Please note that Communauto reserves the right to refuse any registration request based on its evaluation of the application. Additional information may be requested in certain cases.
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Am I eligible?
To be eligible to join, you must:
- Be at least 19 years of age (Canada) or 18 years of age (Paris)
- Hold a full licence or second-stage graduated licence from your province, as follows:
Province/City Accepted Licences Alberta Class 5 or 5-GLD Nova Scotia Class 5 or 5N Ontario Class G or G2 Quebec Class 5 or 5 probationary Paris Class B Equivalent licences from other Canadian provinces are also accepted (See “What should I do if I have an out-of-province or international licence?”)
- have not been the subject of any conviction for serious or criminal conduct in the last three years (minimum).
- have not been guilty of any violation for impaired driving in the last three years (minimum).
ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR CANADIAN APPLICANTS
- Have a good credit record
Additionally, if you have more than six years of driving experience, your record must:
- Have no more than 6 demerit points
- Have no more than 3 accidents involving damages greater than $1000, with no more than 2 of those being at-fault
If you have less than six years of driving experience or a graduated licence, your record must:
- Have no more than 3 demerit points
- Have no more than 1 accident involving damages greater than $1000, whether you were at fault or not.
Demerit points issued in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec, will stay on your driving record for 2 years from the date of conviction.
As part of the registration application process, Canadians must provide a copy of their driving record(s) (not required for French or foreign nationals):
Place of issue of permit File(s) required Alberta 3-year Standard Driver Abstract
You can request a driver abstract in person at a registry agent. The record must be no more than 3 months old. Learn more.
Alberta applicants have the option to have Communauto validate their driver record on their behalf through its third party broker.
Nova Scotia Insurance Driver Abstract
You can request a driver abstract by mail or in person at Access Nova Scotia. The record must be no more than 3 months old. Learn more.
Nova Scotia applicants have the option to have Communauto validate their driver record on their behalf through its third party broker.
Ontario 3-year uncertified driving record from Service Ontario.
You can order this online, or visit a Service Ontario location in person. The record must be no more than 3 months old.
Ontario applicants have the option to have Communauto validate their driver record on their behalf through its third party broker.
Quebec SAAQ driving record and Claims History Statement.
You have a month following your registration to provide these documents.
To find out how to order them online, see order my driving records.
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Can I join if I’m under 19 years old (18 years old in Paris)?
Can I join if I’m under 19 years old (18 years old in Paris)?
Yes, but you must subscribe through a family membership and live at the same address as your parent(s) or guardian(s) at the time of your subscription.
This is possible everywhere except in France, where it is not possible to obtain a driver’s licence at a younger age.
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What should I do if I have an out-of-province or international licence?
Out-of-province licence
If you have a licence from a Canadian province where Communauto operates, please register in that province, unless your plans are solely for occasional use in another branch.
If you are applying with an Alberta, Ontario, or Nova Scotia licence, we will be able to validate your driving record on your behalf (it will also be possible for us to validate your driving record if you have a New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Prince Edward Island licence).
If you are from any other province, you must provide a copy of your driver abstract covering the previous 3 years with your application.
If you have just moved to a new province, we recommend exchanging your licence prior to applying. Each province has different time frames for exchanging your licence after moving, as follows:
Province Time Frame for Licence Exchange Alberta 90 days after moving. Read more at Government of Alberta. Nova Scotia 90 days after moving. Read more at Service Nova Scotia. Ontario 60 days after moving. Read more at Service Ontario. Quebec months after moving. Read more at SAAQ. Out-of-country licence
If you have recently moved to Canada from another country, the above timeframes also apply for exchanging your out-of-country licence.
If you have recently moved to France, you have one year (18 months if you are European) to exchange your licence.
If your stay is temporary, you can apply with a licence from another country.
- If you are American
- A copy of your driver’s licence
- A copy of your passport (including your visitor visa if applicable).
- If you are from any other country
- A copy of your driver’s licence, or an official translation of your driver’s licence from your home country, if your licence is not in French or English.
- A copy of your passport (including your visitor visa if applicable).
Please note: A Canadian address is required to register at one of our Canadian branches.
If the address indicated on your application is different from your driver’s licence, proof of address may be required. This must be an official document such as a government document, a telephone or internet bill, or a rental lease. Proof of a temporary address will not be accepted.
- If you are American
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If I have an international driver’s licence, am I exempt from having to obtain a Canadian provincial or French licence?
If you are moving to Canada or France from another country, you will need to exchange your licence within the timeframe set by your province.
The international driver’s licence is only a translation of the driver’s licence obtained in the issuing country. You must request it before leaving your home country. The international driver’s licence is required in addition to, not in place of, your original driver’s licence. To be valid, your international driver’s licence must always be paired with your original licence. If requested by police, you must present both documents.
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Is it necessary to have a smartphone with data to use your service?
Not necessarily. It depends which of our two service types you plan to use. FLEX service does require the use of a smartphone with data to locate available vehicles through the Communauto mobile app. If you are signing up to use only round-trip vehicles however, you can manage your bookings and vehicle access without using the Communauto mobile app if you choose. You can make reservations through your online account or over the phone.
If you are not using the Communauto mobile app, you will need to use the key fob or card that was provided to you by Communauto to access the vehicles (available upon request if we did not provide you one at the time of registration) or, if you live in Quebec or France, you can use a compatible RFID card that you have previously linked through your online account (see “Regional Specifics” in How do I start my trip once I have a reservation?).
To find out which of our services is available in your area, please visit the “How it Works” page of your local branch.
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What if my credit record doesn’t meet Communauto’s requirements?
In some circumstances, if your credit record does not meet our requirements, or it is not available (if you are not yet a resident of Canada), you may still be able to subscribe (on probation) by choosing one of the Value Plans, which all require a $500 membership bond to join in our Canadian branches.
As credit records are not available in France, the credit record is not required for French residents who register in Paris.
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Is it necessary to have personal car insurance in order to use Communauto vehicles?
No. When you use one of our vehicles you are automatically covered by Communauto’s auto insurance policy, which includes collision and third-party liability coverage.
If you have collision coverage through your credit card or a personal auto insurance policy, you may (except in Quebec and Paris) waive your participation in Communauto’s collision insurance by filling out the Damage Protection Plan Waiver. See the “Rates” page on your branch’s website for more details.
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Is it necessary to have a credit card in order to use your services?
You must register either a credit card or a VISA or Mastercard debit card in order to access the service.
In France, Visa Electron cards, debit cards, and American Express cards are not accepted.
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What should I do if I have an out-of-province or international licence?
Out-of-province licence
If you have a licence from a Canadian province where Communauto operates, please register in that province, unless your plans are solely for occasional use in another branch.
If you are applying with an Alberta, Ontario, or Nova Scotia licence, we will be able to validate your driving record on your behalf (it will also be possible for us to validate your driving record if you have a New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, or Prince Edward Island licence).
If you are from any other province, you must provide a copy of your driver abstract covering the previous 3 years with your application.
If you have just moved to a new province, we recommend exchanging your licence prior to applying. Each province has different time frames for exchanging your licence after moving, as follows:
Province Time Frame for Licence Exchange Alberta 90 days after moving. Read more at Government of Alberta. Nova Scotia 90 days after moving. Read more at Service Nova Scotia. Ontario 60 days after moving. Read more at Service Ontario. Quebec months after moving. Read more at SAAQ. Out-of-country licence
If you have recently moved to Canada from another country, the above timeframes also apply for exchanging your out-of-country licence.
If you have recently moved to France, you have one year (18 months if you are European) to exchange your licence.
If your stay is temporary, you can apply with a licence from another country.
- If you are American
- A copy of your driver’s licence
- A copy of your passport (including your visitor visa if applicable).
- If you are from any other country
- A copy of your driver’s licence, or an official translation of your driver’s licence from your home country, if your licence is not in French or English.
- A copy of your passport (including your visitor visa if applicable).
Please note: A Canadian address is required to register at one of our Canadian branches.
If the address indicated on your application is different from your driver’s licence, proof of address may be required. This must be an official document such as a government document, a telephone or internet bill, or a rental lease. Proof of a temporary address will not be accepted.
- If you are American
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How do I submit additional documents if required for registration?
If we request additional documents or information to complete your registration, please use the contact form on our website or in the app to submit this to us.
You will make it easier to follow up on your request if you select the “Complete my registration” option in the drop-down menu where you are asked to specify the “Contact purpose”.