Which state has the highest mobile phone fine?

For holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence), QLD ($1,295). The lowest is TAS ($426).

Which states apply double demerits to mobile phone offences?

NSW, QLD, WA, ACT; each applies them differently (holiday periods or repeat offences).

Mobile phone Fines and Demerit Points by State (2026-27)

$426–$1,295 on-the-spot fine, lowest to highest state

Holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence): QLD highest, TAS lowest

8 official offence schedules · verified between 17 July and 23 September 2026

For holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence), the highest on-the-spot fine is QLD's $1,295 and the lowest TAS's $426: a spread of $869, with the highest 3 times the lowest.
The median across the 8 states with an on-the-spot fine is $546; QLD, VIC, ACT, SA charge more than that.
The most demerit points for holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence) are 5, in NSW.
4 of the 8 states add demerit points on top for this offence in some circumstances: NSW, QLD, WA, ACT.

Every mobile phone penalty, state by state

Mobile phone: all bands in all 8 jurisdictions, 2026-27
Offence	Points	Fine	Licence consequence
New South Wales
Using a mobile phone illegally	5	$434	—
Victoria
Using a handheld mobile phone	4	$627	—
Queensland
Using a handheld mobile phone	4	$1,295	—
Western Australia
Texting or social media on a phone while driving	4	$1,000	—
Holding or touching a phone while driving	3	$500	—
South Australia
Using a handheld mobile phone	3	$592	—
Tasmania
Using a handheld mobile phone	3	$426	—
Australian Capital Territory
Using a mobile phone (calls / general use)	3	$615	—
Using a phone for messaging or social media	4	$745	—
Northern Territory
Using a handheld mobile phone	3	$500	—

Double demerits

State	Treatment of holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence)
NSW	Yes — points double during NSW holiday double-demerit periods (fines unchanged)
VIC	None — Victoria has no double-demerit scheme
QLD	QLD year-round rule: a second offence in the same group within 12 months doubles the points
WA	Yes — points double during WA holiday double-demerit periods
SA	None — SA does not use double demerit points
TAS	None — Tasmania has no double-demerit scheme
ACT	Points double during ACT holiday periods
NT	None — the NT has no double-demerit scheme

How close one offence takes you to the limit

Holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence): points against each state's suspension limit
State	Points	Full-licence limit	Offences to reach it	Learner and provisional limits
NSW	5	13	3	P2: 7 points; P1 and learner: 4 points; good-behaviour period: 2 points.
VIC	4	12	3	Learner, P1, P2 (and overseas licence holders under 22): 5 points in any 12 months.
QLD	4	12	3	P1, P2 and learner: 4 points in 12 months.
WA	3	12	4	Learner and first-year provisional: 4 points; second-year provisional: 8 points.
SA	3	12	4	Learner and provisional: 4 points; probationary: 2 points.
TAS	3	12	4	Learner and provisional: 4 points in 12 months.
ACT	3	12	4	Provisional and learner: 4 points; probationary: 2 points.
NT	3	12	4	Learner and provisional: 5 points in any 12 months.
Full-licence points, first offence, before any double-demerit period. Learners and provisional drivers often face higher points or an automatic suspension for the same offence; see each state's row above.

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the highest mobile phone fine?: For holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence), QLD ($1,295). The lowest is TAS ($426).
Which states apply double demerits to mobile phone offences?: NSW, QLD, WA, ACT — see the table above for how each applies them.

Other offences compared

Sources — figures verified between 17 July and 23 September 2026.

Standard first-offence penalties for a full-licence holder from each state's own schedule. Bands are each state's own; a like-for-like comparison uses the same conduct or the same km/h over. Information, not legal advice.