Demerit points in Quebec: scale and recovery
How many points for speeding or using a phone at the wheel, which threshold applies to your licence, how long until your points come off, and how they affect what you pay for your licence. Everything here is checked against the SAAQ.
Demerit points are the SAAQ's way of tracking driver behaviour. Contrary to what many people think, you do not "lose" points: you accumulate them. Everyone starts at zero, and each offence on the scale adds points to your driving record. Reach the threshold set for your licence and your licence is revoked.
This guide covers the scale, the thresholds, how long points last and how they change your licence cost. If you hold a probationary licence, our probationary licence guide explains the 4-point rule that applies to you.
How points end up on your record
Points are recorded once you are convicted of an offence, meaning when you pay the fine or when a judgment is rendered. Paying a ticket therefore means accepting the points that come with it.
A few useful details:
- Someone who has never held a licence can still get points. The SAAQ then opens a file in that person's name.
- Quebec has reciprocal agreements with Ontario, Maine and New York State. An offence committed there can be recorded on your file as if it had happened in Quebec.
The threshold for your licence
How many points you can collect before a penalty depends on your type of licence and, for a regular licence, on your age.
| Situation | Revocation threshold |
|---|---|
| Learner's licence or probationary licence | 4 points |
| No licence | 4 points (suspension of the right to obtain a licence) |
| Regular licence, under 23 | 8 points |
| Regular licence, age 23 or 24 | 12 points |
| Regular licence, age 25 and over | 15 points |
Learner or probationary: the margin is thin. With a 4-point threshold, a single offence can be enough. Holding a phone while driving is worth 5 points on its own. For the details, see our probationary licence guide.
The demerit point scale
The number of points depends on how serious the offence is. Here are the most common offences, based on the SAAQ's official scale.
| Offence | Points |
|---|---|
| Following the vehicle ahead too closely | 2 |
| Failing to yield to pedestrians or cyclists at an intersection | 2 |
| Driving too fast for the conditions (weather, road) | 2 |
| Not wearing a seatbelt | 3 |
| Failing to stop at a red light or stop sign | 3 |
| Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle (lights or siren on) | 4 |
| Alcohol in the body under the zero-tolerance rule | 4 |
| Learner driving without an accompanying driver | 4 |
| Holding a handheld electronic device or looking at a screen while driving | 5 |
| Failing to stop for a school bus with flashing lights | 9 |
| Racing or driving for a bet | 12 |
Speeding
For speeding, the points rise with how far over the limit you are:
| Over the limit by | Points |
|---|---|
| 11 to 20 km/h | 1 |
| 21 to 30 km/h | 2 |
| 31 to 39 km/h | 3 |
Beyond that, it becomes excessive speeding, and the points climb much faster. Excessive speeding starts at 40 km/h over in a 60 km/h or lower zone, at 50 km/h over in a 70 to 90 km/h zone, and at 60 km/h over in a zone of 100 km/h or more. A single excessive speeding offence can add more than 30 points to your record.
How long until your points come off
Points do not stay forever. For penalty purposes, a point stays on your record for 2 years from the date of conviction. After that, it no longer counts.
So there is nothing to do to "get your points back": they drop off on their own, one offence at a time, as each one reaches 2 years. For example, if you were convicted and got 3 points on March 1, 2026, those 3 points stop counting on March 1, 2028.
For your licence cost, the SAAQ counts the 2 years from the date the points were entered in your file, not from the conviction date. The two dates can therefore differ slightly.
What happens when you reach the threshold?
When you reach or go over your threshold, the SAAQ notifies you in writing that your licence is revoked. You can no longer drive.
A revocation lasts at least 3 months. It can reach 6 or 12 months depending on your bracket, the points you have and your penalties over the past 2 years.
For a first revocation within 2 years, if you need to drive for your main job, you can ask a Court of Québec judge for a restricted licence.
Once the penalty ends, you must pass a theory reinstatement exam and pay the applicable fees to get a new licence.
Driving while your licence is revoked is very costly: a fine of $600 to $2,000, plus costs, and a 30-day seizure of the vehicle at the owner's expense.
Driver's licence cost with demerit points
The price of your licence includes an insurance contribution that funds Quebec's public automobile insurance plan. Points on your record increase that contribution, and with it the yearly cost of your licence.
For 2026, the SAAQ says a Class 5 licence costs $50.23 if you have no demerit points. With points, extra amounts are added based on the number of points recorded. To see your exact cost, use the SAAQ's driver's licence cost estimator.
How to check your points
Your driving record shows your demerit point bracket and the number of points you have. You can check it for free:
- online, in your SAAQclic account;
- by phone, at 1-800-361-7620;
- at an SAAQ service outlet.
Checking your record once a year, or after getting a ticket, saves you from bad surprises.
Protect your record from day one
Most points come from everyday habits: a rolling stop, a glance at the phone, a speed that does not suit the road. Those reflexes are built from the very first lessons. At Vision Plus, our instructors teach the official program (PESR), with sessions on real roads in all seasons. For the full path, see the steps to a driver's licence in Quebec.
Frequently asked questions
Each point stops counting 2 years after the date of conviction. There is nothing to apply for: the points drop off on their own.
You start at zero and accumulate points. The revocation threshold is 4 points for a learner's or probationary licence, 8 points under 23, 12 points at 23 or 24, and 15 points at 25 and over.
Yes. Points on your record increase the insurance contribution included in your licence price. The SAAQ cost estimator gives you the exact amount.
Yes. Under the reciprocal agreements with Ontario, Maine and New York State, those offences can be recorded on your Quebec file.
Start out with good habits
Train with a SAAQ-recognized school that has 5 branches from Laval to Saint-Jérôme: find yours.
Register onlineInformation verified in October 2026. SAAQ: Demerit points, Offences and demerit points, Insurance contributions. Éducaloi: Demerit points. Rules can change: check these sources for the current version.
