Price of Quebec class 5 and 6 driver’s license decreasing in 2024

Quebe’s Minister of Transport Geneviève Guilbault announced Tuesday a decrease in the price of driver’s licenses for Quebecers who hold class 5 (passenger vehicle) and class 6 (motor vehicle) driver’s licenses.

The insurance contribution associated with driver’s license will not have to be paid.  The Quebec government says this represents a saving of $101.55 for holders of class 5 licences, and $186.50 for holders of licences combining classes 5 and 6. The cost of a driver’s licence will therefore be $25.50 in 2024.

“I’m pleased to announce some good news for SAAQ customers. These announcements will not only improve services and make them more accessible, but will also enable a large majority of driver’s license holders to save money. In these difficult economic times, every gesture counts to best support our taxpayers,” said Geneviève Guilbault, Quebec’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility in a press release.

This is the third year in a row that license holders will be able to take a break from paying the insurance contribution associated with their driver’s license.

The reduction in travel during the pandemic resulted in fewer collisions and fewer claims. As a result, the SAAQ says it has a capital surplus in the Automobile Insurance Fund, enabling it to offer another payment break on the driver’s license insurance contribution to holders of Class 5 and 6 driver’s licencss for the year 2024.

“With the atypical years experienced during the pandemic, travel, collisions and compensation decreased, creating a surplus in the plan. We have therefore decided to give this surplus back to customers, in the form of a vacation on the payment of the insurance contribution on the driver’s license,” said Konrad Sioui, Chairman of the Board, Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec, in the same press release.

The SAAQ is also using the surplus to invest $44 million over five years in road safety projects, and $52 million to improve insurance coverage.

Guilbault also announced a new SAAQ service center will be opening in Place Versailles in Montreal’s East End in 2024.

“The addition of a service center will certainly serve them better, notably by offering experience recognition services for new arrivals. In addition, investments in road safety will enable us to carry out innovative projects that will complement our efforts to improve road safety, which remains one of our priorities,” said Éric Ducharme, President and CEO, Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec.

They are also extending the measure to reuse driver’s license and health insurance card photos. People whose photo expires in 2024 will not have to go to a service centre to have it taken. A payment notice will be sent to the customers concerned in the first mailing, and the new permit will then be sent in a second mailing.