Demerit point offences

If you commit certain driving offences, demerit points will be recorded against your driver licence/learner permit.

Common demerit point offences

See below for a list of common driving offences and their associated demerit points. For a complete list of demerit point offences, you need to refer to Schedule 3 of Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2019 (External link).

Common demerit point offences No. of points
  • Level crossing offences
  • Using a device (inbuilt, mounted, portable, wearable or a motor bike helmet device) illegally while driving
  • Touching a portable device while driving 
  • Driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle in contravention of maximum work requirement (critical risk offence)
  • Driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle in contravention of minimum rest requirement (critical risk offence)
 4
  • Exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h or more but less than 25 km/h
  • Disobeying traffic lights, signs or police or authorised person directing traffic
  • Failing to give way, or stop, or remain stopped
  • Driving without wearing an approved helmet (motorcycle), or a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt
  • Driving with an unrestrained passenger, a passenger sharing the same seat as another passenger or a passenger in or on part of the vehicle not designed for passengers or goods
  • Driving on the wrong side of double lines or divided highway or painted island
  • Risk colliding with exiting, boarding or waiting tram passengers
  • Holder of motorcycle learner permit or licence for less than 3 years riding a motorcycle that is not a learner approved motorcycle or carrying a pillion passenger
  • Driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle while impaired by fatigue
  • Driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle in contravention of maximum work requirement (severe risk offence)
  • Driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle in contravention of minimum rest requirement (severe risk offence)
  • Driving contrary to a major defect notice
  • Careless driving^
  • Driving with an obscured or improperly displayed number plate
  • Failure to display P plates
  • Probationary driver who drives a probationary prohibited vehicle on a road
  • P1 probationary driver or corresponding novice driver driving a motor vehicle with more than one peer passenger
  • P1 Probationary driver previously suspended or cancelled for an offence who drives in breach of the passenger restriction required by regulation 60(2) of the Road Safety (Drivers) Regulations 2009 
  • Driving the wrong way on a one way service road
 3
  • Improper overtaking or passing
  • Turn or stop without signalling
  • Turn improperly
  • Fail to keep left
 2
  • Exceed speed limit by less than 10km/h*
  • Driving contrary to a minor defect notice
  • Fail to dip headlights
  • Driving at night or in hazardous weather conditions without headlights and tail lights on
  • Follow too closely 
 1

*Some speeding offences also result in a licence suspension and a requirement to complete the VicRoads Safe Driving Program.

^Careless driving offences involving improper use of a motor vehicle can result in a requirement to complete a Safe Driving Program.

From 1 November 2018, Victorian drivers who commit excessive speed offences in Victoria will no longer get demerit points.

An excessive speed offence is where the person is travelling more than the posted speed limit. There are four excessive speed offences:

  • exceeding the speed limit by 25 km/h or more but less than 35 km/h
  • exceeding the speed limit by 35 km/h or more but less than 45 km/h
  • exceeding the speed limit by 45 km/h or more
  • exceeding the speed limit by 20 km/h or more but less than 25 km/h in a 110 km/h speed zone.

Excessive speed offences committed interstate

If you commit an excessive speed offence interstate from 1 November 2018, you will 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.

Excessive speed offences committed in Victoria by interstate driver licence/learner permit holders

If you commit an excessive speed offence in Victorian from 1 November 2018 and you hold an interstate licence, you will 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.

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