DRIVERS LICENSE IN QUEBEC

THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DRIVER'S LICENSE

The minimum age for driving a car is 16 year old, and 14 year old for motorcycles less than 50cc but with parents consent for minors. You can find more information about that on SAAQ.

You will start with a learner's permit, given to you after you take the theoretical driving test, which will be valid for 1 and a half years. In order to have it, you must sign up for driving lessons at a recognized driving school by the AQTR. Once you get it, you should prepare for the next step to get your probationary license. You will learn theoretical knowledge but also practical knowledge, while being accompanied by a person who has a valid driver's license of the appropriate class for at least 2 years during the whole time. However note that the obligations to be respected are very restricted, seek for information properly.

The probationary license is issued after the road test is taken successfully. It is valid for 24 months. The number of passengers granted is limited according to your driving experience. There will be reviews and assessments of demerit points before obtaining a full license.

If you fail the road test, you will have to retake it within 28 days and the processus will start again. When you finally pass both theory and road test successfully, you can have your full license commonly known as "driver's license".

The restricted license is a license allowing you to drive during the suspension period following the revocation of the driver's license. It includes extremely strict driving rules which must be followed precisely. The restricted license is issued following a conviction for drink-driving or drug-diving and the accumulation of demerit points. When the conviction is for drink-driving, the restricted license only allows driving vehicles equipped with alcohol interlock. Restricted license related to demerit points only allows driving within a working framework. For more information or in case you find yourself in such situations, you can visit the SAAQ site.

Each vehicle has its own license.

Driver's license classes

In Quebec,there are 12 classes of driver's license. Each category corresponds to a specific type of vehicle. You can find out all about them and their requirements by visiting the SAAQ site. Here are some of the most common classes:

The class 1 license allows the driving of all road vehicles.

　✓ All road vehicles and especially tractors, trucks and semi-trailers of more than 4 tons can be driven with this license.

　✓ This particular licence applies to all types of vehicles except motorcycles of class 6A, 6B, 6C and 6E.

The class 2 license allows the driving of buses carrying more than 24 passengers.

　It also allows the driving of any type of vehicles, except all class 1 road vehicles and motorcycles of class 6A, 6B, 6C and 6E.

The class 3 license allows the driving of commercial vehicles or service vehicles.

　✓ two-axle trucks,whose net mass are 4500kg or more, but also trucks with three axles or more.

　✓ trailer or semi-trailer trucks, whose net masses are less than 2 tons.

　✓ equipment or tools transport , or permanently equipped with furnishings trucks, whose net mass are between 2 to 4,5 tons.

The class 3 license allows the driving of all types of vehicles, except all class 1 and 2 vehicles and motorcycles of class 6A, 6B, 6C and 6E.

The class 5 license is the one required for everyday driving.

This license allows the driving of passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles, equipment vehicles such as graders or loaders, service vehicles, scooters, tractors, or even three-wheeled vehicles like a T-Rex or a Slingshot.

The class 6 license allows the driving of motorcycles ( 6A-6B and 6C ), scooters, mopeds, and three-wheeled motorcycles.

　✔ The class 6 license:

　　　A- All types of motorcycles

　　　B- Motorcycles with engine capacity less than 400cc.

　　　C- Motorcycles with engine capacity less than 125cc.

　✔ The class 6D license:

Allows the driving of mopeds and scooters.

　✔ The class 6E license:

Allows the driving of three-wheeled motorcycles.

In order to obtain a class 6E license, you must have a class 5 license and take theoretical training. If you already have a class 6A, 6B or 6C, you do not need to have class 6E to drive three-wheeled motorcycles.

Note that, driving a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, there is no specific class. You only need to have a license to drive it, regardless of the class.

Did you find which class matches your license in all of the mentioned classes? You may now have an idea of what kind of vehicle you will be able to drive. You may want to get a license allowing you to drive more kinds of vehicles, if needed.