Montreal taxi licence: what you actually need now
Loi 17 (October 2020) ended Quebec's medallion (T-plate) system. Anyone meeting the rules can register a vehicle for paid passenger transport. The current requirements:
- Class 5 driver's licence, held for at least one year. Class 4C is optional (and useful if you ever want to drive a larger fleet vehicle).
- Permis de chauffeur autorisé from the SAAQ — includes the criminal background check.
- CFTR formation en ligne (~14 hours, ~$150). Same course as Uber drivers since the reform.
- A vehicle registered with the SAAQ for paid transport, with a current vérification mécanique sticker.
- Commercial taxi insurance (~$3,500–$5,500/year for an owner-operator, bundled if you sign with a fleet).
- A taxi meter, dome light, and (for most fleets) the fleet's dispatch terminal.
- Revenu Québec MEV-WEB billing module — this is genuinely mandatory and audited.
Montreal taxi fleets compared: Coop, Diamond, Téo, Hochelaga
Most new drivers join a fleet rather than going fully independent. The four main options on the Island of Montreal in 2026:
| Fleet | Monthly dues | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi Coop Montréal | ~$450 | Largest dispatch volume, strong corporate accounts |
| Taxi Diamond | ~$420 | YUL airport contracts, hotel stands |
| Téo Taxi | Salary or per-km | Salaried option (no vehicle ownership required), full EV fleet |
| Taxi Hochelaga | ~$390 | East-end strongholds, lower dues |
Téo's salaried model is the easiest entry point — no vehicle to buy, no insurance to negotiate, no dispatch dues. The trade-off is a capped upside on busy nights.
How much do Montreal taxi drivers actually make?
Real numbers from working Montreal taxi drivers in 2026:
- Owner-operator, full-time (50–55h/week): $1,400–$1,900 gross per week, $900–$1,300 net after fuel, insurance and dispatch dues.
- Téo salaried driver: ~$22/hour with benefits, no car expenses on you.
- Owner-operator, weekend-night only: $400–$550 net for a Friday + Saturday double, more during festivals and Canadiens playoff runs.
Taxi still wins over Uber in three specific scenarios in Montreal: hotel stands and corporate accounts (Coop and Diamond dominate), the YUL airport queue once you're in line, and snowy nights where taxi lane access (Sainte-Catherine, René-Lévesque) gets you across downtown twice as fast.
Taxi vs Uber in Montreal: which actually pays better?
Same shift, two different platforms. From dual-platform drivers tracking their own data:
- Weekday daytime: Taxi wins. Corporate and airport contracts give a steadier baseline than Uber's slow weekday hours.
- Weekend nights: Uber wins on gross, but taxi nets close because there's no 25% service fee — just dispatch dues amortised over the month.
- Snow / rain: Taxi wins decisively. Bus lane access and existing stands at hotels mean less dead time.
- Festival weekends: Uber wins on volume; taxi wins on per-ride dollars (no surge cap, premium downtown rates).
Many of the highest-earning drivers in Montreal hold a Coop or Diamond plate and drive Uber on the side during proven peak windows. Pro À Quart was built to tell you exactly which window pays more on which platform, in real time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a T-plate medallion to drive a taxi in Montreal?
No. The medallion system ended with Loi 17 in October 2020. Any qualified driver with a registered vehicle, SAAQ permit and CFTR training can operate.
How much does it cost to start driving a taxi in Montreal in 2026?
Realistic startup cost as an owner-operator: about $4,500–$7,000 for the SAAQ permit, CFTR training, vehicle conversion (meter, dome, dispatch), the first insurance instalment and your fleet onboarding. Joining Téo as a salaried driver costs essentially nothing upfront.
Which Montreal taxi fleet is the best to join?
Coop has the most dispatch volume and strongest corporate accounts. Diamond is the YUL airport specialist. Téo is the easiest entry for new drivers thanks to its salaried model and EV fleet. Hochelaga is the cheapest dues for east-end-focused drivers.
Do Montreal taxis still accept credit cards in 2026?
Yes — every metered taxi in Montreal accepts credit cards and Interac. Fleet apps (Coop, Bonjour, Diamond) also support in-app payment exactly like Uber.
Can I drive taxi and Uber at the same time?
Yes, and many of the top-earning Montreal drivers do exactly that. You need the proper insurance endorsements on the vehicle and you need to track which platform is on for each trip — but post-Loi 17 there is no legal barrier.
Written by drivers, for drivers
This guide was created by the Pro À Quart team, including Claudel Métellus, an experienced Uber and Lyft driver and founder of SoluCité. Every recommendation comes from real shifts on Montreal streets — not a generic playbook.
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