About demerit points

Learn more about demerit points and how they work.

What are demerit points?

A ‘demerit point’ is a penalty point issued to you if you commit a driving offence that has associated demerit points. These points are recorded against your driving record under the Road Safety Act 1986 and Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019.

How do I check my demerit points?

See Check your demerit points for more information. 

How many demerit points do I start with?

All drivers start with zero demerit points. If you haven’t committed any offences which incur demerit points, you’ll have zero demerit points. Safe driving will help you avoid getting any points. The more offences you commit, the more demerit points you’ll accumulate.

When do demerit points expire?

Demerit points apply from the date of the driving offence and remain active on the demerit point register for 4 years. Demerit points that are on the register can be used to issue a demerit point notice where offences have been committed within a 3-year period.

The number of demerit points you get depends on the offence committed. Demerit points can also be recorded against you for certain driving offences committed interstate. Your demerit point limit depends on what type of licence or learner permit you have (see the below table).

Type of licence (if held) Details of demerit point limits
  • Full licence
  • Full car licence and a motorcycle learner permit
  • Full motorcycle licence and a car learner permit
  • 12 points in any 3-year period
  • Learner permit
  • 5 points in any 12-month period
    OR
  • 12 points in any 3-year period
  • P1 or P2 licence
  • 5 points in any 12-month period
    OR
  • 12 points in any 3-year period
  • Overseas licence (or no Victorian licence held), driver is less than 22 years of age
  • 5 points in any 12-month period
  • OR
  • 12 points in any 3-year period
  • Overseas licence (or no Victorian licence held), driver is 22 years of age or older
  • 12 points in any 3-year period
What's the demerit point limit?

If your licence or learner permit is current, we'll send you a notice saying that your licence or learner permit will be suspended unless you choose the extended demerit point period. 

If your licence or learner permit is already suspended or cancelled for another reason, you don't have the option of extending your demerit point period. Instead, your licence or learner permit will be suspended.

What's an extended demerit point limit?

It's a 12-month period where you're allowed to keep driving, but your licence or learner permit will be suspended for double the suspension length that was originally offered if, during that 12-month period, you commit an offence which:

  • results in your licence or learner permit being suspended or cancelled or
  • has demerit points.

This is designed to help you adopt safer driving practices.

How do I extend my demerit point period?

If you don't choose the extended demerit point period by the due date on your notice, your licence or learner permit will be suspended. It's illegal to drive while your licence or learner permit is suspended. Serious penalties apply if you do.

How long will I be suspended for if I don't extend?

The suspension is for 3 months (plus 1 month for every 4 points above the limit).

P platers

If your licence is suspended while you're on your Ps, your P1 or P2 period will be extended by the suspension length.

What happens when the extended demerit point period finishes?

If you chose the extended demerit point period, you don't need to do anything once the period ends – the normal demerit point limits apply to you again. However, any additional demerit points incurred during your extended demerit point period will remain active.

What if I have an overseas licence, or no licence at all?

If you reach or go over your limit, we'll send you a disqualification notice.

Being disqualified means that for the period of your disqualification, you can't:

  • drive on Victorian roads
  • get a Victorian driver licence or learner permit.

The disqualification will be for a minimum of 3 months.

What happens if I reach or go over the demerit point limit?

What if I have an interstate licence?

If you hold an interstate driver licence or learner permit, VicRoads may send the interstate licensing authority details of any driving offences that you commit in Victoria which may impact your interstate licence.

What if I commit an offence while driving interstate?

If you hold a Victorian driver licence or learner permit and commit a driving offence interstate, the interstate licensing authority may send VicRoads the details of the offence which may impact your Victorian driver licence or learner permit.

Interstate licences and interstate driving

If your licence or learner permit is suspended or you’re disqualified, you won’t be allowed to drive any motor vehicle in Australia or overseas. You also won’t be able to apply for a licence or learner permit in Victoria. 

It’s against the law to drive if your licence or learner permit is suspended or if you’re disqualified.

If you drive while suspended or disqualified, you may be fined, imprisoned and/or have your vehicle impounded.

Your vehicle insurance may also be invalidated.

Return your licence or learner permit card

If your licence or learner permit is suspended, you must return your card to VicRoads within 14 days of the suspension starting.

If your card's been lost or stolen, you’ll need to complete a statutory declaration confirming this.

Return your card (or statutory declaration) by mail to VicRoads GPO Box 1644, Melbourne, VIC 3001 or drop it off at any VicRoads Customer Service Centre.

What if I have a marine licence?

Your demerit point suspension or disqualification won’t affect your Victorian marine licence. 

What happens if my licence or learner permit is suspended or I'm disqualified?

After your suspension or disqualification period is over, the demerit points become ‘inactive’ on your driver record. However, any additional demerit points incurred during your suspension or disqualification will remain active.

If you were suspended (presuming that you returned your card when you needed to) we’ll:

  • return your card by post or 
  • send you a new card with your updated probationary period (for P platers).

Overseas and interstate driver licence holders

If you hold an overseas or interstate driver licence and you’ve been here for less than six months, you can continue driving on your overseas or interstate driver licence when your suspension or disqualification period ends.

If you hold an overseas or interstate driver licence and you’ve been here for more than six months, you’ll need to get a Victorian driver licence when your suspension or disqualification period ends. 

What happens when my suspension or disqualification period finishes?

VicRoads is notified if you commit a driving offence. The demerit points (if applicable) and offence details are added to your licence or learner permit record. 

VicRoads records demerit points in accordance with the Road Safety Act 1986 and Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019.

What if I don’t have a driver licence or learner permit? 

If you don’t have a Victorian licence or learner permit and we’re notified that you committed a driving offence, we’ll still record offence details and demerit points (if applicable) on your record. 

When do points become active?

Your demerit points become ‘active’ from the date of the offence, not the date we record them. Sometimes we’re delayed recording points because of:

  • court proceedings
  • late payments of a traffic infringement notice. 

Can demerit points be used again?

Demerit points can’t be used again if the points have already been used for an extended demerit point period or a disqualification or suspension (that’s been served in full). 

Demerit points can be used again if:

  • An offence is withdrawn resulting in the extended demerit point period, demerit point suspension or disqualification ending early.
  • An extended demerit point period is breached by an offence that carries demerit points.

If this happens, the points remain active on your record and still count towards your current total.

How are demerit points recorded?

Learn more about Demerit point appeals.

Need more help?

Call:  13 11 71 and speak to one of our friendly staff who can help.

 

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