If you have been convicted of impaired driving in Quebec, an ignition interlock is almost certainly part of the road back to driving legally. In Quebec, the ignition interlock program is run by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), and the device itself is known in French as the antidémarreur éthylométrique. It is a small breath-testing unit wired into your vehicle’s starting system: blow a clean sample and the engine starts; register alcohol and it will not. This guide explains how the Quebec program works, who has to take part, how the costs are structured, how long the device stays on your vehicle, and the steps to get your licence back.
The program details below are drawn from the SAAQ and other official sources. Rules, waiting periods, and fees change, and a judge’s order or your own driving record can shift the details in your case. Treat this as a plain-language overview, not legal advice, and confirm anything specific with the SAAQ or a lawyer before you act.
What is the antidémarreur éthylométrique?
An antidémarreur éthylométrique, or alcohol ignition interlock device, prevents a vehicle from starting when it detects alcohol on the driver’s breath. Before the engine will turn over, you provide a breath sample into a handheld unit. If the sample is over the programmed limit, the vehicle stays locked. While you are driving, the device also asks for occasional rolling re-tests to confirm you are still sober behind the wheel.
In Quebec, the device is tied to a licence carrying a special condition, or to a restricted licence issued during a prohibition period. The SAAQ authorizes the supplier, and Smart Start Canada has been the SAAQ-approved ignition interlock provider for the province since December 1, 2018. That means installation, service, and monitoring all run through an approved Smart Start service centre.
Who has to use an ignition interlock in Quebec?
Most people who take part in the program are there because of an impaired-driving conviction under the Criminal Code of Canada. When a court finds you guilty of an offence such as operation while impaired, the SAAQ cancels your licence and a prohibition period begins. To drive again during or after that period, you generally have to enroll in the interlock program.
Whether the device is mandatory, and for how long, depends on the offence and your history:
- First offence, lower reading. A first-time offender with a lower breath-alcohol reading who is assessed favourably may not be required to install an interlock, and may complete the SAAQ’s Alcofrein awareness program instead.
- First offence, higher reading or refusal. Higher readings, a refusal to provide a sample, or an unfavourable assessment can trigger a mandatory interlock condition and a fuller evaluation of your relationship with alcohol.
- Repeat offences. A second impaired-driving offence can lead to an interlock condition for life, with the possibility of applying to have it removed after a set number of years.
Some drivers also take part voluntarily to shorten a prohibition and get back on the road sooner through a restricted licence, rather than waiting out the full ban.
How long does the interlock stay on?
The length of the interlock condition depends on the offence and your record. First-offence conditions commonly run in the range of one to a few years, while a second impaired-driving offence can carry a lifetime condition. For a lifetime condition, it may be possible to apply for removal after a set number of years, but that is a review, not an automatic end date. Your court order and SAAQ file control the exact terms in your case.
Two timelines matter while the condition is active. First, once your licence with the interlock condition is issued, you have a limited window to get the device installed at an approved centre. Second, the device stays on for the full period set in your file, and you must keep up with the service and monitoring appointments throughout. The device cannot simply be pulled out early; removal is only allowed at an authorized outlet and in specific circumstances, such as at the proper end of your program.
What does the program cost?
Quebec’s program is user-pay: you cover the device and its service. The bill has two parts, and it helps to understand them separately.
- Device costs. Installation, a monthly fee that covers the device and its monitoring, service visits, and removal at the end of your program. The SAAQ publishes the current device fees, and you can review Quebec program details on Smart Start Canada’s program information page before you book.
- Government and evaluation costs. Separate from the device, the SAAQ charges for the required assessments of your relationship with alcohol, licence reinstatement, and the insurance contribution on a new licence. Where it applies, the Alcofrein awareness program has its own fee.
Amounts change over time, so confirm the current figures with the SAAQ and your service centre rather than relying on numbers quoted in articles or forums. The honest summary: between fines, evaluations, the device, and reinstatement, an impaired-driving conviction in Quebec is expensive, and the interlock itself is usually one of the more manageable pieces of that total.
The SAAQ process, step by step
Getting the device and a licence to drive with it follows a clear sequence:
- Confirm your eligibility. Check whether you qualify for a restricted licence or a licence bearing the interlock condition, using your SAAQclic account or by contacting the SAAQ.
- Complete the required evaluation. Depending on your offence, you complete either a shorter assessment or a fuller evaluation of your relationship with alcohol or drugs, and any required awareness session.
- Get your licence from the SAAQ. Attend an appointment at an SAAQ service centre to be issued a licence carrying the interlock condition.
- Book installation with Smart Start. As the SAAQ-approved supplier, Smart Start schedules and installs the device at one of its Quebec service centres within the allowed window after your licence is issued.
- Drive and maintain the device. Use the vehicle only while sober, pass the start-up and rolling re-tests, and keep every service and monitoring appointment for the full length of your program.
Getting your licence back
There are two milestones: driving again during the prohibition on a restricted licence, and getting your regular licence back at the end.
A restricted licence lets you drive during the prohibition period, but only in a vehicle equipped with the interlock and only with no alcohol in your body. The waiting period before you can apply depends on your record; for a first conviction the judge decides, and repeat convictions carry longer set waits. You cannot get a restricted licence in certain situations, such as when the cancelled licence was a learner’s licence or when another penalty or medical issue is on your file.
To get your regular licence back, you complete the prohibition period, satisfy any interlock condition, pass the required assessment, and pay the reinstatement and insurance-contribution fees. Only once the SAAQ is satisfied on all counts is a full licence restored.
One warning worth repeating: driving a vehicle that is not equipped with the interlock while you hold a restricted licence is treated seriously in Quebec. It can lead to vehicle seizure, fines, and the suspension or revocation of your licence, on top of possible further charges. If the condition is on your file, it applies to every vehicle you drive.
Where Smart Start Canada fits in
Because the SAAQ authorizes the supplier, your device, installation, and monitoring in Quebec all run through the approved provider. Smart Start Canada is that SAAQ-approved provider, with published pricing and bilingual support. You can review the specifics on the Quebec program information page and find an installation centre near you through the Quebec service centre directory, which lists locations across the province. If you would rather talk it through, Smart Start’s Quebec team can walk you through eligibility, installation, and what to expect before your first appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What is an antidémarreur éthylométrique?
It is the French term for an alcohol ignition interlock device. Wired into a vehicle’s starting system, it stops the engine from starting when it detects alcohol on the driver’s breath and asks for rolling re-tests while driving.
Who runs the ignition interlock program in Quebec?
The SAAQ administers the program and sets the rules and fees. Smart Start Canada is the SAAQ-approved provider that installs, services, and monitors the devices, and has been since December 1, 2018.
Is an ignition interlock mandatory after a first offence in Quebec?
Not always. A first-time offender with a lower breath-alcohol reading who is assessed favourably may complete the Alcofrein awareness program instead. A higher reading, a refusal, or an unfavourable assessment can make the interlock mandatory.
How long do I have to keep the interlock in Quebec?
First-offence conditions commonly run from one to a few years, and a second impaired-driving offence can carry a lifetime condition. The exact duration is set by the court and the SAAQ based on the offence and your record.
How much does an ignition interlock cost in Quebec?
You pay for installation, a monthly device fee, service visits, and removal, plus separate SAAQ assessment and reinstatement fees. The SAAQ publishes the current device fees; review them along with Smart Start Canada’s Quebec program information before you book, since amounts change.
Can I drive during the prohibition period?
You may be able to, on a restricted licence, but only in a vehicle fitted with the interlock and only with no alcohol in your body. Waiting periods before you can apply depend on your record.
What happens if I drive a vehicle without the interlock?
Driving a non-equipped vehicle on a restricted licence can lead to vehicle seizure, fines, and suspension or revocation of your licence, plus possible further charges. The condition applies to every vehicle you drive.
Do repeat offenders keep the interlock for life?
A second impaired-driving offence can carry a lifetime interlock condition. It may be possible to apply for removal after a set number of years, but that is a review rather than an automatic end date.
How do I get my regular licence back after impaired driving in Quebec?
You complete the prohibition period and any interlock condition, pass the required assessment of your relationship with alcohol or drugs, and pay the reinstatement and insurance-contribution fees. The SAAQ then restores a full licence once it is satisfied.
Ready to get back on the road?
Meeting Quebec’s interlock requirement is the clearest path back to legal driving, and it does not have to be confusing. As the SAAQ-approved provider, Smart Start Canada offers published pricing, bilingual support, and service centres across the province. Review the Quebec program information, find a service centre near you, and take the next step toward getting your licence back.
Sources: SAAQ, Quebec Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device Program and SAAQ, Restricted Licence Related to Alcohol-Impaired Driving; and the Criminal Code of Canada.
Disclaimer: This article is provided by Smart Start Canada for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Impaired driving laws, penalties, fees, and program requirements vary by province and territory and by individual circumstances, and they change over time. Any timelines or figures mentioned are general information, not quotes or guarantees. Always confirm current requirements with the SAAQ, the court handling your case, a licensed lawyer, or Smart Start Canada directly before making decisions. Program details, pricing, and availability are subject to change.