Mass learner's permit valid in Quebec?

June 20, 2018 7:18 PM

My son will (hopefully) be getting his Massachusetts learner's permit next week. The following week he will be going to Quebec for several weeks. Is his Mass permit valid in Quebec?

I can't seem to find the answer anywhere. The guy at his driving school didn't know the answer either.

I know his MA permit is valid in certain US states on a state-by-state basis. Some states don't even require learner's permits. It looks like Quebec's requirements for a permit are similar to Mass. requirements.

My wife will be in Quebec with him for the entire time he's there and I will be there for part of it. Both of our driver's licenses are valid in Quebec. If he were to drive, he'd be driving with one of us.

So, if my (or my wife's) license is valid, and he's driving with one of us, are we legal?

Realistically, we're going to be in a rural part of the province where I have never actually seen a cop, but I'd like to know whether I'm on the up-and-up if I do this. I don't want to start driving lessons by breaking the law.

Links to definitive answers preferred, not just WAGs or things like "eh, you'll be fine."

posted by bondcliff to Law & Government (6 answers total)

This page at the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (Quebec’s DMV) has some phone numbers, including a toll-free number for calling from the US: 1-800-361-7620. They should be able to give you a definitive answer.
posted by googly at 7:47 PM on June 20, 2018

Ask your insurance company. He wont be covered if it's not legal.
posted by nantucket at 7:49 PM on June 20, 2018

As far as I can tell, this is the pertinent Quebec law governing foreign licences:

85. A non-resident may drive a road vehicle for a period of not over six consecutive months without holding a licence issued by the Société if he meets the following requirements:

1. he holds a valid driver’s licence issued by another administrative authority which grants the same right to residents of Québec;
2. the driver’s licence issued by that other administrative authority authorizes him to drive a vehicle of the class of vehicles he drives in Québec;
3. he respects the conditions attached to the driver’s licence he holds;
4. his right to obtain a licence or a class of licence issued by the Société has not been suspended.

There do not appear to be any other laws in that section ("RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF NON-RESIDENTS") that pertain to learner's licenses specifically, nor do there appear any laws in other sections that apply to non-resident licenses. If I'm reading this correctly, your son is allowed to drive so long as he obeys the conditions set out by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

That said, you're probably best off calling the SAAQ at the number found by googly above to make sure.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:44 AM on June 21, 2018

Not sure what the rental car rules are in Canada, but in the US, you have to specifically add any drivers to the contract and usually pay extra for the "privelege." Rental car companies will not rent a car to anyone under 18, so I wouldn't be surprised if a young person also wasn't allowed to drive. Something to keep in mind if you're renting a car and not driving to Quebec.
posted by cnc at 9:50 AM on June 21, 2018

We will have our own cars with us. We will not be renting.
posted by bondcliff at 9:54 AM on June 21, 2018

Remember that you also need to check whether your licence allows you to supervise a learner driver in Quebec. Your licence grants you a limited right to drive without an in-jurisdiction licence, but whether it grants you any other rights is a different question. I personally suspect it won't, but I'm just highlighting the issue, so my suspicions are neither here nor there, save as caution.
posted by howfar at 4:37 PM on June 21, 2018