keep zero alcohol in your body. Driving alone or during those hours carries 4 demerit points, which is enough to lose a learner's licence.

1. Agree the goal of the drive before you set off, for example lane changes or a four-way stop.
2. Start on quiet streets and build up to busier roads, highways, night and winter driving.
3. After each drive, talk through what went well and one thing to improve.
4. Note the date, time, conditions and skills practised in your log.

Language and accessibility support

For deaf and hard of hearing learners, the SAAQ pays for certified sign-language interpreters during both parts of the course, as long as you attend an SAAQ-recognized school. Contact the SAAQ or an approved interpretation provider in your region before the course starts.

Common mistakes

• Only driving during lessons. Fifteen sessions alone rarely make a confident driver; add regular practice with your accompanying driver.
• Practising the same route every time. Vary roads, weather, traffic and time of day before midnight.
• Letting a supervisor with less than two years of full licence experience take the passenger seat.
• Skipping the theory review between modules. The SAAQ knowledge test draws on the same material.

Test yourself: Supervised practice and driver education in Quebec

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