The best way to avoid getting demerit points is to follow the road rules. Many common traffic offences incur demerit points. During double demerit periods, you get twice the usual number for speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences. Being well informed helps you avoid getting demerit points.
Know which traffic offences incur points
Fully licensed drivers are suspended if they get 13 or more demerit points in a 3-year period.
Do you know which traffic offences incur demerit points? Many common offences do and penalties are heavier in school zones. Who hasn’t committed at least one of these?
| Traffic offence | Demerit points |
Demerit points school zone |
| Drive in bus lane | 1 | NA |
| Double park | 2 | |
| Overtake when unsafe | 2 | 4 |
| Increase speed while being overtaken | 3 | 3 |
| Not wear seatbelt | 3 | 3 |
| Not stop at traffic lights | 3 | 4 |
| Not give way when required | 3 | 4 |
| Use mobile phone while driving | 5 | 5 |
| Travel at 30 kph over limit | 5 | 6 |
TfNSW provides a full list of all offences that incur demerit points.
Demerits can soon add up, especially if you break the law in school zones or during double demerit periods.
Watch out for double demerit periods
Did you know there are 35 days (more than a month’s worth) of double demerit periods in NSW? You get twice the usual number of demerit points for speeding, seatbelt, motorcycle helmet and mobile phone offences. At these times, you can very quickly lose your licence.
Double demerit periods for NSW are:
- Labour Day
- Christmas, Boxing and New Year’s Day
- Australia Day
- Easter
- Anzac Day
- Kings Birthday.
Note, a public holiday weekend includes four whole days – Friday from midnight until Monday at midnight. The Christmas double demerits period will last 13 days this year.
Remember demerit points stay on your record
After 40 months, any demerit points accrued in that time come off your running total. However, all demerit points stay permanently on record as part of your driving history.
The NSW government can help you reduce your demerit points, not just avoid them. It has just extended for another year the program for motorists with at least one demerit point. If you maintain a clean record for 12 months from 17 January 2025 to 16 January 2026, one demerit point will be removed from your licence.
Having fewer demerit points may also reduce the price of your green slip.
NSW demerit points may apply interstate
Some Australian states and territories don’t apply double demerit points at holiday times – Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Northern Territory. Queensland has a different system altogether and applies double demerits all year if you repeat certain offences within a year (any on this list).
However, if you are caught committing an offence outside NSW, you may still get the demerit points that would have applied in NSW.
Find out what a greenslip costs
With any demerit points at all, the cost of your cheapest greenslip over 3 years can add up:
|
Demerit points |
Total cost of greenslip over 3 yrs |
$ Extra paid for demerit points |
% Extra paid for demerit points |
|
0 |
$1,296 |
|
0 |
|
1-2 |
$1,716 |
$420 |
+32% |
|
3 |
$1,719 |
$423 |
+33% |
- For one or more points, you could pay from $420 or a third more over 3 years.
- This could be equal to the price of buying another green slip.
It literally pays to avoid getting demerit points. Find out for yourself by using our calculator.
your opinion matters: