On Thursday, December 5, the Quebec government announced new measures to restrict access to driver's licenses for certain immigrants, with the aim of improving road safety.

Once the regulatory changes come into force, foreign license holders who fail their practical test will no longer be able to drive alone, and will have to comply with the learner's permit system.

This measure was announced by Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, as part of a project to adapt Quebec's driving rules.

“With high failure rates among newcomers, it was imperative to act to tighten the rules for access to driving. This change is necessary to protect all road users, especially vulnerable ones like our children and seniors,” said Ms. Guilbault, emphasizing the need for safe driving.

However, this rule will not apply to new residents from other Canadian provinces, the United States, or the 14 countries that have a reciprocal agreement with Quebec, where skills tests are not required, except for certain specific categories.

For the record, applications for driver's licenses from abroad have risen sharply in recent years, from 49,919 in 2022 to a projected 120,000 by 2024. This significant increase is putting increased pressure on Quebec's driver examination and training systems.

To better support newcomers, the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) is working with several ministries to provide information on skills testing and prepare them to meet Quebec's driving requirements.

The proposed amendments to the Licensing Regulation were published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on November 20.Over the next 45 days, the public is invited to submit questions and comments to the SAAQ to assess the impact of these measures.