Demerit disqualification

If you accumulate 12 or more demerit points in a three-year period you will be disqualified from holding or obtaining a driver's licence or permit.

If you accumulate:

• 12 to 15 points you lose your right to drive for three months
• 16 to 20 points you lose your right to drive for four months
• more than 20 points you lose your right to drive for five months

A demerit disqualification will start 28 days from when a disqualification notice is sent to you, providing you formally acknowledge receipt of the notice within this time frame.

If you are already disqualified, any new demerit disqualification will start immediately after the existing disqualification ends.

Good behaviour option

Drivers who are issued a demerit disqualification notice may be eligible to elect a 12-month good behaviour option as an alternative to being disqualified. This allows you to continue driving but is subject to the driver not incurring two or more demerit points in 12 months.

If you are eligible to elect a good behaviour option, your notice will state this and you must elect this option when you acknowledge the notice.

Failure to apply for the good behaviour option within 28 days will result in the disqualification taking effect (provided the notice has been acknowledged).

If you incur 2 or more demerit points during the good behaviour period, you will be issued a disqualification notice for breaching the good behaviour conditions and you will be disqualified for twice the original demerit disqualification period. There is no right to appeal and no right to a further good behaviour option if you are issued a breach of good behaviour disqualification notice.