Road Safety

Tires for Winter Driving

From December 15 to March 15, all taxis and passenger vehicles registered in Québec must be equipped with winter tires. This requirement also applies to rental passenger vehicles in Québec, as well as mopeds, motorized scooters and motorcycles.

The Regulation Governing the Use of Tires Specifically Designed for Winter Driving provides for certain exemptions for:

the first 7 days following the acquisition of a passenger vehicle from a dealer;
the 7 days preceding the expiration date of a long-term lease (one year duration or more);
passenger vehicles with temporary licence plates (X plate);
passenger vehicles with a temporary registration certificate (transit) not exceeding a period of 7 days from the date of issue of this certificate;
motor homes, or vehicles that have been permanently outfitted as dwellings;
the spare wheel of a passenger vehicle or taxi;
motorcycles used as emergency vehicles (emergency vehicle as defined under the Highway Safety Code);
vehicles for which a winter tire exemption certificate was issued by the SAAQ.

Winter tire exemption certificate
You may be authorized to drive without winter tires for 7 days by obtaining a winter tire exemption certificate. The Regulation specifies that a certificate may be issued for the following cases:

if the vehicle is used to leave or return to Québec;
when acquiring this vehicle (in cases other than when the owner acquires the vehicle from a dealer) in order to have time to equip it with winter tires;
when putting a stored vehicle back on the road (licencing of a stored vehicle) in order to have time to equip it with winter tires;
when cancelling a lease with a duration of one year or more (termination of a contract);
to allow the return trip to a departure point situated outside Québec of a vehicle rented and registered outside Québec that, upon expiry of the rental period, was left by the renter at a place located in Québec;
to move a vehicle from a dealer's place of business to an auction sale and to allow its return;
to move a vehicle to a sale by court order or to allow its return to the point of departure.

Important: Your departure or return date must be included in the certificate's 7-day validity period. The start and end dates must be included in the calculation (see examples).

To obtain the certificate

You can use our online service Winter Tires – Exemption. This service is for those who:

want to use their vehicle to leave or return to Québec;
put a stored vehicle back on the road (Licencing of a stored vehicle);
cancel a long-term lease (termination of contract before its expiration date).

A printer is required for this service.

You can go to an SAAQ service outlet and obtain the certificate(s) required, one to leave and another one to return, if applicable, with one request.
If you are outside Québec, you can order a certificate:
- by telephone: 1 800 361-7620 (have on hand your most recent registration certificate)
- by fax: 1 418 528-7001
Using your most recent registration certificate, indicate:

the licence plate number, including the number after the dash
the file number
the registration certificate number
your last name and first name
the postal address outside Québec to which the certificate is to be sent (processing time is 7 business days plus mailing time)
a daytime telephone number where you can be reached outside Québec
the start date of the certificate(s)'s validity period

Penalties
Offenders are liable to a fine of $200 to $300.

If you have a winter tire exemption certificate, you must show it to the peace officer if you are pulled over.