Quebec deals with impaired driving on two tracks. The province, through the Highway Safety Code and the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), suspends and revokes licences and decides when you can drive again. The federal Criminal Code creates the criminal offences, which are prosecuted in court.
Quebec has no .05 roadside sanction for most drivers
Unlike every other province, Quebec does not impose an administrative sanction on fully licensed drivers who blow between .05 and .08. Proposals to add a .05 regime have been debated in the National Assembly but have not been adopted. For most drivers, the provincial line is .08.
The exception is zero alcohol: drivers aged 21 and under, and anyone with a learner’s licence or probationary licence, must have no alcohol at all in their body while driving.
Over .08 or refusal: 90-day suspension
If you blow over .08, refuse a breath or drug test, or break the zero-alcohol rule, police suspend your licence on the spot for 90 days. In some situations, such as a reading of .16 or more, a refusal or a previous offence, your vehicle is also seized for 30 days (or longer with a prior offence). See the 90-day licence suspension.
Revocation after a conviction
A Criminal Code impaired driving conviction leads to a licence revocation by the SAAQ:
| Conviction (within 10 years) | Licence revocation |
|---|---|
| First | 1 year |
| Second | 3 years |
| Third or later | 5 years |
A judge also imposes a driving prohibition, and you may be able to drive sooner with a restricted licence and an alcohol ignition interlock. See Quebec DUI penalties.
Getting your licence back
Before a new licence is issued, you must complete an SAAQ evaluation program and pay the required fees, and in most cases you drive with an interlock for one or two years. Read about the SAAQ evaluation and Alcofrein.
The criminal charge
Impaired driving, over 80, refusal and drug-impaired driving are Criminal Code offences with minimum fines from $1,000 and mandatory jail for repeat offences. They are prosecuted by the Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions (DPCP). Learn more about impaired driving charges in Quebec.
The cost of a first offence
The SAAQ estimates that a first impaired driving offence costs at least $5,000, before legal fees, higher insurance premiums and the effects of a criminal record.
Frequently asked questions
The Criminal Code limit is 80 mg per 100 mL of blood (.08). Quebec has no administrative sanction between .05 and .08 for fully licensed drivers, but drivers 21 and under, learners and probationary drivers must have zero alcohol.
Police suspend your licence immediately for 90 days.
The SAAQ revokes your licence for one year after a first conviction, three years after a second and five years after a third, although a restricted licence with an interlock may let you drive sooner.
The SAAQ estimates a minimum of $5,000, not counting legal fees, insurance increases and the effects of a criminal record.
Find a Quebec impaired driving lawyer →
This article is general information about Quebec and Canadian impaired driving law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Penalties, fees and procedures can change; confirm details with the SAAQ or a lawyer.
Sources: SAAQ, Costs related to impaired driving (updated February 19, 2026) and Alcofrein program; Éducaloi, Alcool au volant : ravoir son permis de conduire; Department of Justice Canada, Impaired driving laws.
