The Quebec Learners Permit or Class 5 Learner Licence

You must be a minimum of 16 years of age in order to begin the process of getting a Quebec learners permit. If you are under the age of 18, you will need to provide parent/guardian consent.

SAAQ Parental Authority Form

If you are a non-Canadian, you will need to provide proof of authorization to remain in Canada for a minimum of 6 months.

It is mandatory to register for and complete a Driver Education course before you can get a Quebec learners permit. In order to begin the registration process, you need to first complete a required driver questionnaire. Once you have completed the questionnaire you can then register for a Quebec driving course that is recognized by the Association québécoise des transports. You will be provided with a code that will allow you to access and learn the training materials on the Road Safety Education Program website. The main components of the Quebec SAAQ Driver Education program are:

• a 24-hour theoretical component
• a 15-hour practical on-road component with a licensed driving monitor
• A self-study component that is divided up into 4 distinct phases/12 modules
• A thorough learning of the Quebec Driver's Handbook and Driving a Passenger Vehicle publication.

While you need to complete all 4 modules to get your Quebec Class 5 licence, for the Class 5 learner stage (Quebec learners permit) you must complete the 4 modules of Phase 1 of the driving course. Once you've completed Phase 1 (4 modules) of the SAAQ approved driving course, you need to pass the knowledge test given by your driving school. This SAAQ knowledge test will cover all the material you've already learned and will mark the completion of your phase 1 driving course.

You need to book an appointment to write the SAAQ knowledge test. This can be done either online or through the automated telephone service where you will need to have your Class 5 learner licence number available.

Reviewing the information in the Quebec Driver's Handbook and Driving a Passenger Vehicle publications will help refresh your memory on key driving concepts and you will feel more confident attempting the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test.

You have completed all 12 self-study modules of the SAAQ Driver Course before you take the SAAQ knowledge test so you should review all 4 phases/12 modules of information to ensure you remember everything.

Once you' feel that you've mastered the Quebec road signs and road rules, use the ICanDrive.ca Class 5 practice driving tests to test your knowledge. Our free Class 5 Quebec driving test practice sets are designed with the intention of being as close in format and content as possible to the actual SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test.

Once you have successfully passed your driving school knowledge test, you can visit a Quebec service outlet to have your driver licensing file opened.

You will need to pass a vision test and fill out a Declaration of Illness or Impairment form at a service outlet to get your SAAQ learners permit.

Once you get your Quebec learners permit and practice for 10 months with a supervising driver, you are eligible to write the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test, which is a requirement to exit the Class 5 learner stage and enter the QC Class 5 probationary licensing stage. The SAAQ knowledge test is based on Quebec road signs and road rules from the Quebec Driver's Handbook and will test your knowledge of correct driving practices in Quebec. Make sure you practice as many Quebec Class 5 practice tests as possible. to have the best chances of passing the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test. The SAAQ knowledge test is roughly 1 hour in duration and an appointment must be scheduled in advance.

For drivers under the age of 18 seeking a SAAQ learners permit, you will need to present a completed Consent of a Person Having Parental Authority form.

Your driving school will provide you with a document attesting that you have successfully completed phase 1 of the driving course. You need to provide this to a SAAQ service outlet representative.

The cost of a learner license is $58.64 and includes the cost associated with taking photos. Most SAAQ service outlets will accept payment via cash, interac (debit) and cheque/money order. Credit card payments are not allowed so arrange for an alternate payment method in advance.

Born In Canada

You need to provide two identification documents where one of the documents must be:

• Original birth certificate
• Canadian citizenship certificate with photo
• Canadian Passport
• Official Canadian Armed Forces identity card
• Certificate of Indian Status

The second document can be:

• Health Insurance Card
• Issued Driver's license from another province/territory

Born Outside Canada

You need to provide two identification documents where one of the documents must be:

• Canadian citizenship certificate with photo
• Canadian Passport
• Official Canadian Armed Forces identity card
• Proof of known legal presence in Canada
• Permanent Resident Card (PR)

The second document can be:

• Health Insurance Card
• Foreign Driver's Licence

Your Quebec learners permit or the identity card issued when you got your Class 5 learner licence.

There is an $11.20 fee associated with the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test. You can pay via cash, debit/Interac or cheque/money order. No credit card payments are accepted.

If you fail the knowledge test, you have to wait 28 days before you can retake the test. A new appointment will have to be scheduled for your knowledge test retake.

A Class 5 learner licence or Quebec learners permit is valid for 18 months.

You must practice driving for a minimum of 10 months with an accompanying driver who has held a full Class 5 Quebec drivers license for at least 2 years, before you can take your SAAQ knowledge test. In total, you must remain at the Quebec Class 5 learner stage and complete the knowledge test within 12 months, at which point you become eligible to move to the Class 5 probationary license stage.

In addition to the practical training (15 on-road hours with a supervising driver and 24 hours of theory), you should try to accumulate as many driving hours as possible at the Class 5 learner stage. The more driving skills you practice, the more prepared you will be for the Class 5 probationary driver licensing stage.

After driving under supervision with a Class 5L licence for 10 months, you are eligible to take the SAAQ Class 5 knowledge test.

A Class 5 learner driver must always drive with a supervising driver who has held a Class 5 licence for a minimum of 2 years.

There is a zero alcohol level rule for all Quebec learners permit holders.

A 5L licensed driver cannot drive between the hours of midnight and 5 am.

The 4-point bracket for demerit points applies to all learner licence holders. The 4-point bracket essentially means that if you reach or exceed the 4-point threshold for demerit points, your licence will be suspended for a period of 3, 6 or 12 months depending on previous demerit points on record.