Total Cost to Get a Quebec Class 5 Driver's Licence: School, Tests, and SAAQ Fees

The full cost from driving school through to a Class 5 licence ranges from $1,490 to over $2,000. This covers PESR program, SAAQ fees, knowledge test, and road test. The mandatory Road Safety Education Program (PESR) applies to all new drivers, making the complete cost of getting licensed one of the highest in Canada.

What Is the Total Cost to Get a Quebec Driver's Licence From Learner's Permit to Full Class 5?

Required SAAQ fees through the probationary-licence stage total $243.56: $88.35 learner's licence, $13.50 knowledge test, $33.75 road test, and $107.96 probationary licence. Add the mandatory driving course, which may cost up to $1,130 plus applicable taxes. Optional extra lessons, vehicle rental, and retakes can raise the total.

Stage / Cost	Amount	Type	Details
Mandatory Driving Course	Up to $1,130 + applicable taxes	Required	Price varies by recognized school up to the government maximum.
Learner's Licence Issue	$88.35	Required	Paid when the learner's licence is issued.
SAAQ Knowledge Test	$13.50	Required	Paid later when eligible for the knowledge test.
Road Test	$33.75	Required	Paid for the road-test attempt.
Probationary Licence	$107.96 for 24 months	Required	Issued after passing the road test.
Required SAAQ fees through probationary licence	$243.56	Required	Does not include the driving-school course or optional costs.
Regular Class 5 renewal (2026, no demerit points)	$50.23	Ongoing after probationary stage	2026 amount reflects a temporary insurance-contribution rebate; standard Class 5 cost can be up to $63.28 per year.
Extra lessons / road-test vehicle rental	Varies	Optional / contingent	Depends on the learner and driving school.

Cost by Stage of the Quebec Class 5 Licensing Process

There is no single upfront licensing payment. The main required SAAQ charges occur at different stages: $88.35 for learner's licence issuance, $13.50 for the knowledge test, $33.75 for the road test, and $107.96 for the 24-month probationary licence. Driving-school charges are separate.

How much are the required SAAQ fees through the probationary licence stage? Using the current amounts in this article, the required SAAQ fees total $243.56 through issuance of the probationary licence, before driving-school charges or optional costs.

Effect of Quebec's 2026 Insurance-Contribution Rebate on Class 5 Licence Cost

Yes. For 2026, a Class 5 driver with no demerit points pays $50.23 to renew because of the temporary insurance-contribution rebate. Treat that as a 2026 amount, not a permanent standard renewal price.

Does Starting at 16 vs. 18 Change the Total Cost of a Quebec Driver's Licence?

No. Starting at 18 does not remove Quebec's standard learner-stage waiting periods or the mandatory course and testing fees. A first-time Class 5 applicant must still hold the learner's licence at least 10 months before the knowledge test and at least 12 months before the road test.

Cost Item	Starting at 16/17	Starting at 18+	Note
Mandatory Course	Up to $1,130 + tax	Up to $1,130 + tax	No age-based exemption for a standard first-time applicant.
Required SAAQ fees through probationary licence	$243.56	$243.56	Same learner, knowledge-test, road-test, and probationary-licence fees.
Total required cost through probationary stage	Course price + $243.56	Course price + $243.56	Exact total varies with the driving-school price.
Waiting period	10 months to knowledge test; 12 months to road test	10 months to knowledge test; 12 months to road test	Turning 18 does not remove the standard learner-stage waits.

How Much More Does a Quebec Driver's Licence Cost If You Fail the Knowledge or Road Test?

Each failed knowledge-test appointment adds another $13.50 test fee, and each additional road-test attempt adds $33.75. Detailed retake timing belongs in the Failed & Retakes article; this page keeps the focus on cost.

Full Quebec permit rules are at the Quebec learner's permit guide.

Knowledge Test Retake: $13.50 per additional test appointment.
Road Test Retake: $33.75 per additional road-test attempt.
Common Extra Costs: Additional practice lessons ($55+/hour) or vehicle rental for the test ($50-$100).

Example: One additional road-test attempt adds $33.75, plus any optional brush-up lessons or vehicle-rental costs. The exact total depends on the driving school's pricing.

Which Optional or Unexpected Costs Can Raise the Total?

Common unexpected costs include driving school cancellation fees ($50 max), document translation ($30 to $80), photo retakes, and parking at urban SAAQ centres ($10 to $20 per visit). Budget $150 buffer.

? Course Registration Deposit: Driving schools require a $200+ deposit before you can start Phase 1, an upfront cost not included in the base SAAQ fees.
Winter Tire Cancellation: If your road test in Montreal is between December 1 and March 15 and your vehicle lacks winter tires, the SAAQ cancels the test on the spot. You lose the $33 fee and must rebook.
? Document Rejection: Arriving at the SAAQ in Laval without your original 100-point ID documents (e.g., health card, passport, birth certificate) means rejection. You lose your appointment time and must reschedule, delaying the process.

Are extra driving lessons and road-test car rental included in the mandatory licensing cost?

No. Extra lessons and a driving-school vehicle rental for the road test are separate optional or situation-specific costs. They should not be included in the fixed required SAAQ-fee total.

How to Avoid Unnecessary Licensing Costs

Verify your vehicle's winter tires before a winter test in Quebec City to avoid automatic cancellation and forfeited fees.
Complete the Declaration of Illness form accurately before your SAAQ appointment to prevent rejection for incomplete paperwork.
? Practice parallel parking on a 7% grade, a required maneuver on the Gatineau road test route, to avoid a critical error and instant failure.

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