New drivers are people who are learning to drive and people holding probationary licences.

To hold a learner’s permit, you need to pass the theoretical exam of the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. This permit allows the person learning to drive to practice, while accompanied by a driver with at least 2 years’ driving experience and a valid driver’s licence. The person accompanying the driver must be able to advise and help him.

To obtain a probationary licence, one must pass the practical exam offered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec. Before being able to take the practical exam, the person must have held a learner’s permit for at least 8 months, if he took courses at a recognized driving school, or 12 months if he didn’t.

The probationary licence is valid for 24 months or until the new driver is 25 years old. The new driver can then obtain a “regular” driver's licence.

Remember, new drivers 25 years or older can obtain a driver's licence directly, without having to first get a probationary licence.

Whether you have a learner’s permit or a probationary licence, the law prohibits you from driving with even the slightest amount of alcohol in your body. This is called the "zero tolerance" rule.

The zero tolerance rule was adopted in light of the dangers of alcohol consumption by new drivers who have not yet honed their driving skills. It also aims to reduce the number of accidents involving new drivers.

Yes. A police officer can ask you questions about your drinking. He can order you to provide him with a breath sample if he has reason to suspect the presence of alcohol in your body. That breath sample is analyzed using an approved screening device.

The officer can also order you to follow him to the police station and submit to a breathalyzer test.

Refusing to undergo these tests without a reasonable excuse is a criminal offence.

Whether new or experienced, any driver who drives with more than 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood or who drives while impaired commits an offence under the Criminal Code. Consult our Infosheets Driving while impaired and Drinking and driving for details.

A new driver who drives with any alcohol in his system commits an offence under the Highway Safety Code. A police officer who detects any alcohol in the new driver's body after taking a breath sample suspends his learner's permit or probationary licence on the spot, for a period of 90 days.

If convicted for this offense to the Highway Safety Code, the new driver faces a fine of $300 to $600. 4 Demerit points are also automatically inscribed in his file which result in the suspension of his learner's permit or probationary licence.

Yes, it is possible for you to get a learner's permit or probationary licence again. But first, you must understand why you lost your right to drive.

1) Your learner's permit or probationary licence will be suspended for 3 months if you accumulated 4 demerit points or more. You have to wait for the 3 months to pass.

Those 3 months are a further delay you have to wait before being able to apply for your probationary licence. If you already have a probationary licence, it will add to the delay already in place for you to obtain your regular licence. The delay varies depending on whether or not you are 25 years of age or younger.

2) If you lost your permit or probationary licence because you drove under the influence of alcohol, the waiting periods are longer and the conditions you need to meet to obtain a new permit or licence are more complex. To learn about them, consult our Infosheet Reapplying for a driver's licence.