Getting your driver’s licence is a major milestone that brings both independence and responsibility. In Quebec, the licensing process is structured to ensure that new drivers develop the skills needed to drive safely.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about getting your driver’s licence in Quebec.
The Quebec Licensing Stages and Timeline
You earn a driver’s licence in Quebec through a minimum 13-month process. Quebec uses staged licensing for new drivers, including a learner’s licence and a probationary licence before your regular licence. If you are a first time driver you complete a recognized driving course (such as the one Kruzee offers), get a learner’s licence, pass the knowledge test, pass the road test, drive on a probationary licence for 24 months, then move to a regular licence.
Your fastest legal path to a probationary Class 5 licence usually takes about 13 months from when you start the course, because Phase 1 has a minimum duration of 28 days and you must hold a Class 5 learner’s licence for 12 months before you can obtain a probationary licence.
Re-tests can delay the process, because the knowledge test requires 75 percent on each section and you must wait at least 28 days after a failure before you try again.
Key legal restrictions are in place and must be adhered to. Learner licence holders must follow the accompaniment requirement, and Class 5 learner permit holders cannot drive between midnight and 5 a.m.
If you hold a Class 5 probationary licence and you are 19 or younger, you also face passenger limits between midnight and 5 a.m. during your first year, with a clear exception when a qualified supervising driver sits beside you.
Visual overview of the steps
- Step 1: Register for a driving course at a recognized driving school
- Step 2: Complete the Phase 1 prerequisites – which include 10 hours of theory and an assessment
- Step 3: Go to an SAAQ service centre and get your Class 5 learner licence
- Step 4: Practise accompanied driving and complete the rest of the course phases (three additional ones)
- Step 5: After 10 months with learner licence take the knowledge test
- Step 6: After 12 months with learner licence take the road test
- Step 7: Receive probationary licence and drive solo with restrictions for 24 months
- Step 8: Move to a regular Class 5 licence if you satisfy all of the conditions
Requirements you Must Meet Before you Book Anything
Eligibility, age, and basic conditions
To obtain a Class 5 licence, the SAAQ states you must be a Canadian citizen or authorized to stay in Canada for more than six months, and you must have your principal residence in Quebec.
You can start the process at age 16. If you are a first time driver, you start with a recognized driving school and the driving course.
Documents you should prepare early
At the SAAQ service centre stage, you should expect to prove identity and legal presence. The SAAQ’s Class 5 page lists accepted official documents, such as a Canadian passport and certain status documents, and indicates a second document may be required.
If you are under 18, you need written authorization from your parents or guardians when you go to request your learner licence, and you need your driving school certificate.
Costs, Waits, and What Slows you Down
A realistic timeline based on recent service data
The system includes minimum time gates, and the service system adds variability. The SAAQ reported that it met the service target of scheduling passenger vehicle and motorcycle tests within 20 business days only 58 percent of the time in 2024.
It also stated that road test appointment slots now appear over a longer horizon, described as three months, which changes how far ahead you should plan.
Fees and class comparison table
The SAAQ’s fee page for the current year lists these core amounts for the Class 5 path:
- Knowledge test $13.50
- Learner licence $88.35 for 18 months including photos
- Road test $33.75
- Probationary License: $107.96 for 24 months
- Regular License: $63.28 every year
Quebec’s fee regulation also defines additional fees such as a no show fee for a road test appointment, unless you cancel at least 48 hours before.
|
Licence class or stage |
What it covers in plain terms | Key minimum time gate |
Common direct fees you should expect |
| Class 5 learner licence | You drive only with an accompanying driver and you follow learner restrictions | You hold it long enough to qualify for tests, and in practice new drivers keep it at least 12 months before probationary | Learner licence fee for 18 months and knowledge test fee in the current year. |
| Class 5 probationary licence | You drive solo but you follow stricter rules, and under 19 you face night passenger limits | Valid for 24 months for new drivers | Issuance fees vary by year and you should budget for a photo applicable at issuance. |
| Regular Class 5 licence | Your standard passenger vehicle licence after probationary | You complete the probationary period and meet conditions | Annual licence fees apply. |
FAQ
I never had a licence anywhere. What is the exact order of steps?
You register for a recognized driving course, complete Phase 1 prerequisites, request your learner licence, take the knowledge test after the minimum learner period, then take the road test after the minimum learner period, then drive on a probationary licence for 24 months before the regular licence step.
When can you take the knowledge test?
You must pass with 75 percent on each of the three sections, and you can only move forward when you meet the learner holding requirements described for new drivers.
What happens if you fail the knowledge test?
You wait at least 28 days before you retake it.
Can you drive alone with a learner licence?
No. The Highway Safety Code describes an assistance requirement for learner licence holders, and learner driving operates under restrictions that include the midnight to 5 a.m. curfew for Class 5 learner holders.
How long does the probationary licence last?
Road safety summaries in Quebec describe the probationary licence as mandatory and in effect for 24 months for new drivers.
