Top 10 tips on demerit points

Demerit points are one measure of unsafe or unlawful driving so it’s worthwhile knowing all about them. Did you know they can push up the price of your green slip for 3 years? Here are our top 10 tips on demerit points.

1. Why do demerit points exist? ›

2. Do you actually lose demerit points? ›

3. How long do demerit points penalise you? ›

4. Can I choose good behaviour rather than lose my licence? ›

5. Can you give your points to someone else? ›

6. Do double demerits apply to all offences? ›

7. Do double demerits apply only on public holidays? ›

8. Do offences in other states count for demerits? ›

9. Are demerit points motivating? ›

10. Do demerit points affect the price of your green slip? ›

1. Why do demerit points exist?

Demerit points exist to encourage you to drive safely and within the law. Demerit points apply for parking, speeding and general offences and especially in school zones and during holidays.

European research found demerit schemes reduce crashes, deaths and injuries by 15-20%. A demerits scheme also works better if there is a high chance – and you know there’s a high chance – of losing your licence.

2. Do you actually lose demerit points?

No. Most people talk about ‘losing points’ on their licence. This is so commonly understood that the greenslips.com.au Calculator asks how many demerit points you have “lost”. However, every driver starts off with zero points on their licence.

You then accumulate demerits with each offence up to a limit within 3 years, starting from the first offence. Most drivers on an unrestricted licence who reach a limit of 13 or more points, have their licence suspended. (Professional drivers can incur 14 points.) P2 licences incur 7 points and P1 and L licences only 4 points before suspension.)

Read more about suspension.

3. How long do demerit points penalise you?

Every demerit point stays on your driving record for 3 years. After that time, demerits come off your total but the driving offences stay on your record.

The NSW government ran a 12-month trial for motorists with at least one demerit point at 17 January 2023. If they maintained a clean record for 12 months to 17 January 2024, one point would be removed from their licences from mid-April 2024. This trial has now been extended to 31 January 2025 so it includes the January holidays.

4. Can I choose good behaviour rather than lose my licence?

Yes, you can choose 12-month good behaviour if you hold an unrestricted licence. (Provisional and learner drivers can’t do this.) You have to apply online for a good behaviour period at least 2 business days before suspension begins. If later, you must visit Service NSW with drivers licence and suspension letter.

5. Can you give your points to someone else?

No, it’s a criminal offence to give your points to someone else. The law recognises the vehicle owner may not have been driving at the time so the owner can sign a statutory declaration. A new fine and demerit points notice is then sent to the actual driver.

It’s a criminal offence to make a false statutory declaration, even if it was about a traffic offence. It comes with heavy fines and even a prison term of up to 5 years. If you accept someone else’s demerits, you may be conspiring to pervert the course of justice – also a criminal offence.

6. Do double demerits apply to all offences?

No. During double demerit periods, you get twice the usual number of demerits for four types of offence: speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmets. This means you can very quickly lose your licence if caught committing one of these types of offence during a double demerit period.

7. Do double demerits apply only on public holidays?

Yes. Double demerits apply on and around public holidays. Typically, a public holiday weekend is 4 days and includes Friday and Monday. Also, double demerit periods apply from midnight of the start date to midnight on the finish date.

NSW has 6 double demerit periods in 2024 (35 days in total):

• Australia Day – 25-28 January (4 days)
• Easter – 28 March to 1 April (5 days)
• Anzac Day – 24-28 April (5 days)
• Kings Birthday – 7-10 June (4 days)
• Labour Day – 4-7 October (4 days)
• Christmas, Boxing and New Years Days – 20 December 2024 to 1 January 2025 (13 days).

8. Do offences in other states count for demerits?

Yes. If you commit a traffic offence outside NSW, the number of demerits the offence incurs in NSW is applied to your drivers licence.

9. Are demerit points motivating?

They are designed to be motivating. If demerit points themselves are not motivating, the fines that go with them may well be. Imagine the cost of up to 13 traffic offences or fewer more serious offences with higher fines.

Losing your licence may be motivating for people who must have their vehicles for work or for their family.

If you get 2 or more points during a good behaviour period, you lose your licence for twice the original suspension time.

Repeat offenders may become more motivated. If you exceed your demerit point limit twice within 5 years, you can’t drive again until you pass the Driver Knowledge Test and pay to complete a driver education course, such as the Traffic Offender Intervention Program.

Finally demerits affect the price of your green slip.

10. Do demerit points affect the price of your green slip?

Yes. Some vehicle owners with no demerit points save over $300 each year on the price of their greenslip. This is a saving of more than $900 in 3 years!

We used the greenslips.com.au Calculator for a woman, 42, with an insured Rav4 in the metro area with 0-3 or more demerits (no other offences) at 1 April 2024.

Green slip prices with 0-3+ demerit points

Even with only 1 demerit, you can pay up to $733 for a green slip. This is $301 more than the cheapest green slip with no demerit points ($432).

The real cost of demerit points over time is high. 

Find out more about how demerit points work.