How to get a driver's licence in Quebec
How to get a Quebec driver's licence (Class 5, passenger vehicles) from the SAAQ: the driving course, learner's licence, knowledge test, road test, probationary licence and every SAAQ fee, with each fact linked to saaq.gouv.qc.ca.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
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- Checked October 17, 2026
In Quebec a first car licence is a passenger-vehicle licence from the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), and it comes in stages: a mandatory driving course at a school recognized by the SAAQ, a learner's licence, the SAAQ knowledge and road tests, then a probationary licence before the full licence. The driving course cannot be skipped, even if you already know how to drive.
This guide follows those stages in order, with eligibility, every SAAQ fee, what to bring on test day and the rules that most often cost people a retake. Each fact links to the SAAQ page it comes from. New residents who already hold a licence from elsewhere follow a different process, described on the SAAQ's pages for licences issued outside Quebec.
Step by step
Check that you are eligible
You must be a Canadian citizen or authorized to stay in Canada for more than six months, have your principal residence in Quebec, be at least 16, and have the consent of your father, mother or legal guardian if you are under 18.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Register for the driving course
You must take the driving course at a school recognized by the SAAQ. You can register before turning 16 to complete the theoretical component.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Finish Phase One and pass the school's test
Complete the four modules of Phase 1, each with a two-hour classroom theory component and a self-study component, then pass the knowledge test given by your driving school (Module 5).
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Get your learner's licence
Book an appointment at an SAAQ service centre. Bring two official documents for a first licence, the parental consent form if you are under 18 and the driving school's sealed attestation, pass the vision test, fill out the Declaration of Illness or Impairment and pay the learner's licence fee of $88.35.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Practise with a qualified accompanying driver
Always drive with a driving-school instructor or a person who holds a valid Quebec Class 5 licence and has at least two years of experience as a fully licensed driver. You may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., and the four-demerit-point bracket and the zero-alcohol rule apply.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Pass the SAAQ knowledge test
Once you have held the learner's licence for at least 10 months, book the test in SAAQclic. It is entirely multiple choice in three parts (Highway Safety Code; road signs, pavement markings and traffic signals; behaviours and techniques for driving a passenger vehicle), and you need 75% on each part. Allow 30 to 60 minutes. If you fail, wait at least 28 days and retake only the parts you failed.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Pass the SAAQ road test
You need a learner's licence held for at least 12 months, a passed knowledge test and a passed driving course. Book in SAAQclic and bring your own safe vehicle. The test takes about 30 minutes and needs a score of 75%; running a red light or stop sign, speeding or driving against traffic can mean an automatic fail. After a fail, wait at least 28 days.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)Hold a probationary licence, then get the full licence
After the road test you pay for a probationary licence, which covers 24 months. With a good driving record, you can get your full Class 5 licence after two years.
Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
Who can get it
- Canadian citizenship, or authorization to stay in Canada for more than six months. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- Your principal residence must be in Quebec. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- At least 16 years old, with the consent of a father, mother or legal guardian if under 18. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- A driving course at a school recognized by the SAAQ is required to obtain a licence to drive a passenger vehicle. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
What it costs
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
The learner's licence is issued at an SAAQ service centre by appointment. The SAAQ knowledge and road tests are taken at the SAAQ service outlet you choose when you book through the SAAQclic online services platform. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
What to bring or have ready
- For a first licence: two official documents, one with a photo. If you were born in Canada, one must be a document such as your birth certificate, a Canadian citizenship certificate or a Canadian passport; the other may be your Health Insurance Card. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- For the learner's licence: the Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority form if you are under 18, and the original attestation with the driving school's seal for Phase 1 and the school's test. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- For the knowledge test: your learner's licence or photo ID, and the fee in cash, debit (not at every outlet), pre-authorized debit, cheque or money order. Credit cards are not accepted. Only a paper dictionary without illustrations or notes is allowed in the test. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- For the road test: your learner's licence, the valid, signed registration certificate of the test vehicle, a paper copy of your proof of liability insurance and your driving course attestation from each school you attended; for a rental, the rental contract or receipt. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
After you pass
Pay the probationary licence fee. To keep it, you must have fewer than four demerit points, follow the zero-alcohol rule and, if you are 19 or under and have held it for less than 12 months, carry no more than one passenger aged 19 or under between midnight and 5 a.m. in your first six months, or three after that (immediate family excluded). Source: SAAQ — Obtenir un permis de conduire auto (classe 5), French page (archived copy, Sept. 2026)
Validity and renewal
A learner's licence is valid for 18 months; if you have not obtained your probationary licence by then, you can renew it for another 12 months. The probationary licence covers 24 months, and with a good record you get your full Class 5 licence after two years. A probationary licence holder cannot act as an accompanying driver for a learner. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
Common mistakes
- Booking the SAAQ knowledge test too early. You must have held your learner's licence for at least 10 months on the test date. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- Having a phone, smart watch or other electronic device with you during a test. The SAAQ's current Class 5 page treats this as cheating: an automatic fail and a 90-day wait, or 180 days for a repeat. Source: SAAQ — Obtenir un permis de conduire auto (classe 5), French page (archived copy, Sept. 2026)
- Trying to pay by credit card. Service outlets accept cash, debit, pre-authorized debit, cheque or money order only. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- Missing the 48-hour deadline to cancel or reschedule a road test in SAAQclic, which brings a cancellation fee. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- Bringing passengers or pets to the road test, or a vehicle that fails the examiner's check. The test then does not take place and you must make another appointment. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
- Coming to the road test alone. The SAAQ recommends bringing someone who can drive the vehicle home if you fail. Source: SAAQ — Obtaining a Passenger Vehicle (Class 5) Driver's Licence (archived copy, April 2026)
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- SAAQ Class 5 practice tests268 original practice questions with explanations
- SAAQ knowledge test PDF100 original SAAQ Class 5 practice questions from all three sections of the knowledge test, with the answer key on separate pages. Print or save as a PDF.
- SAAQ Class 5 study guideFree SAAQ Class 5 study guide: 817 key points from the Driver's Handbook (SAAQ) in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- SAAQ Class 5 Mock Exam 1 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- SAAQ Class 5 exam simulator30 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
- SAAQ road test guideHow the SAAQ Class 5 road test works: the requirements, booking in SAAQclic, the fee, what to bring, the vehicle inspection, the skills the evaluator checks, the errors that fail you on the spot, a day-of checklist and what happens after a pass or a fail, each fact linked to the SAAQ.
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a Quebec driver's licence: common questions
How much does it cost to get a driver's licence in Quebec?
The SAAQ charges $88.35 for the learner's licence, $13.50 for the knowledge test, $33.75 for the road test and $107.96 for the probationary licence: $243.56 in SAAQ fees if you pass each test the first time. The driving course is paid separately to the driving school.
How long does it take to get a full licence in Quebec?
You hold a learner's licence for at least 12 months before the road test (and 10 months before the knowledge test), then a probationary licence for 24 months. With a good record, you get the full Class 5 licence after those two years.
Can I take the SAAQ knowledge test in English?
Yes. The test can be taken in French or English, and new residents may ask to take it in Modern Standard Arabic, Spanish or Mandarin. French and English audio tracks of the questions are available on the test computer.
What happens if I fail the knowledge test or the road test?
For either test you wait at least 28 days, make a new appointment and pay the fee again. On the knowledge test you only redo the sections you failed.
Do I have to take a driving course in Quebec?
Yes. To obtain a licence to drive a passenger vehicle, you must take the driving course at a school recognized by the SAAQ, and the course attestation is required for both the learner's licence and the road test.
What are the learner's licence rules?
Drive only with an instructor or an accompanying driver who has held a valid Quebec Class 5 licence for at least two years, never between midnight and 5 a.m., with zero alcohol and under the four-demerit-point bracket.
Where can I practise for the SAAQ knowledge test?
Use our free SAAQ practice tests, the road signs test and chart, the mock exam and the printable practice test, all written from the SAAQ Driver's Handbook. Each question cites the handbook page it comes from.
Keep practising
- SAAQ road signs testPractise the signs section of the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test: 60 questions on Québec road signs, pavement markings and traffic lights, with explanations.
- Québec road signs chartEvery sign drawing from our SAAQ question bank on one page with its meaning: regulatory, warning, school zone, road work and information signs for Class 5.
- SAAQ knowledge test PDF100 original SAAQ Class 5 practice questions from all three sections of the knowledge test, with the answer key on separate pages. Print or save as a PDF.
- SAAQ Class 5 study guide
- SAAQ road test guide
- SAAQ Class 5 Mock Exam 1 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- SAAQ Class 5 Mock Exam 2 – 30 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- SAAQ Class 5 Practice Test 130 questions with explanations
- SAAQ Class 5 Practice Test 230 questions with explanations
- SAAQ Class 5 Practice Test 330 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Traffic lights and signal lightsRed, yellow and green lights, arrows, flashing lights, dark signals, pedestrian countdown lights, cyclist lights, lane-use lights, railway signals, work-site lights and bus priority lights.
- Pavement markingsYellow and white lines, broken, solid, double and combined lines, reversible and two-way left-turn lanes, reserved lanes, stop lines, crosswalks, parking markings and pavement symbols.
- Regulatory signsSign colours and shapes, stop, all-way stop and yield signs, speed limits, one-way and lane direction signs, green-circle and red-circle signs, no passing, parking, stopping and reserved-lane signs.
- Warning signsYellow diamond signs for stops and lights ahead, curves, intersections, lane endings, narrowing roads, steep grades, school zones, crossings, slippery or icy surfaces, hazard markers and chevrons.
- Road work, information and cyclist signsOrange work-site signs, flagperson signals, work-zone speed limits, detours and lane merges, green and blue guide and service signs, exit signs, and signs for cyclists.
- Getting your Class 5 licenceMinimum age, the mandatory driving course, the learner's licence and its rules, when you can take the knowledge and road tests, the probationary licence and passenger limits for young drivers.
- Licence conditions and driver obligationsHealth declarations and licence conditions, documents you must carry, change of address, renewal, new residents and non-residents driving in Québec.
- Demerit points and licence revocationDemerit point brackets by licence and age, revocation periods, how long points stay on your record, restricted licences, and the points for common offences.
- Alcohol, drugs and impaired drivingBlood alcohol limits, the zero-alcohol rule for new and young drivers, drug limits, care or control of a vehicle, roadside suspensions, vehicle impoundment and the cost of a first offence.
- Vision, fatigue, distraction and attitudeHow vision, physical problems, fatigue and emotions affect driving, the ban on hand-held electronic devices and its penalties, observation, and keeping your judgment in traffic.
- Your vehicle: registration, equipment and winter tiresVehicle registration and insurance, required lights, brakes, mirrors and windows, studded and winter tire dates, clearing snow, mechanical inspection and doing your own checks.
- Seat belts, lane use and speed limitsSeat belts and child car seats, air bags and headrests, which lane to use, centre left-turn lanes, Québec's default speed limits and safe following distance.
- Passing, turning and traffic circlesWhen passing is allowed or banned, passing cyclists and pedestrians, right and left turns, right turns on red and the Montréal exception, traffic circles, signals and headlight use.
- Right of way, emergency vehicles and school busesYielding to pedestrians and cyclists, stop signs and all-way stops, entering highways and driveways, emergency vehicles, the Move-Over law, city buses, school buses, level crossings and heavy vehicles.
- Work zones, stopping, parking and unlawful practicesDriving near work sites, parking and stopping distances, disabled parking permits, driving on the shoulder, passengers and seat belts, car surfing and street racing.
- Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclesRules for pedestrians, cyclists and power-assisted bicycles, foot scooters, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters, and what drivers must do around them.
- Accidents, insurance and finesQuébec's public no-fault insurance, mandatory liability insurance, what to do at the scene of an accident, and fines for common offences, speeding and work-zone speeding.