Trade-In Your UQi and Others News
Update from March 27, 2024
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Dear customers,
Here's our latest update.
SAAQ:
The Decree is Final SAAQ and the Ministère des Transports have not reversed their decision, which has now become final. Here is the decree published on December 30, 2024: https://www.
Homologation Is Not Possible Despite our efforts, the SAAQ refused to approve UQis. So, we won't be able to plate them.
UQi EXCHANGE
UQi Exchange Is Possible We further developed our activities in Toronto last winter. We can now exchange your UQis, and apply the exchange value to Segway e110a, NQi Sport, NQi GTS and NQi GT models currently in stock at the reduced prices displayed online.
To sum up: (price displayed online) - (exchange value) = price paid before tax
You may finance your exchange with Affirm, once it is approved.
Eligibility To be eligible, you must be the original owner of the UQi and have purchased it in one of our stores or on our websites (niucanada.com or jusst.com). UQi purchased through third parties (e.g. Facebook Marketplace) cannot be exchanged. If you have a DS1 or are the second owner of a UQi purchased via a third party, you can still take advantage of the prices on our private sale list. This trade-in option is in addition to the discounted price already offered in the private sale, which does not require an exchange.
Trade-in Form for UQi Please fill out our trade-in form to exchange your UQi Pro/UQi for one of the above models. https://jusst.com/pages/trade-
Trade-in Value Calculator You can calculate the estimated trade-in value using the Excel file available online on the trade-in form or downloadable here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/
Click on the tabs at the bottom of the Excel sheet to access the template that applies to you. Enter your data in the green cells.
If You Have Already Purchased a Discounted Model via Our Private Sale If you have already purchased a discounted model via our private sale, you can also return your UQi to us. You'll receive a voucher for the trade-in value of the scooter. This credit will not expire, and you can use it on selected regular-price models in future years. Please fill up this form: https://jusst.com/pages/trade-
PLEASE NOTE:
Place of Trade-In Exchanges are done by appointment at the Service Center located at 3700 Saint-Patrick unit 115. The final value of your scooter may change depending on various factors (e.g. body in poor condition, missing charger, keys, etc.)
Financing You can use Affirm to finance your exchange.
Home Pickup We can't pick up your scooter at your home because there are too many of you. We suggest you use a U-Haul trailer, taxi van, etc.
In-Store Appraisal UQi cannot be appraised or dropped off in a store. Once you have filled in the trade-in form, we will contact you shortly to arrange an appointment at our service center.
Moped driver's license (class 6D) If you don't have a car license, you can obtain a scooter license in just a few days: https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/
Other 2025 Models If none of the above models suits you, please note that new models, including an electric bike, will be posted soon. If you are interested in this option, please select “other model 2025”. Please note that you'll need to keep your UQi at home in the meantime. Please fill up this form: https://jusst.com/pages/trade-
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Update from August 18, 2024
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Dear customers,
Here's our latest update.
SAAQ - Exploring the Possibility of UQi Pro/UQi+ Registration
The engineering firm we use to ensure the Transport Canada compliance of some of our other products (such as the NIU MQi and NQi series or the Segway e110a) has contacted the SAAQ on our behalf and on behalf of other importers or dealers. We're still waiting to hear whether or not the NIU UQi+ and NIU UQi Pro already on the market can be regularized, or what steps need to be taken. The SAAQ can authorize the registration of these models: it regularly does so for modified or home-built vehicles. However, there is no guarantee that the SAAQ will approve.
MQi+ Sport Body for $995 (Compatible with UQi+ Batteries)
Alternatively, pre-ordering a MQi+ body only is the easiest solution. UQi+ batteries fit this model. The MQi+ is approved in Canada and has the national motor vehicle mark. The scooter bodies will arrive in spring 2025.
The exchange rate is great for buying and importing scooter bodies. We will put together a group order in about 30 days.
You can pre-order a MQi+ Sport body for $995 by clicking here: https://jusst.com/products/special-order-niu-mqi-sport
Select the "body only" option. If you need more range, you can pre-order this model with an additional battery. Select the "31Ah" or "42Ah" battery option.
Just a heads-up: this product is offered at cost and isn't eligible for financing.
The pre-ordered MQi+ Sport won't be eligible for the $500 Roulez Vert subsidy. The Quebec government is ending this subsidy on January 1, 2025, and they're not accepting new product registrations.
For more info on the MQi+, see the manufacturer's page: https://www.niu.com/en/product/m-plus
Moped License (Class 6D)
You can get a scooter license in less than a day at: https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/permis-conduire/obtenir-permis/scooter-classe-6d
Trade-In Option for UQi Pro/UQi+?
Some of you have asked if you can return or exchange your NIU UQi+ or UQi Pro. We can't take back or exchange your scooter for logistical and economic reasons. We have over 400 new UQi in stock that we can no longer sell in Quebec, not to mention our rental UQi's that have become unusable overnight. Our private sale prices for UQi or DS1 owners are the same as a buy-back or exchange. Products are offered at cost, and we make no profit. We are doing our best to minimize the impact of this order on our customers.
If you have not received our private sale price list, please send us an e-mail at hello@jusst.com.
Since we're in the middle of the summer season, we couldn't come up with any other solutions for the time being.
Ontario Marketplace Resale
Marketplace resale is quite successful, with prices ranging from $1200-$2500, depending on the mileage and condition of your scooter. These models remain legal in most other Canadian provinces, where they can be ridden on public roads without a license or registration.
Toronto. The NIU Toronto branch at 770 College Street can provide maintenance and mechanical follow-up.
Ottawa. JUSST branches in Montreal will provide annual service for Ottawa buyers.
If possible, please send us the names of new buyers.
Spring is the best time for sales.
You can consult the definition of electric bicycle on the City of Ottawa's official website, "Sharing the road" tab, paragraph "Do all e-bikes look like bicycles?" https://ottawa.ca/en/parking-roads-and-travel/road-safety/cyclists
We also invite you to consult the definition of "electric bicycle" on the official site of the City of Toronto, tabs "Types of E-bikes" and "Where you can ride an E-bike in Toronto": https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/streets-parking-transportation/cycling-in-toronto/cycling-and-the-law/electric-bicycles-e-bikes-e-scooters/#:~:text=E%2Dbikes%20in%20Ontario%20must,motor%20not%20exceeding%20500%20watts
Finally, check out the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's "About E-bikes" tab: https://www.ontario.ca/page/riding-e-bike This definition is broad enough to include moped-type electric bikes.
Additional Details
Until July 30th, the Quebec government, the SAAQ and the City of Montreal all had similar definitions to Ontario.
As a reminder, the DS1, NIU UQi+ and UQi Pro models were legally imported and sold as electric bicycles for use on public roads. These models were documented as such, inspected and approved for entry by the Canada Border Services Agency. As noted above, they were legal in Quebec until the July 30, 2024 order. Otherwise, it would be hard to understand how the SAAQ and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal could have allowed so many users to circulate in peace for the past fifteen years.
These models remain legal in most other Canadian provinces, where they can be driven on public roads without a license or registration. This legal difference between provinces is possible because in Canada, the federal government has left it up to the provinces and territories to regulate their use on public roads.
Only the Dyad DS1, NIU UQi Pro, and NIU UQi+ are affected by the order. All our other models we sell, or rent are legal on public roads. Without exception, all our other models are legal on public roads.
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Update from August 3, 2024
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Dear customers,
A ministerial order published in the Quebec Official Gazette on July 30, 2024 confirms that electric bicycles resembling mopeds or scooters are no longer allowed on public roads unless they meet Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) and bear the manufacturer's National Safety Mark (NSM) applied by the manufacturer at the factory. This means that in Quebec, these models are now classified as road vehicles (like mopeds or scooters) and therefore require registration, insurance and a driver's license.
The order is available here:
https://www.publicationsduquebec.gouv.qc.ca/fileadmin/gazette/pdf_encrypte/gaz_entiere/2430A-A.pdf
The NIU UQi Pro, NIU UQi+, and DYAD DS1 models do not bear the national safety mark and do not meet the CMVSS standard because they were imported as electric bicycles and not as road vehicles. As a result, they can no longer be used on public roads in Quebec. The absence of this national safety mark (which must be obtained by a Canadian manufacturer or importer at the time of importation) also prevents any application for individual registration with the SAAQ.
Please note that this order only applies to the province of Quebec. These models remain legal in most other Canadian provinces (including Ontario), where they can be ridden on public roads without a license or registration. This legal difference between provinces is possible because in Canada, the federal government sets the standards for electric bicycles, but the provinces and territories have the power to regulate their use on roads and highways.
We were caught off guard by this order, just like many of you. It took effect immediately, with no advance notice, and there was no transition period for users or retailers/importers. In less than 24 hours, models that were previously legal on public roads have become illegal.
If you are the current owner of a NIU UQi Pro, NIU UQi+, or DYAD DS1 and your name is on our records, you are eligible for a private sale on all our models. You can buy the model you prefer at a discounted price. Some models require a driver's license and benefit from a government subsidy, while others do not. All are approved for use on Quebec roads.
On July 31st we sent a special price list to all affected customers. If you did not receive it, please contact us.
The Old Montreal store at 625 Saint-Maurice is the designated boutique to welcome you.
Please do not hesitate to contact us or the store team if you have any questions ( hello@jusst.com or 438.798.0398 )
If you have the time, make your voice heard by sending your opinion to:
SAAQ: francois.fortin@saaq.gouv.qc.ca
Minister of Transport: Genevieve.Guilbault.LOHE@assnat.qc.ca
Gazette du Quebec: gazette.officielle@servicesquebec.gouv.qc.ca
and cc:
Electric Mobility Canada: info@emc-mec.ca