How long does it take to get a driver's licence in Quebec? At what age can you start? In what order do the knowledge test and the road test come? If you (or your teenager) are planning for back-to-school season, here is the complete class 5 path, step by step, with the official 2026 timelines and costs.
Spoiler: from enrolling in the driving course to the probationary licence, count about 13 months. Which is why the best time to start is now.
Mandatory course → learner's licence → 10 months → knowledge test → 12 months → road test → probationary
Four big steps, two SAAQ exams, and minimum timelines set by law. Here is how it all fits together.
Before you start: age and consent
You can start your driving course and get your learner's licence at age 16. If you are under 18, written consent from a parent or guardian is required. Since 2010, taking a course at a SAAQ-recognized driving school is mandatory: there is no way to get a first class 5 licence without it.
The 4 steps to the class 5 licence
You enroll in the mandatory program: 24 hours of theory and 15 hours of in-car lessons, spread over 4 phases. After Phase 1, you obtain your learner's licence ($88.35) — no SAAQ exam at this stage.
After at least 10 months with your learner's licence, you take the knowledge test ($13.50) at a SAAQ centre, booked through SAAQclic. Our guide to passing the knowledge test covers the trick questions.
After at least 12 months with your learner's licence, with the course completed and the knowledge test passed, you take the road test ($33.75). Passing score: 75%. If you fail, you must wait at least 28 days to try again.
Passing = probationary licence ($107.96): 24 months with zero tolerance for alcohol and a maximum of 4 demerit points. Then the full class 5 licence — with no further exam.
How long in total?
The fastest path is about 13 months: the legal minimum of 12 months as a learner, plus the time to complete the course and get an exam appointment. In practice, many students take 14 to 18 months, especially when SAAQ appointment slots are scarce — in summer 2026, booking delays reach several months at some centres. The lesson: book your exams as soon as you become eligible, as explained in our guide to the region's SAAQ centres.
How much does it all cost?
The official 2026 amounts, from the SAAQ licence fee schedule and the exam fee schedule:
Learner's licence: $88.35 (valid 18 months, photo included)
Knowledge test: $13.50
Road test (class 5): $33.75
Probationary licence: $107.96 (for 24 months)
Add the driving course itself — at Vision Plus, the Regular package is $999 + tax and the Vision+ program is $1,199 + tax.
The mistakes that stretch out the timeline
FAQ: the licence steps in Quebec
At 16 (with parental consent if you are under 18). The theory portion of the course can even be started slightly before your 16th birthday at some schools.
After. This surprises many people: the learner's licence is obtained after Phase 1 of the course, without a SAAQ exam. The SAAQ knowledge test comes later, after at least 10 months with the learner's licence.
No. The 12-month learner period before the road test is set by regulation and no school can shorten it. What you can speed up is everything else: starting early and booking your exams without delay.
You can retake the knowledge or road test by paying the fee again. For the road test, a minimum 28-day wait applies before the retake. Hence the importance of solid preparation — which is exactly your school's job.
Start before back-to-school, drive next summer
Enroll now at Vision Plus and your road test lands in about 13 months. Five branches: Laval, Sainte-Thérèse, Saint-Jérôme, Mascouche and Laval – Duvernay.
Register nowInformation updated August 4, 2026. Fees, timelines and procedures are provided for reference only and may change. Visit saaq.gouv.qc.ca for the latest official information.
