Overview
SAQ Inspire gives you 5 points per net dollar on eligible purchases. 1,000 points are worth $1 off, and your account needs at least 1,000 points before you can pay with them. Taxes and other excluded amounts earn no points, so the base return works out to about 0.4% of the displayed price in our examples.
To check your balance, display your card, or find your offers, open your SAQ Inspire account. Membership is free. We checked the rules against the complete terms updated January 27, 2026 and the SAQ’s FAQ. All dollar amounts below are Canadian.
SAQ Inspire account and activation
Private individuals aged 18 or over can join. Sign up on SAQ.COM, in the SAQ app, or through the QR code displayed in a store. No initial purchase is required. If you already have an SAQ.COM account, use the same email address to connect it to Inspire.
- Create your account: complete the SAQ registration form and check the information you provide.
- Find your card: sign in to the app or your SAQ.COM account. Your registration email may also contain your virtual card.
- Activate a card obtained in store: finish the online registration using your card number and the same email address.
- Check your points: open your account’s points statement or check your receipt after showing your card.
You must finish registration before you can use points. The January 2026 terms limit membership to one account and one associated card per person. They also prohibit transferring or sharing points between people. If you lose your card, contact the SAQ Customer Relations Centre, at 1-866-873-2020, rather than creating another account.
SAQ Inspire points value
An Inspire point is worth 0.1 cent when used to reduce an eligible purchase. You can use points once your balance reaches 1,000. Their value is a discount on a purchase, rather than cash you can withdraw.
| Inspire points | Discount |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $1 |
| 5,000 | $5 |
| 10,000 | $10 |
| 20,000 | $20 |
| 50,000 | $50 |
To estimate your balance’s usable value, divide it by 1,000 and keep two decimal places. In the SAQ’s example, 4,527 points provide $4.52 off, with 7 points left in the account. Compare this with moi and PC Optimum, which have different rules.
Earning points and bonuses
How net value affects your points
The rate of 5 points per dollar applies to eligible purchases at participating stores, on SAQ.COM, and in the app. The SAQ calculates points after discounts, excluding taxes, delivery charges, and deposits. For base points, it currently deducts a fixed $1.05 per product for the specific tax.
Points are rounded to the nearest whole number, with fractions of 0.5 rounded up. The SAQ’s FAQ illustrates this with a $12 product earning 47 points. Here is our calculation for one product per transaction, without discounts or deposits.
| Displayed price | Net value | Points | Points value | Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $12 | $9.39 | 47 | $0.047 | 0.39% |
| $20 | $16.35 | 82 | $0.082 | 0.41% |
| $50 | $42.44 | 212 | $0.212 | 0.42% |
| $100 | $85.93 | 430 | $0.430 | 0.43% |
The 0.5% rate describes the points’ value on the eligible net amount. It does not apply directly to the tax-included price you pay. Your receipt’s eligible amount determines the points; discounts, the products purchased, and rounding can affect the result.
The SAQ Dépôt points schedule
At SAQ Dépôt, base points depend on the number of eligible products purchased. The SAQ publishes the following schedule:
- 1 to 23 products: 500 points, worth $0.50.
- 24 to 35 products: 1,000 points, worth $1.
- 36 to 47 products: 1,500 points, worth $1.50.
- 48 to 59 products: 2,000 points, worth $2.
Each additional group of 12 products adds 500 points. These amounts are separate from SAQ Dépôt discounts and their conditions. Moving up a points band adds only $0.50 in value, so focus on the final price of the purchases you already planned.
Offers in your account
Bonus points may supplement base points on selected products or through an offer addressed to your account. Check My Inspire offers on SAQ.COM or My offers in the app before paying. The SAQ’s FAQ says no coupon or activation is required for the eligible offers it describes.
Still check each offer’s products, dates, quantities, and other conditions. An account-specific promotion applies to the member receiving it; it is not a general offer for everyone. Points for an online order are issued when it is ready to ship, based on the products actually supplied.
Exclusions and a forgotten card
Gift cards, donations, and cash withdrawals do not earn points. Products with a custom invoice and private imports also have specific exclusions and exceptions. The terms allow base points, without promotional bonuses, on certain Arrivage Prestige lottery purchases and SAQ Inspire events.
SAQ agencies and SAQ Restauration stores do not participate under the complete terms. Show your card before the transaction ends: you cannot claim points later for a purchase made without identifying yourself. If a receipt contains an error, contact the SAQ within 45 days and provide supporting documents.
Using points and keeping them active
You can pay with points at participating stores, including SAQ Dépôt, on SAQ.COM, and in the app. You need at least 1,000 points. Online, the option appears at checkout when registration is complete and you meet the conditions.
Points cannot pay for physical or virtual SAQ gift cards, private orders, or other excluded products and services. You can use points once per transaction. Points earned on a purchase become available only after they are issued and for a later transaction.
The SAQ may request valid identification before allowing points to be used. Only the account holder can use the points. You cannot transfer them to a spouse or relative, or recover them after the account closes.
Avoiding account closure for inactivity
Points have no expiry date while the account remains active. After two years of inactivity, the SAQ may close the account and cancel its points following an email notice. Section 18 of the January 2026 terms explains how to maintain activity:
- Earn points at least once every two years.
- Use points during that period.
- Sign in to your Inspire account, on SAQ.COM or in the app, at least once every two years.
Signing in is therefore an option under the complete terms, even though the FAQ’s summary mentions earning and using points. Keep your email address current so you receive account notices. The latest French terms are the official version and prevail over other versions under section 26.
Gift cards and credit card rewards
Buying an SAQ gift card earns no Inspire points. However, an eligible purchase paid with that gift card does earn them. You may therefore combine SAQ points with rewards from a credit card used at a retailer selling SAQ gift cards.
The SAQ’s official gift card page confirms availability through selected partner retailers. Stock varies by store. The two images below are archive photographs and do not establish what a grocery store has in stock today.
Your grocery earn rate depends on the merchant’s payment-network category, purchase eligibility, and your remaining card limit. Read our gift card points strategy guide for the conditions and limits to check.
Two cards to compare
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | |||
| $0 |
The Scotia Momentum® Visa Infinite +* Card earns 4% on eligible grocery purchases. That rate shares an annual $25,000 spending limit with eligible recurring bill payments, then falls to 1%. The regular primary card annual fee is $120, before any applicable offer.
The BMO CashBack® World Elite®* Mastercard®* earns 5% on the first $500 of eligible grocery purchases per statement cycle, then 1%. Your other grocery purchases count toward this limit. The regular annual fee is $139, before any applicable offer. The card detail links show current conditions and offers.
Here is a gross illustration for $100 in gift cards used for five separate $20 purchases, with one eligible product per purchase. Each earns 82 Inspire points under the earlier calculation, for 410 points altogether. The bonus-category limits are assumed to be available.
| Payment method | Card cash back | Inspire points | Gross total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gift card, groceries at 4% | $4 | 410 points = $0.41 | $4.41 |
| Gift card, groceries at 5% | $5 | 410 points = $0.41 | $5.41 |
| Direct payment, 1% rate | $1 | 410 points = $0.41 | $1.41 |
These figures exclude annual fees, interest, and welcome offers. They do not justify a new annual-fee card on their own: assess your full spending budget instead. You can compare other options in our best credit cards for groceries.
Our view on SAQ Inspire
Managing SAQ Inspire mainly comes down to your account and card: show it before paying, check the offers addressed to you, and keep the account active. Base earnings are modest, while bonuses and your payment method can change the result. Product prices and your card’s conditions matter more than a points multiplier by itself.
For further comparisons, see moi and PC Optimum. Create your free Milesopedia account to save favourite programs and choose your newsletters.
Frequently asked questions about SAQ Inspire
How do I activate my Inspire card?
Finish registration on SAQ.COM or in the SAQ app using your card number and the same email address as your existing account. This step lets you use points. If the card remains inaccessible, contact the SAQ rather than opening a second account.
Where are my account and virtual card?
Sign in to SAQ.COM or the SAQ app to check your balance, offers, and virtual card. Use the email address linked to Inspire. The SAQ also accepts the email containing the virtual card, as described in its FAQ.
What are 10,000 Inspire points worth?
They provide $10 off an eligible purchase. The program exchanges 1,000 points for $1, and that minimum balance is required before you can use points. You cannot withdraw their value as cash.
Can I use part of my balance?
You use your available balance unless its value exceeds the purchase amount. In that case, only the points needed for payment are deducted. Fractions worth less than a cent remain in the account, as in the official example of 4,527 points providing $4.52 off.
Do SAQ Inspire points expire?
They remain valid while your account is active. The complete terms provide for closure after two years of inactivity, cancellation of the points, and advance notice. Earning or using points, or signing in to Inspire at least once every two years, maintains activity.
How do SAQ Dépôt points work?
SAQ Dépôt awards 500 points for 1 to 23 eligible products, 1,000 for 24 to 35, and 1,500 for 36 to 47. Each further group of 12 products adds 500 points. This schedule replaces the 5 points per dollar earned at other participating stores.
Do gift cards earn Inspire points?
Buying an SAQ gift card earns no Inspire points. Eligible products paid with that gift card do earn them. Any credit card rewards are separate and depend on the card’s conditions and the retailer where you buy the gift card.
Can I claim points after paying?
The SAQ requires you to identify yourself as a member before a transaction ends. You cannot claim points later if you forgot your card. For an error on a receipt where you did present it, contact customer service within 45 days with supporting documents.
Point values
| Redemption type | ¢ / point | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| General valuedefault | 0.10 | Medium |
