Do you need to pass a SAAQ-recognized exam to do PEP maintenance on heavy vehicles?

For vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 7,258 kg or more, yes. The mechanic assigned to preventive maintenance must hold a competency certificate issued by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ) and must have passed a competency exam on preventive maintenance that the SAAQ recognizes. That requirement comes from Quebec’s Highway Safety Code and the regulation on road vehicle safety standards.

For vehicles under 7,258 kg, a SAAQ certificate is one option, not the only one. You can also qualify by completing the SAAQ work-history form if you have a recognized automotive-mechanics DEP plus two years of relevant experience, or five years of relevant experience repairing road-vehicle mechanisms. The SAAQ’s PEP information guide sets out these rules.