The Government of Quebec has introduced a temporary regulatory measure aimed at reducing the financial burden on owners of non-electric vehicles by lowering certain registration-related duties. Issued through Ministerial Order 2026-09 under the Highway Safety Code, the regulation reflects the province’s response to rising fuel costs linked to the conflict in Iran. The measure is intended to provide short-term financial relief to motorists while maintaining existing standards of road safety and the integrity of Quebec’s vehicle registration system.

The order was made under section 633.2 of the Highway Safety Code, which grants the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility the authority to temporarily suspend provisions of the Code or its regulations when doing so is in the public interest and is not expected to compromise highway safety. Before issuing the order, the Minister consulted the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), as required by law. The legislation also exempts such ministerial orders from the normal publication requirements set out in the Regulations Act, allowing the government to respond more quickly to urgent circumstances.

The regulation temporarily suspends several provisions of the Regulation respecting road vehicle registration that determine the amount of duties payable by owners of non-electric vehicles. The suspension applies from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027. During this period, the usual calculations for certain registration-related charges are replaced by temporary rules established under the new regulation. The changes specifically affect vehicle owners whose payment due dates fall within the designated period.

The suspended provisions include sections governing the annual duties required to retain the legal right to operate a non-electric vehicle. Under normal circumstances, these duties are calculated according to formulas established in the existing regulation. By suspending these provisions, the government gains the flexibility to reduce the amounts payable during the one-year relief period. The measure applies only to non-electric vehicles, reflecting the government’s objective of assisting drivers who continue to face significant gasoline expenses.

The regulation also addresses situations involving deferred payments. Some vehicle owners may have previously chosen to postpone their annual registration duties for up to twelve months. If the original payment due date would have fallen within the relief period before being deferred, the regulation ensures that the reduced duty calculations still apply when payment eventually becomes due. This prevents motorists from losing the benefit of the temporary relief simply because they elected to delay payment.

Quebec (09/2026) July 7, 2026*
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.