Need an SAAQ inspection for your truck? Call us today! Make an appointment ✅ Quick summary: What you need to know about the SAAQ inspection for your truck: Mandatory SAAQ inspection: for all trucks weighing 4,500 kg or more, every 6 or 12 months, depending on type. Brakes, steering, suspension, lighting, tires, structure – everything checked. Essential preparation: a truck in good condition makes it easier to pass inspection. Authorized agents: choose a SAAQ-approved center specializing in heavy vehicles. Preventive maintenance: regular checks and an up-to-date maintenance logbook = fewer unpleasant surprises. Respecting deadlines: delaying an inspection can lead to penalties on the road. Is your truck really ready for a mechanical inspection? The SAAQ requires regular inspections to ensure road safety in Quebec. But how do you prepare? This article takes you step-by-step through the SAAQ’s requirements, the practical steps involved and tips for a successful inspection – so you canobtain your precious compliance sticker with complete peace of mind from an authorized agent. SAAQ requirements for truck mechanical inspections. SAAQ technical inspections, road safety in Quebec. The SAAQ has put in place strict rules to ensure the safety of all road users. To ensure that everyone feels safe on our roads, the SAAQ requires heavy vehicles to undergo rigorous technical inspections. Let’s take a look at what goes through an SAAQ technical inspection: Brake system: Technicians carefully inspect brakes, hoses, cables and controls. The aim is to ensure that the braking system meets standards – whatever the conditions. Steering and suspension: Particular attention is paid to steering and suspension – two key elements in avoiding accidents. Lighting and signalling: Every light signal is controlled, with headlights and signals ensuring that the vehicle is perfectly visible and unambiguously conveys its intentions to other road users. Tires and wheels: The condition of tires is precisely diagnosed, and wheels are checked for wear, damage or anomalies that could make the vehicle unsafe. Structure and body: The vehicle’s structure is also examined to ensure that it is perfectly integrated. We look for rust, cracks or deformations that could affect vehicle safety. Conducted with the utmost care, these checks ensure that every truck complies with the SAAQ’s safety requirements – helping to make Quebec’s roads safer for everyone. These in-depth checks, which methodically examine all vehicle components, are important to ensure that the trucks operating on our territory do not pose a risk and rigorously comply with the established requirements, actively participating in the protection of all users, whether drivers, passengers or pedestrians. Entrusted to accredited professionals, inspections are carried out by certified experts. A sticker is affixed if everything is correct. A word of caution: check the accreditation to ensure that the certificate is legally valid. Truck mechanical inspection process To help you understand exactly what’s expected of you, we’ve compiled a table comparing the different types of periodic inspection. It takes into account the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and the type of road vehicle. Periodicity of periodic mechanical inspections according to GVWR and vehicle type Type of vehicle GVWR inspection frequency Standard road vehicles Variable Every six or 12 months (depending on vehicle type) PEP vehicles Variable exempt from mandatory periodic inspection Road vehicles 4,500 kg or more At least every 12 months Cabs or taxi-like vehicles (8 to 10 years) Variable Every six months Buses and minibuses Variable Every six months Cabs or taxi-like vehicles (km >= 80,000 km or 4 to 7 years old) Variable Every 12 months or 60,000 km Note: GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, PMP = Preventive Maintenance Program. A complete technical inspection follows a series of key stages, all of which are based on Quebec regulations. The vehicle is checked to ensure that it is compliant and perfectly safe – thus guaranteeing compliance with the requirements set by the SAAQ. To pass your periodic technical inspection, you need to be well prepared. Specifically, check that your truck is in perfect condition and complies with the relevant standards. This will simplify the inspection and save you a lot of trouble down the road. Mandatory inspection schedule and follow-up For trucks, it’s important to note that not all technical inspections are carried out at the same intervals. The validity of the inspection certificate depends on the type of vehicle, with some vehicles requiring a check-up every 6 or 12 months. But be careful to keep to the SAAQ schedule, because a delay can have consequences on the road. You risk not only prosecution, but also penalties. That’s why it’s so important to respect the deadlines imposed by the SAAQ, to avoid any fines – and to drive with complete peace of mind. Download your safety patrol checklist and report for free! Get your checklist and round report now! Full name Your e-mail address I agree to receive exclusive Hino Rive-Sud news and offers (No spam because we don’t like that either 😉) Download my Check-List now Get your checklist and round report now! Download my Check-List Select an authorized inspection center To find a competent SAAQ agent in Quebec, there are a few points to bear in mind. A SAAQ-approved center performs a mechanical inspection – a visual inspection of the vehicle’s key components. Clearly, centers specializing in heavy-duty vehicles have a lot to offer. In particular, their technical know-how makes them the ideal choice for heavy-duty workshops, simply because their technicians work with this type of vehicle on a daily basis and are familiar with the mechanical features to be checked. Preventive maintenance strategies Good practices for regular mechanical maintenance Setting up a program of checks between SAAQ inspections is still highly recommended: regular monitoring helps keep your truck in good condition and prevent breakdowns. Proactive maintenance has a significant influence on the longevity of mechanical parts. Meticulous maintenance, including general mechanical services for trucks and fleets, translates into tangible financial benefits. In particular, it reduces unforeseen expenses over the long term, and ensures safety. Documentation and traceability of interventions Keeping a rigorous