The important points
- In Quebec, demerit points are added to your driver’s licence when you’re convicted of a traffic offence, and they stay on your record for two years from the date of conviction.
- A driver’s demerit point threshold is determined by their age and licence class; reaching it triggers a temporary suspension or revocation of your licence.
- Demerit points accumulated over the past 2 years increase the cost of renewing a licence with the SAAQ; private insurers may also raise premiums based on the underlying convictions.
What are demerit points?
The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), the provincial body responsible for driver’s licences, administers demerit points. The SAAQ assesses penalties when drivers are convicted of violating the Highway Safety Code. The more serious the infraction, the more demerit points you receive. You can receive demerit points for offences ranging from minor speeding to distracted driving, and they remain on your driving record for two years.
Your maximum allowable point threshold depends on your age and licence type. Crossing your designated limit can result in an automatic licence suspension, higher insurance premiums, and significantly more expensive SAAQ renewal fees.
To have demerit points assessed against your record, you must be convicted of an offence. Demerit points do not apply to any traffic tickets assessed through photo radar, such as speeding or running a red light. These cameras record only the licence plate, and the ticket is issued to the vehicle owner regardless of who was driving at the time.1
How demerit points are applied
Demerit point thresholds
In Quebec, demerit points start at zero and are added to your driver’s licence. Demerit point thresholds vary by driver age and licence type. The threshold represents the cumulative score that triggers an automatic licence suspension. The points remain on your record for 2 years following the date of conviction.2
| Driver category |
Age / Experience bracket |
Demerit point limit |
Warning letter sent |
| Learner’s licence |
Any age |
4 points |
N/A (immediate suspension risk) |
| Probationary licence |
First 2 years of driving (any age) |
4 points |
N/A (immediate suspension risk) |
| Unlicensed drivers |
Individuals who do not hold a permit |
4 points |
Right to obtain a licence suspended |
| Full licence (class 5) |
Under 23 years old |
8 points |
At 4 points |
| Full licence (class 5) |
Ages 23 to 24 |
12 points |
At 6 points |
| Full licence (class 5) |
Ages 25 and older |
15 points |
At 7 points |
Suspension timelines and reinstatement requirements
A driver loses their licence when their active demerit point total equals or exceeds their assigned bracket threshold. When this occurs, the SAAQ issues a notice of licence revocation. The notice indicates the number of demerit points assessed and how long they will remain on your record. The minimum revocation period is 3 months and can be as long as 6 or 12 months, depending on the applicable bracket, the number of points, and the duration of the most recent penalty imposed within the previous 2 years.
Depending on the length of revocation, the frequency of infractions, and the driver’s licence status, the reinstatement process may include fee payments, a knowledge re-test, and retaking the written/practical driving exam.2
| Category |
Revocation duration |
Reinstatement requirements |
| First threshold breach |
3 months minimum |
Pay reinstatement fees; potential knowledge re-test |
| Repeat infractions (within 2 Years) |
6 to 12 months |
Retake written/practical driving exams; safety coursework |
| Unlicensed offenders |
3 to 12 months suspension of right to obtain a licence |
Waiting period must elapse before eligibility for learner’s permit |
If you hold a driver’s or probationary licence and this is your first revocation in 2 years, you can ask a judge for a restricted licence, provided that you can demonstrate that operating a motor vehicle is an essential requirement of your main employment.
If you are caught driving a vehicle while your licence is revoked or suspended, the vehicle you are driving will be seized and impounded for 30 days at the owner’s expense. You will also have to pay a $600 to $2,000 fine, plus legal and administrative fees.2
Transfer of demerit points between Quebec and Ontario
Under a reciprocal agreement established on April 1, 1989, Quebec and Ontario systematically exchange conviction data for traffic offences.3
If a Quebec driver in Ontario is convicted of a moving violation in Ontario, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) notifies the SAAQ. The SAAQ enters the offence into your Quebec driving record and assesses demerit points according to Quebec’s points scale.
For an Ontario driver in Quebec, Quebec convictions are forwarded to the MTO, and Ontario applies its own equivalent demerit point scale to the driver’s Ontario licence.
Quebec also maintains active reciprocal agreements with New York and Maine.
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