Free travel for companions
By train
A companion who presents the required documentation can travel aboard VIA Rail for free. For more details:
VIA Rail – 1 888 842-7245 / 1 800 268-9503
By Bus
Free travel can be obtained upon presenting the Carte québécoise à l’accompagnement, available from the Bus Carriers Federation.
Bus Carriers Federation – 418 476-8181 / 1 844 476-8181
Public transit
In Montréal’s public transit system, persons accompanying mobility-reduced of visually impaired passengers travel for free. For details, contact the Société de transport de Montréal.
STM – 514 280-8211
A good tip: always book at least 48 hours in advance.
Accessible minivan rentals
Minivan with access ramp able to accommodate up to three persons in motorized wheel-chairs and 5 persons maximums.
Location Jean Légaré – 1 888 534-6466
Accessible car rentals with hand controls or spinner knobs
Some rental companies offer hand controls, spinner knobs, pedal extensions and other adaptations to improve the driver’s experience. These companies generally require at least two business days’ notice to prepare the vehicle.
Avis — 1 888 879-4273 / 1 800 962-1434
Alamo — 1 800 651-1223 / 1 800 522-9292
Hertz — 1 800 263-0600
Enterprise — 1 866 225-4284
National — 1 888-273-5262 / mobility@nationalcar.com
Intercity Public Transit
Bus
The intercity transit network is accessible to everyone and comprises more than 200 terminals across Quebec. For information on bus routes, schedules and fares, visit the Bus Carriers Federation website. You may also obtain an Accompanying Card. If you are travelling in a wheelchair, be sure to specify this when you book.
Orleans Express: 1-833-449-6444
The Orleans Express fleet consists of 4 buses equipped with a platform lift and wheelchair tie-downs. These vehicles can accommodate two wheelchairs at a time.
Train
For train travel on VIA Rail, you must call to book your spot at 1-888-842-7245 or 1-800-268-9503 (TTY). Do not book online. Bookings must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Make sure that the stations in your departure and arrival cities are accessible.
Local public transit
Adapted transit
Every Quebec municipality offers adapted transit services. To make bookings, you will need a user number, which can be obtained if you already use adapted transit in your municipality. The Bus Carriers Federation provides detailed information on how this type of transit operates (“Paratransit” tab).
Regular bus and metro – Montréal
Most of the Société de transport de Montréal bus lines offer “kneeling” (low-floor) buses with an integrated access ramp. Sometimes, however, the access ramps are out of order. In addition, some bus stops are not accessible. Consult the STM website for full details.
The Montréal metro has 19 accessible stations. Consult the map of metro stations with elevator access.
Regular bus – Québec City
Several Metrobus lines of the Capital Transportation Network (RTC) are accessible. Their route has a significant number of accessible stops and is served by buses equipped with a ramp and a designated wheelchair space. Detailed information and an explanatory video are available on the RTC website.
Accessible Taxis
Contact information for companies offering accessible taxi services.
Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Malartic – Val d’Or
- Taxi 117 : 819 355-2473
Val d’Or
- Taxi 24: 819 856-7330
Eastern Townships
Magog
- Taxi Magog-Orford: 819 843-3377
Sherbrooke
- Taxis de Sherbrooke: 819 562-4717
Centre-du-Québec
Drummondville
- Taxi Central: 819-478-4646
Victoriaville
- Taxi adapté Victo: 819-758-2910
- Taxibus: 819 752-4549 (manual chair only)
- Rouli-Bus: 819 758-5959
Charlevoix
Clermont
- Taxi fauteuil mobile: 418 665-2207
Chaudière-Appalaches
Thetford Mines
- COOP de taxis de Thetford Mines: 418 338-5115
Lanaudière
Joliette
- Radio Taxi Monaco: 450 753-7575
Saint-Jean-de-Matha
- Taxi Bruneau: 450 823-0082
Laurentides
Sainte-Adèle
- Taxi COOP Sainte-Adèle: 450 229-3535
Laval
- COOP des propriétaires de taxis de Laval: 450 688-2707
Mauricie
Grand-Mère
- Bellemare taxi: 819 538-3000
Louiseville
- Desaulniers Taxi: 819 228-2464
Montréal
- Taxi Para-Adapté : 514 821-3355 ou 514 277-3344
- Taxi Van Médic : 514 739-9933
- Taxi Boisjoly : 514 252-1313
- Taxi Diamond : 514 273-6331
- Taxi COOP Montréal 514 725-9885 (manual chair only)
- Taxi COOP de l’Est : 514 352-6000
- Taxi COOP de l’Ouest : 514 636-6666
- Taxi Excellence : 514 322-0909
- Taxi Expert : 514 374-7171
- Rosemont Transport Van adapté : 514 255-1313
Montérégie
Longueuil
- Taxi Union: 450 679-6262
- Allo Taxi: 450 646-6060
Outaouais
Gatineau
- Taxi BMA Soucy: 819 986-3332
- Le Groupe Transit : 819-779-2299
- Taxi Loyal : 819-663-5252
Québec
- Taxis COOP Québec: 418 525-5191
- Taxi Laurier : 418 651-2727 or contact@taxilaurier.com
- Transport accessible du Québec (TAQ) : 418 641-8294
Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean
Chicoutimi
- Taxi Unis: 418 543-3868
Saguenay
- Radio taxi Saguenay: 418 549-4230
Aéroports de Montréal
Aéroports de Montréal is committed to providing airport facilities adapted to people with disabilities. Many services have been adapted in accordance with the requirements of the Canadian Transportation Agency. For more details, visit their Adapted Services page.
Shuttle
An accessible shuttle service (747) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, between Montreal-Trudeau Airport and the Montreal Coach Station located in the city center (Berri-UQAM metro station).
Changing place
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) opens a specially-equipped washroom and changing facility for people with reduced mobility that is the first of its kind at an airport outside Germany or the United Kingdom.
Montreal-Trudeau International Airport recently opened such a facility in its international arrivals hall, equipped with a winch and changing table for adults.
Quebec parking permits are valid almost everywhere and permits from outside Quebec are generally accepted in the province as well!
Visiting Quebec
In Canada, parking permit policies may vary from one jurisdiction to another. But there are some important common elements:
- All municipalities and cities provide reserved parking spaces.
- These reserved parking spaces are marked with a traffic control sign bearing the international wheelchair logo.
- A parking permit is issued to a person with a disability, not to a specific vehicle, and is for that person’s use only.
- The driver must hang the parking permit from the rearview mirror or place it in plain view on the dashboard when the vehicle is parked.
The permit holder must comply with local parking bylaws. Unlike most European countries, in Canada:
- The permit does not allow vehicle parking in pedestrian zones, no parking zones, or reserved loading and unloading zones.
- Permit holders usually must pay any applicable parking fees. It is recommended that visitors check with local authorities.
People from International Transport Forum (ITF) member countries must bring their own parking permit and use it as outlined above. People from countries that do not belong to the ITF must apply for a Quebec parking permit and prove that they hold such a permit in their country of origin. Once received by mail, applications take four to six weeks to process.
For more information on how to apply for a permit and the related costs, visit the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec website.
Montréal
Vehicles with a disabled parking permit or plate may park in a residential zone or no-parking zone that is not reserved for other vehicles (e.g. taxi zone) for up to 60 minutes. Consult the Ville de Montréal website for details on the boroughs that offer this option.
Stationnement de Montréal (the city’s parking authority) provides a map of reserved street parking spaces to help you locate them easily.
Québec City
Vehicles with a disabled parking permit are allowed unlimited parking in all spaces with limited time periods and in metred parking spaces.
Consult the detailed table on the Ville de Québec website for information on specific parking situations.
Trois-Rivières
Street parking and public parking lots are free for permit holders. Consult the Ville de Trois-Rivières website for details.
