Everything happens online, and early is better
For a knowledge or road test, the SAAQ no longer books appointments at the counter: everything goes through SAAQclic. Here is how it works, what to prepare and the wait times to expect.
It is the question we hear every week, in all of our branches: "how do I book my exam appointment?". The short answer: online, on SAAQclic, and nowhere else. The full answer deserves an article, because between account creation, eligibility conditions and real wait times, several traps can cost you weeks.
The basic rule: exam appointments are booked online
The SAAQ is clear on its website: service outlet staff cannot book exam appointments. Going to the counter to book one is pointless. Exam appointments, knowledge and road tests alike, are booked on the SAAQclic platform.
A phone number exists (1 800 361-7620), but it is reserved for special situations, not routine booking.
The 4 steps, in order
Government authentication requires specific documents: social insurance number, health insurance card and a notice of assessment, among others. Without a notice of assessment, a validation code is mailed to you, which adds delay.
You must have held the learner's licence for at least 10 months for the knowledge test, and 12 months for the road test. Booking before you are eligible saves no time.
Not every service outlet administers exams. Our centre guides, below, keep you from picking a location that does not offer them.
For the knowledge test: your learner's licence and payment of the fees. For the road test, add your course completion certificate and the vehicle's papers.
As this article is published, in late August 2026, the SAAQ indicated that online appointment slots were opening for October 2026. In other words, roughly a two-month wait. If you are approaching your 10 months on the learner's licence, create your account and watch for slots now rather than waiting until you are eligible.
Where to take the exam in the region
It is the most common trap on the North Shore: your closest service outlet does not necessarily offer exams. We have prepared a detailed guide for each centre in the region:
If you fail, a retake is only possible 28 days later, by appointment. One more reason not to take the exam "just to try": a failure costs you a month, plus the time to find a free slot again. Our article on the 3 parts of the knowledge test and the pass mark explains exactly what to expect.
Where your school fits in
Your driving school cannot book the appointment for you: the SAAQclic account is personal. What a good school does, however, is tell you when you are actually ready to book: your phases completed, your eligibility delays reached, and your level up to the exam. At Vision Plus, that follow-up is part of the journey, from registration to licence. The main milestones are summarized in our guide from learner's licence to Class 5.
Frequently asked questions
Not at the counter: the SAAQ states that service outlet staff cannot book exam appointments. The phone line (1 800 361-7620) is reserved for special situations.
As of this writing, online slots were opening about two months out. Check the real availability on SAAQclic, it changes constantly.
Your learner's licence and a way to pay the exam fees. Arrive early, and bring your glasses or contact lenses if you wear them.
A retake is possible 28 days later, by appointment. Your per-part result tells you what to work on in the meantime.
Get ready for the exam before you book it
A SAAQ-recognized driving school since 2002, five branches between Laval and Saint-Jérôme.
Register onlineInformation verified on the SAAQ website in August 2026. Procedures and wait times can change without notice: check the official SAAQ page Make an Appointment for the current version.
