Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Government Insurance Licensing and Registration Services Department
2260 11th Avenue
Regina, SK S4P 0J9
(306) 775-6900 | Customer Service Center
1-800-667-9868 | North American Customer Service Line
www.sgi.sk.ca

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
“F” Division
6101 Dewdney Avenue
Box 2500
Regina S4P 3K7
(306) 780-5560 | www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/sk/index-eng.htm

(see Vehicle Registration)

(see Vehicle Registration)

(see Vehicle Registration)

In order to register and insure a vehicle in Saskatchewan, an applicant must provide the appropriate documentation to the Department to satisfy identification requirements and Saskatchewan residency, proof of ownership, and a valid Saskatchewan inspection (some exceptions apply). Provincial Sales Tax (PST) may also be payable at the time of registration.

New residents will have 90 days after moving to Saskatchewan, or until the current vehicle registration expires (whichever occurs first), to obtain Saskatchewan registration and insurance.  The 90 day time frame does not apply to commercial and farm vehicles, which must obtain Saskatchewan registration and insurance immediately upon establishing residency.

The Department may refuse to issue a certificate of registration if, in the opinion of the Department, the applicant is unable to satisfy the identification and residency requirements, the vehicle is unsafe for operation on provincial roadways, the vehicle is ineligible for registration in Saskatchewan, the applicant has failed to provide all documentation and information requested by the Department, or the applicant has made any false statement on the registration application.

All trailer and semi-trailers must be registered with the Department.

A non-resident temporarily residing in Saskatchewan while attending a recognized educational institution as a full-time student, or a student participating in an exchange program, who has a valid driver’s licence and/or vehicle registration from another jurisdiction, is not required to switch their drivers license or vehicle registration from the other jurisdiction. The student must be in compliance with the laws of his or her jurisdiction, have a valid certificate of registration, insurance, and license plate from that jurisdiction, and be able to provide proof of financial responsibility to the Department upon request.

Every Certificate of Registration will expire at midnight on the expiry date listed on the certificate.

The Department has a number of registration terms available. Customers can register and insure their vehicles on an annual basis, on a short term basis (28 days to 364 days) or they can pay monthly through automatic withdrawals from their checking account.

Registration permits, which allow a motorist to drive an unregistered vehicle for short time periods, can be purchased for a 24 hour or 8 day time frame. Registration permits expire on the date and time indicated on the permit. Proof of ownership and identification are required prior to purchasing a registration permit. Insurance is provided subject to the Automobile Accident Insurance Act.

There is no province-wide emissions inspection requirement.

All passenger motor vehicles must pass a safety inspection before they are initially registered in Saskatchewan.

When a vehicle is registered, 1 reflectorized license plate is provided to the vehicle’s owner, for motor vehicles.

The color scheme for license plates is green on white.

License plates are validated by plate class and expiry date stickers.

A person who intends to transfer license plates, from 1 vehicle to another without changing the name in which the Certificate of Registration is issued, must provide the Department with the applicable documentation (proof of ownership and inspection certificate) and pay the appropriate fee. The applicant will receive an updated Certificate of Registration displaying the new vehicle information and can then physically move the plates from the previous vehicle to the new vehicle.

A written or oral exam, a driving test, a vision test, and driver education are required for the original license. If a license holder is moving from a jurisdiction outside of Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Australia, Isle of Man, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, or South Korea, he or she will have to take a written, vision, and a driving examination.

Drivers from another Canadian jurisdiction or the United States may exchange their license for a Class 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 license and a motorcycle endorsement. If an applicant is moving from Switzerland, Australia, Isle of Man, Germany, Austria, Great Britain, or South Korea and he or she holds a valid driver’s license, the applicant can apply for a Saskatchewan Class 5 and motorcycle driver’s license by surrendering his or her out-of-state driver’s license and by paying the appropriate fees; the applicant will not have to take any examination, unless the Department determines that any tests are needed.

Saskatchewan has a graduated licensing program. At 15, teens are eligible for a Class 7 license, if they complete the high school driver education program (otherwise 16 years). There are three stages to Saskatchewan’s graduated driver’s licensing program – Learner, Novice 1, and Novice 2. Drivers in the GDL program cannot consume any amount of alcohol (zero BAC), cannot be a supervising driver, and cannot obtain a commercial class driver’s license or school bus endorsement.

Class 7 learners licenses may be issued to drivers who are a minimum of 16 years of age (15 years of age if enrolled in an approved high school driver education program) that pass written and vision tests. The learner’s stage lasts for nine months, excluding interruptions (non-renewal, refusal, license suspension). Drivers education is mandatory, drivers have the option of high school training (30 hours in-class, six hours in-car) or commercial training (six hours in-class, six hours in-car). In the learner stage, drivers must have in the front passenger seat at all hours a supervising driver, who must be an experienced, licensed driver and be conscious and capable of lawfully assuming operation of the vehicle. Learners may not driver between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. and passengers (excluding the supervising driver) must be immediate family members (defined as spouse, child, parent, step-parent, sibling or grandparent). The number of passengers is limited to the number of seatbelts.

Class 5 – Novice 1 license holders must be a minimum of 16 years of age and must pass a class 5 road test. Novice 1 licenses must be held for 6 months. Novice 1 license holders may only transport 1 passenger at a time who is not an immediate family member.  The number of passengers is limited to the number of seatbelts. After holding a Class 5 – Novice 1 license for 6 months, excluding interruptions (non-renewal, refusal, license suspension), drivers are eligible for a Class 5 – Novice 2 license.

Class 5 – Novice 2 licenses are held for 12 months, excluding interruptions (non-renewal, refusal, license suspensions), and while keeping free of any at-fault collisions, traffic convictions or license suspensions. Novice 2 license holders may not transport any more passengers than there are seatbelts.

An applicant for a Class 7 driver’s license must meet the following criteria: (1) be at least 16 years of age, or 15 years of age and enrolled in a government-sanctioned high school driver training program, unless he or she previously held a driver’s license and submits proof of this to the Department; (2) except where he or she previously held a driver’s license, submits evidence of his or her name and age; (3) passes the vision, sign, road, and written or oral tests for the class of license for which he or she is applying; and (4) has held a Class 7 or Class 5 – Novice or equivalent from another jurisdiction for at least 6 months.

The driver’s license of a new driver is a graduate license for at least 2 years.

New residents who wish to drive in Saskatchewan must obtain a Saskatchewan driver’s license within 90 days of moving to the province, or upon expiration of their out-of-province license, whichever is earliest.

A graduated driver’s license is valid for 5 years. A new driver, for the purposes of these regulations, is (a) the holder of a class 7 driver’s license; (b) the holder of a class 5 driver’s license with a novice 1 or novice 2 restriction noted on the driver’s license; or (c) the holder of a license issued by another jurisdiction that is equivalent to a driver’s license described above.

Driver’s licenses can be renewed by mail. If the driver’s license of a Saskatchewan resident has lapsed for more than 5 years, then a written, vision, and a driving test are required.

Class 1 motor vehicles are power unit and semitrailer combinations, trucks when towing a vehicle, or vehicles the Combined Gross Weight (CGW) of which exceeds 4,600 kg, and buses when towing a vehicle or vehicles, the CGW of which exceeds 4,600 kg (minimum age 18). (A power unit is defined as a vehicle designed and used for towing a semitrailer on a highway with a substantial part of the weight of the semitrailer and its load carried by the power unit)

Class 2 motor vehicles are buses that have a seating capacity of more than 24 passengers (minimum age 18).

Class 3 motor vehicles are trucks with more than 2 axles, except trucks registered in Class F, trucks when towing a vehicle or trailer, or vehicles with CGW which does not exceed 4,600 kg, and power units with more than 2 axles when not towing a trailer (minimum age 18).

Class 4 motor vehicles are buses that have a seating capacity of not more than 24 passengers, public service vehicles used in the operation of a taxi service when being used for hire, ambulances when being used for hire (minimum age 18).

Class 5 motor vehicles are vehicles with no more than 2 axles, other than motorcycles, vehicles with 2 axles when towing a vehicle or vehicles whose CGW does not exceed 4,600 kg, buses when not carrying passengers, motor homes with 3 axles, public service vehicles used in the operation of a taxi service when not being used for hire, law enforcement vehicles, and any vehicle registered as a school bus, without passengers (minimum age 15).

A Class 7 license allows the holder to drive Class 5 motor vehicles as a learner (minimum age 16 – 15 with High School Driver’s Education Program).

Any person age 16 or over can obtain an endorsement to his or her regular driver’s license by passing a vision, sign, road, and written or oral test for the endorsement that he or she is trying to obtain and by filing any appropriate medical report or consent form requested by the Department.

Text messaging and the use of hand-held cell phones while driving are prohibited. Drivers in the graduated driver’s licensing program are prohibited from all cell phone use.

Emergency number is 911.

No prohibition on wearing of headsets while driving.

Prohibits driving greater than 60kph while passing highway workers or equipment, emergency vehicles stopped with emergency lights flashing, and tow trucks stopped with amber lights flashing, road construction vehicles with lights flashing, and distinctively lit Ministry of Highways vehicles.

The driver of a motor vehicle must wear a seat belt that is properly adjusted and securely fastened.

All passengers under age 16 must be properly restrained.

If the child passenger weighs less than 18 kg, that passenger must be placed in an age and weight appropriate child or infant restraint system. This child or infant restraint system must be properly adjusted and securely fastened in the manner recommended by the manufacturer.

The driver of a vehicle must bring the vehicle to a stop when approaching a railway crossing when a signal person or an automatic signal indicates an approaching train.

The driver of a vehicle proceeding in the same direction on a highway as a school bus that has its safety lights in operation must not pass the school bus.

The driver of a vehicle proceeding in the same direction on a highway as a school bus that is stopped and that has its safety lights and stop arm in operation must stop at least 5 meters from the rear of the school bus. The vehicle must not proceed until the operation of the safety lights and stop arm has been discontinued.

When a school bus is stopped and has its safety lights and stop arm in operation, the driver of a vehicle that is approaching the school bus from the opposite direction on a highway, other than a divided highway, must stop at least 5 meters from the front of the school bus and must not proceed until the operation of the safety lights and stop arm has been discontinued.

On passenger cars, the center part of the bumper must be between 380 mm and 560 mm above the ground when the vehicle is unloaded on level ground and the tires are inflated within the range specified by the tire manufacturer.

On light trucks, the height of the lowest part of the front bumper shall be not more than 750 mm above the ground when the vehicle is unloaded on level ground and the tires are inflated within the range specified by the tire manufacturer.

Headlight use is required for the period of one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise or at any other time when conditions of poor visibility exist.

Hazard lights may not be used unless a vehicle is coming to a stop or is standing on a highway, it is necessary to do so for the safe operation of the vehicle, or the vehicle presents a hazard to other vehicles on the highway.

Tire chains are permitted.

Studded tires are permitted.

After-market tint films or coatings must not be applied to the windshield and front side windows.

An image displayed on a television set, video screen, or computer screen may be located so that it is visible to the driver if the image only displays information that is solely designed to assist the driver in the safe operation of the vehicle, or in ensuring the safety and security of its load or its passengers or to navigate. The equipment must be secure and located so that it does not obstruct the view of the driver.

Radar detectors are permitted.

Windshield stickers that are greater than 51.2 mm in diameter in the area swept by the windshield wipers are not permitted.

N/A.

All motorcycle operators and passengers must wear helmets.

If a motorcycle is not equipped with a windshield, the driver and any passengers must wear protective eye goggles or have face shields on their helmets.

All motorcycles must have at least 1 brake system. If the motorcycle has 1 brake system, the application of the brakes must be to both the front and the rear wheels.

If the motorcycle has 2 brake systems, each brake system must have a separate means of application; 1 brake system must be effective on the front wheels and 1 brake system must be effective on the rear wheels.

All lamps, except for headlamps, must emit a light that is visible from a distance of 200 meters on a clear night.

Motorcycles must have 1 or more headlamps that have a high and low beam, although limited speed motorcycles are not required to have a high beam.

The headlamps must, while on high beams or low beams, emit a white light visible from a distance of 500 meters on a clear night.

For motorcycles 1975 and newer, the headlamp must be automatically activated when any forward gear is engaged while the engine is running.

A motorcycle must have red tail lamps that emit a red light that is visible from any point along a 180 degree horizontal arc. This lamp must be activated by a headlamp control.

A motorcycle must have a rear brake lamp that emits a red light and is activated by the application of brakes on any wheel.

A motorcycle must not carry a passenger unless the seat is designed to carry an additional passenger.

Anyone wishing to obtain a motorcycle licence will be required to complete written and vision tests to become a Learner motorcycle driver (Endorsement 6). It is strongly recommended that they successfully complete an SGI-approved motorcycle training course prior to operating a motorcycle as a learner. A holder of a motorcycle endorsement will precede through the Motorcycle Graduated Driver’s Licensing program: Learner, Novice 1 and Novice 2. Drivers in the motorcycle GDL program may not tow a vehicle or use a sidecar.

The Endorsement 6—Learner License has a duration of at least 1 year to a maximum of 2 years (730 days), excluding interruptions (non-renewal, refusal, or license suspension). Learner License holders must pass written and vision tests, and be a minimum of 16 years of age, with written parental consent if under 18. Learners may not transport passengers or ride at night ( ½ hour after sunset to ½ before sunrise).

Drivers must pass a motorcycle road test and have at least 12 months without any at-fault collisions, suspensions or convictions (any of the mentioned would cause the rider to restart the Novice 1 stage) to earn an Endorsement M – Novice 1 License, which has a duration of at least 1 year, excluding interruptions (non-renewal, refusal, license suspension). Novice 1 License holders may not transport passengers and may not ride between midnight and 5 a.m.

Drivers must have 12 months without any at-fault collisions, suspensions or convictions (any of the mentioned would cause the rider to restart the Novice 2 stage) to earn an Endorsement M—Novice 2 License, which has a duration of at least 1 year, excluding interruptions (non-renewal, refusal, or license suspension).

A motorcycle must have 1 or more mufflers that ensure exhaust gases are cooled, and that effectively reduce combustion noise.

Same as motorcycle requirements.

The total length of a vehicle and trailer must not exceed 23 m and the width of any unit must not exceed 2.6 m. The maximum length of a single trailer is 12.5 m and the maximum height allowed is 4.15 meters.

A trailer or semitrailer that has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 1,360 kg or has a GVWR that exceeds the GVWR of the towing vehicle by more than 50% must have the following type of brake system: (1) if the vehicle was manufactured before 1985, the brakes are applied on wheels on opposite ends of at least 1 axle; and (2) if the vehicle was manufactured in or after 1985, the brakes are applied on opposite ends of all axles.

The brake system must automatically activate the brakes in the case of a breakaway from the towing vehicle without affecting the brakes of the towing vehicle.

The service brakes must be adjusted so that they apply braking equal on the wheels on the opposite ends of the same axle.

The weight of a trailer and its load or a combination of trailers and their loads must not exceed the following: (1) in the case of a trailer or semitrailer with a gooseneck hitch (not equipped with air brakes), a 5th-wheel hitch or a weight distributing hitch, 2 times the GVWR of the towing vehicle; or (2) in the case of a ball hitch, the GVWR of the towing vehicle.

The maximum width for a house trailer that is being moved between sunrise and sunset is 3.05 meters.

The maximum length for any combination of vehicles is 23 meters.

Must be connected by a safe clevis or catch. Ball hitch mounted on bumper permitted up to 1400 kg; safety chain required. Hitch must be rated for the combined weight of trailer(s) and contents. Two safety chains must cross under the hitch.

Brake, tail, and signal lights required.

When towing a trailer or another vehicle, the driver of the towing vehicle must have a clear view to the rear of the trailer or the other vehicle. Left and right outside mirrors set to the widest point of the towed vehicle(s) are sufficient.

80 km/h unless posted otherwise.

N/A.

N/A.

Crashes resulting in property damage in excess of C$1000 are required to be reported immediately, as are crashes involving hit and run, an impaired driver, a vehicle that must be towed, an out-of-province vehicle, or if there is an injury.

Contact your local AAA club about AAA Guaranteed Arrest Bond validity in Canada.

Province has future-proof law applicable for failure to satisfy judgment for death, bodily injury, or property damage exceeding C$1,000 due to traffic accident. Minimum financial responsibility limits: C$200,000 inclusive.

The Automobile Accident Insurance Act (AAIA) provides limited compensation, regardless of fault, for accident victims.

All trucks over 10 metric tons must stop, except 2- and 3-axle Saskatchewan registered farm trucks.

No province-wide helmet law requirement.

U.S. citizens returning to the U.S. from Canada by land or sea are required to present proper travel documents according to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. Proof of citizenship is required for travel to Canada by land or sea. A U.S. passport is required for travel by air to Canada and to the U.S. Permanent U.S. residents who are not citizens should carry their Alien Registration Receipt Card.

All children must have their own travel documents. In lieu of a U.S. passport or passport card, U.S. children under 16 traveling to and from Canada by land or sea may also present an original or copy of his or her birth certificate, a consular Report of Birth Abroad, or a Naturalization Certificate. If the parents are separated or divorced, the parent crossing the border should have proof of custody or a letter from the other parent. Persons under 18 years of age who are not accompanied by a parent should bring a letter from their parent or guardian giving them permission to cross the border.

A visitor is permitted to bring a reasonable amount of personal effects, a reasonable supply of food, and a full tank of gas. “Reasonable” means enough for personal use during the length of stay in Canada. Any unreasonable amounts are subject to duty.

A visitor must have a rabies vaccination certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian to bring dogs or cats into Canada.

U.S. citizens returning from Canada will be required to present proper travel documents according to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

Open containers are not permitted in Saskatchewan. The legal drinking age is 19.

The maximum blood alcohol content is 80 mg of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood, or .08% for criminal sanctions.

A new driver with a probationary license (2 years) and a Class 7 license holder cannot have any alcohol in his or her system when driving a motor vehicle, or roadside administrative suspensions are applied.

Experienced drivers are subject to roadside administrative suspensions for a blood alcohol content between .04% and .08%.