Will your car be refused at the SAAQ road test? Checks to do before you leave

A borrowed car is often the biggest source of surprises: you don't know its exact condition, controls or paperwork. The problem is rarely discovered before arriving at the service centre.

If the vehicle is not considered safe or compliant, the test may not take place. You lose your slot, the day you planned and sometimes weeks of waiting for a new date.

According to the SAAQ's official guide, the evaluator checks items including the vehicle's general body condition, tires, headlights, brake lights (including the high-mounted centre brake light), turn signals, windshield, windows, rear window and mirrors.

The check also covers the doors, horn, seat belts, muffler, head restraints, parking brake and speedometer. Other items may be checked depending on weather conditions.

Walk around the vehicle with a second person the day before: check tire pressure, visibility through the glass, familiarity with the controls and any obvious mechanical problem.

A dashboard warning light is not presented here as an official SAAQ refusal criterion. If one appears, have the vehicle checked before the test so a safety problem is not discovered on test day.

In Quebec winters, winter tires are mandatory during the regulated period: check them if your test falls in that window.

The passenger seat must be clear and clean with a working seatbelt. Doors must open on both sides, and the parking brake must be reachable.

Bring the vehicle's valid registration certificate and proof of insurance, in addition to your own documents required by the SAAQ. Check expiry dates the day before, not the morning of.

If a repair isn't possible before the test, or you're not comfortable with the borrowed car's controls, renting a driving-school car prepared for the test removes that risk. You also practise in the same car used for the test.