Photo: Gilbert Bochenek, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
To get a Class 5 (passenger vehicle) licence in Quebec, you take a driving course at a recognized school, earn a learner’s licence, hold it for at least 12 months, pass the SAAQ knowledge test and road test, then drive on a probationary licence for 24 months. This guide sets out each step in order, with the waiting periods and rules the SAAQ (Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec) applies. For how Quebec compares with other provinces, see learning to drive in Canada.
Key facts
- Minimum age: 16. Under 18, you need consent from a parent or legal guardian.
- The driving course is compulsory: 24 hours of theory plus 15 in-car sessions.
- SAAQ knowledge test: after at least 10 months on a learner’s licence.
- SAAQ road test: after at least 12 months on a learner’s licence. Pass mark 75%.
- Probationary licence: 24 months, fewer than 4 demerit points, zero alcohol.
The Quebec licence path at a glance
| Stage | What you do | Minimum time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Driving course, Phase 1 | Modules 1 to 4 (theory), then the school’s Module 5 evaluation | Phase 1 lasts at least 28 days |
| 2. Learner’s licence | Issued by the SAAQ once you pass Module 5. Continue the course (Phases 2 to 4) and practise with an accompanying rider | At least 12 months before the road test |
| 3. SAAQ knowledge test | Computer test on the Highway Safety Code, signs and signals, and driving techniques | After 10 months on the learner’s licence |
| 4. SAAQ road test | About 30 minutes on the road with an examiner | After 12 months on the learner’s licence, with the course finished |
| 5. Probationary licence | Drive alone, under probationary rules | 24 months |
| 6. Regular licence | Normal Class 5 licence | After the probationary period |
Step 1: Enrol in a recognized driving course
In Quebec you cannot get a learner’s licence without first starting the Road Safety Education Program at a driving school. You can register before your 16th birthday to complete the theory.
- Phase 1 covers Modules 1 to 4. Each module has a 2-hour classroom session and a self-study part done online.
- Module 5 is an evaluation run by your school. Passing it is the prerequisite for the learner’s licence.
Full breakdown of phases, modules and in-car sessions: Quebec’s mandatory driving course.
Step 2: Get your learner’s licence
Once you pass Module 5, the SAAQ issues your Class 5 learner’s licence. If you are under 18, bring the SAAQ’s Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority form. Learner rules in Quebec:
- Drive only with an accompanying rider who has held a valid passenger vehicle licence for at least 2 years.
- No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Zero alcohol.
- Reaching 4 demerit points costs you the learner’s licence for at least 3 months.
Details: Quebec learner’s licence rules.
Step 3: Pass the SAAQ knowledge test
After at least 10 months on your learner’s licence, you can take the SAAQ knowledge test at a service centre. It has three sections: the Highway Safety Code, road signs and traffic signals, and behaviours and techniques for driving a passenger vehicle. If you fail, you wait at least 28 days to retake it. See the SAAQ knowledge test guide and the guide to Quebec road signs in French.
Step 4: Pass the SAAQ road test
To book the road test you must have completed the driving course, held your learner’s licence for at least 12 months and passed the knowledge test. The test lasts about 30 minutes. You need 75% to pass, and certain dangerous actions or Highway Safety Code offences mean an automatic fail. A failed test means waiting at least 28 days before trying again. See the SAAQ road test guide.
The tests are offered in French or English, with some extra options for newcomers: taking the SAAQ tests in English or another language.
Step 5: Drive on a probationary licence for 24 months
- Keep fewer than 4 demerit points. Reaching 4 means losing the licence for at least 3 months.
- Zero alcohol for the whole probationary period.
- If you are 19 or younger and have held the licence for less than 12 months, passenger limits apply between midnight and 5 a.m.
- You cannot act as an accompanying rider for a learner.
Details: Quebec probationary licence rules and zero alcohol in Quebec until 22.
What does it cost?
You pay the driving school for the course (schools set their own prices) and the SAAQ for each test and licence. The SAAQ’s 2024 fee table lists the passenger vehicle road test at $32.00, and SAAQ material lists the probationary licence at $58.10 for its 24 months. SAAQ fees are indexed each year, so check the current figures on the SAAQ’s rates page before you book.
Quebec rules every new driver should know
- Winter tires are compulsory from 1 December to 15 March.
- Right turn on red has a Montreal exception.
- Driving in Montreal as a new driver: bike lanes, one-way streets and photo radar.
- Moving from abroad: exchanging a foreign licence in Quebec.
Common questions
Is driving school mandatory in Quebec?
Yes. You must complete a recognized driving course to get a Class 5 learner’s licence and to book the road test.
How long does it take to get a full licence in Quebec?
At least 12 months on the learner’s licence, then 24 months on the probationary licence: about 3 years in total from your learner’s licence.
Can I drive alone with a learner’s licence?
No. You need an accompanying rider who has held a valid passenger vehicle licence for at least 2 years. A probationary licence holder does not qualify.
Can I take the tests in English?
Yes. Both are offered in French or English.
What happens if I fail the knowledge test or road test?
You wait at least 28 days before retaking it, and book a new appointment.
Do I need winter tires to take the road test in winter?
If the car is registered in Quebec, yes: every Quebec-registered motor vehicle must have winter tires from 1 December to 15 March.
Sources
- SAAQ, “Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle Driver’s Licence (Class 5)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Quick Reference Guide: Obtaining a passenger vehicle driver’s licence (Class 5)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Driving Course: Automobile (Passenger Vehicle)” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Accompanying Rider’s Guide: passenger vehicle” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Newcomers: Preparing for the tests” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- SAAQ, “Fees Related to Knowledge and Road Tests” (saaq.gouv.qc.ca)
- Government of Quebec, “Requirements for winter tires” (quebec.ca)