Driving, licensing and insurance

Licensing

Driver licensing in Quebec is handled by Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ). Canada uses graduated licensing: a learner stage with a supervising driver, an intermediate stage with restrictions on passengers, alcohol and night driving, and then a full licence. The stages take a minimum of around two years to clear, so a licence from elsewhere is worth exchanging rather than starting again where the province allows it.

How car insurance works here

Quebec is the one province that splits auto insurance in two. The SAAQ runs a public plan that covers bodily injury to anyone injured in a road accident in Quebec, regardless of fault. Damage to vehicles and property is left to private insurers. So a Quebec driver buys private coverage for the car but does not sue over injuries.

Canada is split on this, and it is the single biggest difference in car ownership costs between provinces. Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia run public insurers; Quebec splits injury from property; the rest rely on private insurers with a provincial regulator approving rates. If you are moving between provinces, your driving record and claims history come with you, but the insurer — and often the price — does not.

Winter tyres

Quebec is the only province that mandates winter tyres by law, from 1 December to 15 March, for passenger vehicles registered in the province. British Columbia requires winter tyres or chains on many mountain highways seasonally, with signage marking the routes. Elsewhere they are optional, and insurance is not affected either way — but in any part of Canada that gets sustained freezing weather, they make a larger difference to stopping distance than any driving aid on the vehicle.

Before a winter drive

• Check the forecast and any alerts for your route, not just your starting city.
• Clear snow from the whole vehicle, including the roof — it is a legal requirement in several provinces and a hazard to whoever is behind you.
• Carry a scraper, a blanket, a phone charger and a full washer reservoir rated for the temperature.
• Tell someone your route and expected arrival time if you are crossing a long rural stretch.
• If you are stuck, stay with the vehicle. It is far easier to find than a person who has walked away from it.