Demerit Points & Fines in New South Wales (2026-27)
13 points within 3 years on a full (unrestricted) licence — 14 for professional drivers.
NSW Government offence and demerit schedule · 2026-27 scheduleNew South Wales gives fully licensed drivers a higher points allowance than most other states before a licence is suspended, and licensed professional drivers are given a slightly larger allowance again in recognition of the hours they spend on the road. That headroom does not extend to newer drivers: learner and provisional licence holders sit on much lower caps, so a single serious offence, or a small run of minor ones, can put a restricted licence at risk far sooner.
Fines in New South Wales are adjusted for the cost of living each year, and the official schedule is usually refreshed after that adjustment, so the dollar figures move over time even when the offences and their point values stay the same. The version shown here carries the date of the schedule it was drawn from.
| Offence | Points | Fine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding by 10 km/h or less | 1 | $149 | Details |
| Speeding by 10–20 km/h | 3 | $345 | Details |
| Speeding by 20–30 km/h | 4 | $592 | Details |
| Speeding by 30–45 km/h | 5 | $1,133 | Details |
| Speeding by more than 45 km/h | 6 | $3,054 | Details |
| Using a mobile phone illegally | 5 | $434 | Details |
| Driver not wearing a seatbelt | 3 | $423 | Details |
| Driving with an unrestrained passenger | 3 | $423 | Details |
| Running a red light | 3 | $562 | Details |
| Low-range drink driving (first offence) | — | $722 | Details |
| Drug driving — drug presence (first offence) | — | $722 | Details |
| Driving an unregistered vehicle | 0 | $818 | Details |
| Court-only offences show the court-imposed maximum on their detail page, not an on-the-spot fine. | |||
Losing your licence in NSW
| Licence type | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Full / open licence | 13 points within 3 years on a full (unrestricted) licence — 14 for professional drivers. |
| Provisional / learner | P2: 7 points; P1 and learner: 4 points; good-behaviour period: 2 points. |
Double demerits in NSW
New South Wales doubles demerit points during declared holiday periods, which are gazetted around the Christmas and New Year break, Australia Day, Easter, Anzac Day, the King's Birthday long weekend and the Labour Day long weekend. The doubling applies to speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and helmet offences, and it affects the points only: the fine attached to the offence stays the same whether or not the holiday loading is in force. Red-light offences are not part of the scheme, so they carry their usual points even during these periods. The exact dates are set each year, so it is worth checking the official notice before a long weekend.
Frequently asked questions
- How many demerit points can you get in NSW before losing your licence?
- 13 points within 3 years on a full (unrestricted) licence — 14 for professional drivers. P2: 7 points; P1 and learner: 4 points; good-behaviour period: 2 points.
- Does NSW have double demerits?
New South Wales doubles demerit points during declared holiday periods, which are gazetted around the Christmas and New Year break, Australia Day, Easter, Anzac Day, the King's Birthday long weekend and the Labour Day long weekend. The doubling applies to speeding, mobile phone, seatbelt and helmet offences, and it affects the points only: the fine attached to the offence stays the same whether or not the holiday loading is in force. Red-light offences are not part of the scheme, so they carry their usual points even during these periods. The exact dates are set each year, so it is worth checking the official notice before a long weekend.
Other states
Penalties are the standard on-the-spot amounts for a first offence by a full-licence holder unless noted. Aggravated, repeat and court-elected matters differ. This is information, not legal advice.