SAAQ Class 5: Demerit points and licence revocation

Demerit point brackets by licence and age, revocation periods, how long points stay on your record, restricted licences, and the points for common offences.

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Demerit points and licence revocation · Question 1Score 0/0

You got a ticket for an offence that carries demerit points. When are the points actually entered on your record?

Tip: press 1–4 to answer and Enter for the next question.

Study reference: SAAQ Driver's Handbook (2nd edition), Ch. 1 The Driver — A revoked or suspended licence, demerit points, pp. 44–50; Ch. 6 Offences and Consequences — Offences and demerit points, pp. 308–311

All 14 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

You got a ticket for an offence that carries demerit points. When are the points actually entered on your record?
1. On the day you commit the offence
2. When the SAAQ gets notice of the conviction
3. On the day you renew your licence
4. When the officer hands you the ticket
You are 30 and have 14 demerit points. A new conviction adds 2 more and your licence is revoked. How many points remain on your record afterward?
1. 16 points
2. 2 points
3. 0 points
4. 1 point
You are caught driving at 95 km/h in a 70 km/h zone. How many demerit points does this offence carry?
1. 2 points
2. 1 point
3. 3 points
4. 4 points
A 40-year-old driver reaches the 15-point bracket for the second time within two years. How long is the revocation?
1. 12 months
2. 6 months
3. 3 months
4. 24 months
For a fully licensed driver aged 25 or older, revocation happens when the record reaches how many points?
1. 10 points
2. 12 points
3. 15 points
4. 20 points
You hold a learner's or probationary licence. How many demerit points on your record will get your licence revoked?
1. 4 points
2. 8 points
3. 6 points
4. 12 points
Your licence was revoked for demerit points, but you drive anyway and are stopped. What penalty applies?
1. $600–$2,000 fine and 30-day impoundment
2. $1,500–$3,000 fine and 90-day impoundment
3. $100–$200 fine and no impoundment
4. $300–$600 fine and 7-day impoundment
You pass a school bus that has its flashing lights on. How many demerit points can this offence cost you?
1. 9 points
2. 4 points
3. 12 points
4. 3 points
Your licence is revoked for the first time because of demerit points, and driving is how you earn your living. How can you try to get a restricted licence?
1. Pay a reinstatement fee at a service centre
2. Take a defensive driving course
3. File a motion with the Court of Québec
4. Ask your employer to write to the SAAQ
Which demerit point bracket applies to a regular licence holder who is 23 or 24 years old?
1. 10 points
2. 15 points
3. 8 points
4. 12 points
How long do demerit points normally stay on your driving record?
1. Three years from the date of the offence
2. One year from the date of the offence
3. Until your next licence renewal
4. Two years from conviction or fine payment
You are driving in a 50 km/h zone. Going over the limit by how much counts as excessive speeding?
1. 30 km/h or more
2. 50 km/h or more
3. 60 km/h or more
4. 40 km/h or more
Your learner's licence is revoked because you reached 4 demerit points. What is the minimum time before you can get a new one?
1. Three months
2. Twelve months
3. Six months
4. One month
Maya is 21 and has just received her full Class 5 driver's licence. Which demerit point total would trigger revocation for her?
1. 4 points
2. 12 points
3. 8 points
4. 15 points

Demerit points and licence revocation: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Revocation and suspension

Revocation: licence becomes invalid; you lose the right to drive for a set period and must meet Highway Safety Code conditions to get a new one.
Suspension: licence is temporarily invalid. Suspension of the right to obtain a licence: SAAQ cannot issue any licence for a period (can apply to people who never had one).
Causes: unpaid fines (Highway Safety Code or municipal traffic/parking rules), accumulated demerit points, driving-related Criminal Code conviction, arrest for alcohol- or drug-impaired driving, interception for excessive speeding, street racing or car surfing.

Offences elsewhere, unpaid fines, consequences

Certain offences in other Canadian provinces/territories or reciprocating U.S. states put demerit points on your Québec record as if committed in Québec.
Unpaid fine: the SAAQ suspends any licence you hold (or your right to obtain one) after a written notice, until it is told the fine is paid.
Driving during a suspension: police may seize the vehicle for 30 days at the owner's expense; owner fined $300 to $600 plus costs.
Seizure can be 90 days if, in the previous 10 years, you were prohibited from acquiring, registering, renting or operating a vehicle because of an impaired-driving offence.

Demerit point brackets

Learner's or probationary licence: revoked at 4 or more points.
Driver's licence, under 23: 8 or more. Age 23 or 24: 12 or more. 25 or older: 15 or more.
Points are entered when the SAAQ receives the notice of judgment confirming the conviction, not on the date of the offence or judgment. You get a notice of upcoming revocation when the limit is reached.
Driving during a demerit-point penalty period: fine $600 to $2,000 and 30-day seizure/impoundment of the vehicle.
Heavy vehicle, taxi and emergency vehicle drivers must tell the responsible person/owner if their licence is changed, suspended or revoked.

After four demerit points

4 or more points on a new driver's record: revocation for at least three months, with no new licence during that time.
Applies to Class 5 or 6A learners who don't already hold a driver's licence, probationary holders, and Class 6D or Class 8 holders licensed less than five years.
The required 12 months (learner) or 24 months (probationary) are extended by the time the licence was invalid.
Former probationary holders must pass a reinstatement test; former learners go to a service centre to get a new licence.

After 8, 12 or 15 points

Revocation (or suspension of the right to obtain a licence) for 3, 6 or 12 months: first, second or third time the bracket is reached within the previous two years.
To get a new licence: pass a knowledge test (appointment set so the penalty is over), pay test fees and the licence amount; licence costs more because the insurance contribution rises with points.

Points and your record

Points stay on the record for two years from the date of conviction or of paying the fine (paying = conviction).
On revocation, the SAAQ subtracts 8, 12 or 15 points (driver's licence) or 4 points (learner/probationary); any extra points stay two years from the latest conviction or payment.
Example: 14 points + offence bringing it to 16 → revoked, 15 erased, 1 point left, which disappears two years after the latest conviction.
No points are erased when renewing a licence, getting a first licence or getting a new one after revocation.

Restricted licence

Possible only after a first accumulation of points in the previous two years (4 for probationary; 8, 12 or 15 for driver's licence) and only if your main livelihood requires driving.
File a motion with the Court of Québec and inform the SAAQ; prove to the judge that you need to drive for work; the SAAQ issues the restricted licence once it receives the judge's order.

Speeding demerit points (zones: 60 km/h or less / over 60 to 90 / 100 km/h)

11–20 km/h over: 1 point in all zones. 21–30: 2. 31–39: 3 in all zones.
40–45 over: 6 in a 60-or-less zone; 3 in the other zones.
46–49 over: 10 / 5 / 5. 50–59 over: 10 / 10 / 5. 60 over: 10 in all zones.
61–80 over: 14. 81–100: 18. 101–120: 24. 121 or more: 30 or more.

Excessive speeding

40 km/h or more over in a zone of 60 km/h or less; 50 km/h or more over in a zone over 60 up to 90 km/h; 60 km/h or more over in a 100 km/h zone.

Other offences and points

2 points: accelerating while being passed; not yielding to pedestrians/cyclists at an intersection; not yielding to oncoming traffic; passing a bicycle too closely; tailgating; sudden braking without cause; too fast for conditions.
3 points: illegal passing on the right or left; illegal reversing; not stopping before a permitted right on red; no seat belt; no helmet (motorcycle, moped, scooter); crossing a solid lane line where prohibited; not stopping at a level crossing when required; failing to obey a stop sign or red light.
4 points: disobeying a school crossing guard, flagperson or peace officer; zigzag passing; passing in the oncoming lane where prohibited; speeding or reckless driving; not yielding to an emergency vehicle with lights/siren on; not slowing down or changing lanes near a stopped vehicle with flashing/rotating lights or yellow arrow.
5 points: driving while using an electronic device.
9 points: dangerous goods in a prohibited tunnel; driver in an accident failing in their duty; bus/minibus/dangerous goods vehicle not stopping at a level crossing; not stopping for a school bus or minibus with flashing lights or stop sign on, or illegally passing it in either direction.
12 points: racing or driving for a wager; holding on to a moving vehicle or tolerating it (car surfing).

Points for learners, probationary drivers, interlock holders, under 22, etc.

4 points each: learner driving without an accompanying rider; driving with alcohol in the body; failing to provide a breath sample; driving during the prohibited period; probationary holder 19 or under carrying certain passengers during the prohibited period. (Table layout is garbled in the source; only the 4-point values are used.)

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