Demerit points
Information about the rules for demerit points and the most common point offences.
A demerit point is a penalty point you get when you commit certain driving offences, such as speeding or dangerous driving. All drivers start with zero demerit points.
Demerit points last for four years. They start from the date you committed the related driving offence.
Demerit point history
Demerit points may not immediately show up in your history because of:
- court proceedings
- late payments of a traffic infringement notice.
View a sample of a five year demerit point history record (PDF).
Suspended or disqualified licences
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.
Demerit point limits
The number of demerit points you can get depends on which licence you have.
| Victorian licence type | Details of demerit point limit |
|---|---|
| 5 points in any 12-month period, or 12 points in any 3-year period. |
All other licences, including:
| 12 points in any 3-year period. |
| VicRoads will still record your driving offence details and demerit point history. | |
| Marine licence (for boats and jet skis) | Your demerit point suspension or disqualification doesn’t affect your Victorian marine licence. |
When demerit points expire
Demerit points expire if they are used for:
an extended demerit point period
a disqualification or suspension (that’s been served in full).
When demerit points stay active
Demerit points stay active 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- an offence is withdrawn resulting in the extended demerit point period, demerit point suspension or disqualification ending early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 value.
Reaching your demerit point limit
If you reach or exceed this limit, VicRoads will notify you.
You can choose from two options:
- Your licence is suspended.
- You extend the demerit point period.
Common demerit point offences
Different driving offences attract different demerit points. The common ones are listed below.
A complete list of demerit point offences can be found in Schedule 3 of Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019.
Appealing demerit points
VicRoads records demerit points that are issued by other agencies, such as Fines Victoria, and the courts. This means you can only appeal demerit points if there’s been a clerical or calculation error, you can’t dispute receiving the points.
VicRoads doesn’t issue infringement notices (fines) for driving offences.
Most fines are managed by Fines Victoria. The Fines Victoria website has information about how to dispute or request a review of your fine and how to request a payment extension.
Committing a driving offence interstate
If you hold a Victorian driver licence or learner permit and commit a driving offence interstate, that state's licensing authority may send VicRoads the details of the offence. This may impact your Victorian driver licence or learner permit.
Excessive speed offences
If you commit an excessive speed offence interstate, you'll be disqualified from driving in the state where the offence was committed. The interstate authority will advise VicRoads of the offence and demerit points will be recorded against your Victorian record.
Interstate and international 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’ve been here for more than six months, you’ll need to get a Victorian driver licence when your suspension or disqualification period ends.
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 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 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.
Excessive speed offences
If you commit an excessive speed offence in Victorian and you hold an interstate licence, you'll be disqualified from driving in Victoria. VicRoads will advise your licensing authority of the offence and demerit points will be recorded against your interstate record.