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Get your Quebec boat license by taking our Transport Canada-approved online boating course. Drive a Boat Canada is a certified provider of the official Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), more commonly known as a boat license, for residents of the province of Quebec, and more than 2 million boaters have trusted us since 2001.
Getting your Quebec boat license with Drive a Boat Canada is done entirely online, in three steps.
Our boating safety course offers about 3 hours of fun, engaging learning.
Once you’ve successfully completed the course, you’ll have unlimited attempts to pass the Transport Canada-approved online boating exam.
After passing the exam, print your temporary card (PCOC) immediately and start boating right away. Your permanent card will be mailed to you within the following weeks, and it’s valid for life, recognized everywhere in Canada.
The base rate for a Quebec boat license is $69.95 CAD per person with Drive a Boat Canada, including the course, exam, and card.
Registering multiple people at the same time reduces this amount:
No matter the size of your group, your registration gives you access to:
Once obtained, your card never expires: no renewals, no recurring fees.
Before you take the exam, Drive a Boat Canada’s boating safety course prepares you on all the material required by Transport Canada, covered in six sections:
Our boating safety manual, available online, covers many of these topics.
Once the course is complete, the exam takes place entirely online: 50 multiple-choice questions covering safety, signage, navigation, and emergency measures. The passing grade is 75%.
If you fail, you can try again after 24 hours. A second failed attempt requires retaking the entire course before attempting the exam again. At Drive a Boat Canada, these retakes remain unlimited and free.
The law is unequivocal: since the Competency of Operators of Pleasure Craft Regulations came into force in 2009, anyone operating a motorized vessel on Canadian waters, from the Saint Lawrence River to the lakes of the Laurentians, must have proof of competency on board. This requirement applies to all operators, regardless of age, and extends to personal watercraft as well as sailboats fitted with an auxiliary motor.
Failing to comply with this rule is more than just an administrative formality: operators caught without proof of competency face a $250 fine, plus applicable administrative fees.
This legal framework is rooted first and foremost in a safety objective. Transport Canada reports that about 19 people lose their lives each year in recreational boating accidents in Quebec, and that in 65% of drownings that occurred in 2024, the victim wasn’t wearing a life jacket or wasn’t wearing it properly. This is precisely the type of situation our boating safety course is designed to prevent.
Full details of the regulation are available on the official Transport Canada page.
Drive a Boat Canada is committed to offering an unmatched learning experience for new boaters in the province of Quebec. Here’s what you can expect from our boating safety course:
With Drive a Boat Canada, you have full control over your learning experience. Our boating safety course lets you learn at your own pace, whether you’re using your laptop or your phone, from the comfort of your home. Worried about not passing on your first try? Don’t worry! We offer unlimited attempts, at no extra cost.
Get ready to embark on an exciting boating adventure! Our dynamic course features instructional videos and interactive quizzes that will keep you engaged and entertained throughout your learning experience.
Your Quebec boat license registration includes our 7-chapter essential boat handling course for free. You’ll learn how to dock, launch, and tow your boat, using realistic simulators and a virtual instructor available at the end of each chapter to answer your questions.
If your Pleasure Craft Operator Card is lost, damaged, or you’d simply like to keep an extra copy on board your boat, Drive a Boat Canada can provide you with a new one:
Simply provide your full name, date of birth, and mailing address to start a replacement card request.
Boating without your PCOC on board can result in a $250 fine. Always keep your card accessible, or get a backup copy in advance.
Drive a Boat Canada has helped more than 2 million Quebecers get their boat license since 2001. Quebecers trust our Transport Canada-approved recreational boating course to get their Pleasure Craft Operator Card quickly and stress-free.
Drive a Boat Canada offers you a rewarding and enjoyable experience for getting your Quebec boat license. More than 2 million boaters have been certified with us. Register today and receive your official license in just one afternoon!
A Quebec boat license costs $69.95 CAD for one person with Drive a Boat Canada. Group discounts are available starting at 2 registrations, up to $54.95 per license for a group of 4 or more.
Complete our boating safety course in just 3 to 5 hours and get your temporary Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) in no time!
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card is valid for life and doesn’t expire. There are no annual fees.
Yes. Once you pass the exam, your temporary card is instantly available to print, letting you hit the water without delay.
No. A Quebec driver’s license, which authorizes you to drive on the road, has no legal value on the water. Only the Pleasure Craft Operator Card legally allows you to operate a motorized boat.
Yes, a boat license is required to operate a personal watercraft (PWC) in Quebec. To operate a personal watercraft, you must hold a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC), which you can get by completing a Transport Canada-certified boating safety course.
The Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC) is the official document required by Transport Canada to operate a motorized boat in Quebec. Even though its name doesn’t use the word “license,” this card serves as proof of boating competency. Most boaters simply call it a boat license, but it’s officially the PCOC.
No. Unlike a driver’s license, the PCOC cannot be suspended or revoked, since it’s proof of competency rather than a license in the strict administrative sense.
If you already hold proof of competency recognized by Transport Canada, you don’t need to retake the course. Otherwise, you’ll need to take it again to get your PCOC.
No. The PCOC isn’t required for non-motorized vessels. If a motor is installed, even if it’s not being used, proof of competency is required.
No. You don’t need to be a resident of the province to take the course and get your PCOC. Anyone in Canada can do it, and the card is valid across the country.
Yes. If you’re fishing from a boat equipped with a motor, you must hold a valid PCOC, in addition to your Quebec provincial fishing license.
In most cases, yes, but there’s one exception: if you don’t have your PCOC, the rental company can have you fill out and sign a safety checklist, valid only for the duration of your rental.
In Quebec, people under 16 are subject to power limitations when operating boats. People under 16 aren’t allowed to operate boats with motors exceeding certain power limits, unless someone 16 or older with proof of competency is directly supervising them on the boat. To operate a personal watercraft (PWC) in Quebec, you must be 16 or older, with no exceptions, even under supervision.
A replacement card costs $24.95. Discounted rates apply for multiple cards: $29.95 for 2 cards, $34.95 for 3 cards.
Yes, everything is done 100% online. You can take the boating safety course at your own pace, from any device, then take the official exam without having to travel anywhere.
The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, designed according to Transport Canada standards. It covers signage, safety, emergency situations, and boating regulations.
You can retake the exam after a 24-hour waiting period. With Drive a Boat Canada, you get unlimited attempts at no extra cost.
Operating a motorized boat without holding a PCOC can result in fines starting at $250. You must also be able to present your card if checked by authorities. Always keep it within reach when you’re on the water.
Quebec offers boaters many beautiful destinations to explore. Here are some of the best places to go boating in Quebec:
