Failures in SAAQ: Another 90 days to renew your license

Citizens due to renew their driving license soon will benefit from a 90-day withdrawal, Transport Minister Genevieve Guilbault announced, hoping the move will help ease the crisis currently rocking the SAAQ.

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To prevent Quebecers from having to pay the difficult transition costs of SAAQ services to the SAAQclic digital platform, the Legault government decided to give relief to customers of the state-owned company directly affected by the crisis.

Citizens whose driving license expires between March 9 and June 1, 2023, from their anniversary date, will have another 90 days to pay for their renewal.

Additionally, the validity period of temporary registration certificates issued between March 9 and April 8 will be extended from 10 to 60 days.

And starting Thursday, the validity of foreign driver’s licenses will be maintained until Aug. 29, giving their holders more time to apply for a license in Quebec.

As she curtails her mission in Europe to deal with the current turmoil at the SAAQ, Genevieve Guilbault urges “these measures to make life easier for those who have difficulty accessing the services they need to regulate their situation”.

“Only the targeted citizens will benefit from these extraordinary measures,” she said in a press release.

Last Friday, Prime Minister Francois Legault insisted he was “not at all satisfied with what is happening at SAAQ”.

Two days later, the Crown Corporation decided to redeploy 150 employees to greet customers and assist with online registration. Opening hours have also been extended at high-traffic branches and digital kiosks have been added at certain locations.

The government hopes that these measures will reduce the congestion in the company’s offices, which have been full for about three weeks.