Driver License Types & How to Get a Driver’s License in Quebec

In Quebec, individuals with a valid license as young as 16 can drive. To get a driver’s license, one must first obtain a learner’s license by passing both theoretical and practical exams administered by the Société de l’assurance Automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Quebec provides different categories of driver’s licenses, and the number of demerit points assigned depends on your age and the license category.

Quebec Learner’s License

To obtain a learner’s permit, you must be at least 16 years old. If you are under 18, you need written consent from a legal guardian. This permit allows you to drive only when accompanied by a licensed driver with at least two years of experience. You have 18 months to meet all the requirements set by the SAAQ before the permit expires. A learner with a license can only accumulate four demerit points, and reaching four or more points results in an automatic suspension. Additionally, the learner’s license enforces a “zero tolerance” policy regarding alcohol, meaning any alcohol consumption before driving is strictly forbidden and can result in severe legal consequences, including a 90-day suspension. The license also restricts driving between midnight and 5 a.m., with violations leading to substantial fines.

Quebec Probationary License

A probationary license allows you to drive alone without a supervising driver and is valid for two years.

To be eligible, you must have held a learner’s permit for at least 10 months.

The probationary license uses a four-demerit-point system, where accumulating four points results in automatic suspension.

A zero-tolerance alcohol policy applies, meaning any alcohol consumption before driving is prohibited and violations lead to penalties.

If you are under 19, you can only have one passenger under 19 in your vehicle between midnight and 5 a.m. during the first six months of your probationary license.

During the latter half of the first year, you can have up to three passengers under 19 with you during those hours.

How to Get a Driver’s License in Quebec

Permis d'apprenti conducteur

What it is: The second stage in getting your driver’s license in Quebec.

Steps to get it:

Pass a knowledge test at a driving school.
Go to a Quebec service outlet to get the learner’s license.
Pass a vision test and fill out a Declaration of Illness or Impairment form.

Duration: Valid for 18 months.

Driving Conditions:

You can drive with a licensed instructor or an accompanying driver who has held a Class 5 license for at least two years.
Continue with the driving school course: 24 hours of theory and 15 hours of on-road driving with an instructor.
Must hold the learner’s license for at least 10 months.

Restrictions:

Must drive with a supervisor (a driver with a valid Class 5 license for at least two years) or a qualified instructor.
No alcohol or drugs allowed.
No driving between midnight and 5 a.m.
No handheld electronic devices.
Restricted to a four demerit point limit.

Probationary License

What it is: The next stage after the learner’s license.

Steps to get it:

Hold your learner’s license for at least 12 months.
Complete a recognized driving course.
Pass a knowledge test and a road test.

Restrictions:

Restricted to a four demerit point limit.
No alcohol or drugs allowed.
Limit of one passenger for the first six months (immediate family members are exempt). After six months, you can have up to three passengers unless you’re with a supervising driver.
No handheld electronic devices.

Full License

What it is: The final step in Quebec’s driving system.

Requirements:

Maintain a good driving record for two years with a probationary license.
You do not need to take a road test, but you must show safe driving skills over two years.

Conditions:

Your car must have auto insurance.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) must be below 0.05%.

New Residents

Driving with a foreign license: Valid for the first six months.

After six months: You need an international driving permit.

Getting a Quebec license: Apply as soon as you settle in Quebec.

To obtain your full driver’s license, you must have held your probationary license for at least two years. There are three demerit point systems based on age: 8 points, 12 points, and 15 points. Drivers who are 23 years old or younger are subject to the eight-point system. The 12-point system applies to drivers who are 23 or 24, while the 15-point system applies to drivers who are 25 or older. Additionally, the zero-tolerance alcohol policy remains in effect for individuals under 21, regardless of whether they hold a driver’s license.

Types of Driver’s License

Classe 1

Combinations of road vehicles include:

A truck-tractor with 2 axles and a net mass of 4,500 kg or more, pulling one or more trailers or semitrailers.

A truck-tractor with 3 or more axles, towing one or more trailers or semitrailers;

A truck that meets Class 3 standards, towing a trailer or semitrailer with a net mass of 4,500 kg or more, used exclusively for transporting permanently equipped machinery, implements, or fixtures, or any other trailer or semitrailer with a net mass of 2,000 kg or more.

If the license holder’s file indicates it, they can drive any of these vehicle combinations in Class 1 if they have a manual transmission or air braking system, or drive a road train as defined in the Special Road Train Operating Permits Regulation.

The minimum age required is 20 years old.

Classe 2

This class covers buses intended for transporting over 24 passengers at a time. Drivers can operate these buses if they have a manual transmission or an air braking system, as long as the information is documented in the license holder’s file. This pertains to vehicles in Classes 3, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 19 years old.

Classe 3

This category includes trucks that have either 2 axles and a net mass of 4,500 kg or more, or 3 or more axles. This classification covers vehicles in Classes 4A, 4B, 4C, 5, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 19 years old.

Class 4 A

This category covers emergency vehicles. It is relevant for vehicles classified under 4B, 4C, 5, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 19 years old.

Class 4 B

This category includes buses designed to carry 24 passengers or fewer at a time, as well as minibuses. It applies to vehicles in Classes 4C, 5, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 18 years old.

Class 4 C

This category covers taxis, applicable to vehicles in Classes 5, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 18 years old.

Classe 5

This category includes motor vehicles with 2 axles and a net mass of under 4,500 kg, motor vehicles permanently converted into dwellings, special mobile equipment vehicles, and service vehicles equipped for refueling, repairing, or towing road vehicles. It applies to vehicles in Classes 6D and 8.

The minimum age required is 17 years old.

Class 6 A

This category includes any motorcycle, applicable to vehicles in Classes 6B, 6C, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 16 years old.

Class 6 B

This category includes motorcycles with an engine piston displacement of 400 cc or less. It applies to vehicles in Classes 6C, 6D, and 8.

The minimum age required is 16 years old.

Class 6 C

This category covers motorcycles with an engine piston displacement of 125 cc or less and includes vehicles in Classes 6D and 8.

The minimum age required is 16 years old.

Class 6 D

This category includes mopeds.

The minimum age required is 14 years old.

Class 8

Tractors utilized for farming or related activities.

The minimum age required is 16 years old.

Smart and Effective Prep With Canada Learners Licence Test

In Quebec, getting a driver’s license involves three steps: starting with a learner’s license, moving to a probationary license, and finally getting a full license. Each step has its own rules, like needing a supervisor, no alcohol, and limits on passengers. New residents can drive with a foreign license for six months but must switch to a Quebec license after that. Follow the rules, keep a good driving record, and you’ll earn full driving rights. Pratique du test de connaissances SAAQ focuses on driving aspects covered in the official driver’s license manual. These inputs will guide you in preparing for the SAAQ Written Exam, helping you easily pass the exam. It is essential to keep track of your performance and progress. The Practice Test helps you track your performance and identify areas you need to focus more on. Tracking your performance gives you an understanding of the strategies that work for you. Reading the entire driver’s license manual is time-consuming and boring, but if you practice with our tests, you can prepare effectively and do well in the official SAAQ Written Exam. 