Driver's Licence

Duration, Costs and Recours for the Mandatory Driving Course

The Road Safety Education Program (RSEP) was developed by the SAAQ and is intended for new drivers.

Theoretical and practical classes

• The RSEP is spread over 13 months and divided into   phases during which theory and practice alternate.
• The program includes twelve 2-hour theoretical classes.
• It is important that students and their accompanying rider attend the 6th theoretical class in order to fully understand what will be taught during the practical classes and learn how to intervene during accompanied driving.
• The notions covered in class are then applied by learner drivers during the practical classes.
• Practical classes consist of fifteen 55-minutes in-car sessions.
• A 5-minute debriefing is done after each in-car session.

Driving schools' responsibilities

• Driving school must comply with the 4 learning phases.
• Phase 1 theoretical classes must be given over a one-month period.
• Practical and theoretical classes must start and end at the driving school, with only one student per car, except during in-car sessions 12 and 13.

Knowledge and road tests

• Eligibility requirements for the knowledge test: new drivers must have attended all 12 theoretical classes, completed 11 in-car sessions and held a learner's licence for 10 months before taking the SAAQ knowledge test.
• Eligibility requirements for the road test: new drivers must have held a learner's licence for 12 months, passed the knowledge test and have the certificate attesting they passed the knowledge test.
• Before taking the road test, students must do the 15th in-car session, which is a summary. During this session, monitors give their last recommendations before the road test.

Association québécoise du transport et des routes

• It recognizes driving schools on behalf of the SAAQ.
• It ensures that driving schools teach the road safety education program developed by the SAAQ.
• It evaluates driving schools as well as their instructors.
• It imposes penalties on driving schools at fault.
• It implements recovery plans for instructors who did not successfully complete their evaluation.
• It provides the public with a list of recognized driving schools that teach how to drive a passenger vehicle or motorcycle.
• It handles students' complaints about the instruction given by driving schools.

Office de la protection du consommateur

It handles students' complaints about the service contract they entered into with a driving school.

Costs

• In Québec, the RSEP costs $825. This amount does not include taxes.
• Driving schools are prohibited from adding additional administrative fees to this amount or to sell the attestation of successful completion of the driving course.
• Students must buy the Road Access Binder, which costs approximately $45 and is available in most areas of Québec.
• Students are entitled to ask to see their instructor's or monitor's qualification card.