ACT Demerit Points: Thresholds, the Legacy Learner Rule and the Probationary Category (2026)

Access Canberra administers the Australian Capital Territory's demerit points system under the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 (ACT). A full licence holder can accrue up to 12 points before suspension, while most learner and provisional drivers face a stricter 4-point threshold within the same three-year window.

This article covers driver licensing and demerit points in the Australian Capital Territory only; for other states, see the related pages linked below.

How the ACT's Demerit Points System Works

Access Canberra, the ACT Government's service delivery agency, administers driver licensing and the demerit points scheme on behalf of the territory's road transport regime. The framework sits across three linked instruments: the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1999 (ACT), which establishes licence classes and suspension powers; the Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Regulation 2000 (ACT), which sets the demerit thresholds for each licence class; and the Road Transport (Offences) Regulation 2005 (ACT), whose Schedule 1 assigns a fixed number of demerit points and a dollar penalty to each offence. Every ACT driver starts at zero points, which accumulate against the licence itself; once a holder reaches the threshold for their licence class, Access Canberra issues a suspension notice.

For a comparison across every state and territory, see demerit points explained across Australia, or the Australia driving and traffic laws hub.

Full Licence: The 12-Point Threshold and the Good Behaviour Election

A full ACT driver licence carries a maximum of 12 demerit points within a rolling three-year period. Once total points reach 12, Access Canberra suspends the licence; the resulting point count determines the suspension length. Full licence holders have one option not available to any other ACT licence class: an election, at the point of suspension, into a good behaviour period instead of serving the suspension immediately. Access Canberra's demerit points guidance confirms this option is offered only to full (unrestricted) licence holders, not to learner, provisional or probationary drivers. During the good behaviour period the licence holder is held to a markedly reduced points allowance, and incurring further points within that period triggers a suspension.

Confirm the current duration and the reduced threshold that applies during the period directly with Access Canberra, since these mechanics sit in agency guidance rather than a single statutory figure.

Standard 4-Point Threshold vs the Pre-2020 Legacy Learner Rule

Most ACT learner and provisional licence holders face a 4-point demerit threshold, a fraction of the 12 points allowed on a full licence, within the same three-year accrual window. This lower threshold applies to any learner or provisional licence issued from 1 January 2020 onward. A narrow legacy carve-out sits alongside it: a learner licence issued before 1 January 2020 and not renewed or reissued since retains the older, higher 12-point threshold, not the 4-point standard novice threshold that applies today. Two ACT learner drivers can therefore be subject to different thresholds purely because of when their licence was first issued, not their age or experience. A driver unsure which threshold applies to a learner licence issued years ago and left unrenewed should confirm it with Access Canberra rather than assume the current standard rule applies. To check where a specific point total sits against the 4 or 12-point thresholds, use the ACT demerit points lookup.

The Probationary Category: 2 Points and Cancellation

The ACT also runs a separate probationary licence category with a threshold far stricter than the general provisional rule: 2 demerit points. Access Canberra counts those points over the same 3-year period it uses for every licence type, so the difference from the standard 4-point provisional rule is the number of points allowed, not the window. The consequence is also harsher: at the threshold a probationary licence is cancelled rather than suspended, and the table Access Canberra publishes sets the period at 6 months. With only 2 points of headroom, two comparatively minor offences within that 3-year period are enough. Probationary licence holders must also maintain a zero blood or breath alcohol concentration while driving, consistent with learner and standard provisional drivers.

Check with Access Canberra if unsure whether a licence is standard provisional or probationary, since one additional offence carries very different consequences under the two rules.

FY2026-27 Mobile Phone and Speeding Penalties

Mobile phone penalties in the ACT are set out in Schedule 1 of the Road Transport (Offences) Regulation 2005 (ACT), current for the financial year beginning 1 July 2026. Holding a phone while driving, for example to make a call, carries a $615 fine and 3 demerit points; messaging, using an app or accessing the internet carries a higher $745 fine and 4 points. Speeding penalties are set by the same schedule. Exceeding the limit by more than 45 km/h outside a school zone carries a $1,891 fine and 6 points, the top band of the general schedule. Within a school zone, penalties run from $423 (1 point) through $611 (3 points) and $849 (4 points) up to $2,186 (6 points).

The intermediate non-school-zone bands (up to 15 km/h over, and 15 to 45 km/h over) are not confirmed here. Check the current Schedule 1 table on the ACT Legislation Register or contact Access Canberra for those figures.

The ACT's Drink-Driving Framework

Drink-driving in the ACT is governed by the Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977 (ACT), which sets out its own 4-level numeric framework rather than the low, mid and high band labels used in some other Australian jurisdictions. The framework grades offence seriousness by the level of alcohol or drug concentration detected, with escalating consequences at each level rather than a single three-tier structure. Alongside it, the ACT sets blood alcohol concentration (BAC) categories by licence class: a full licence holder may drive at a BAC up to 0.05, while learner, provisional and probationary holders are held to a zero-alcohol standard of 0.00.

For exact penalties and disqualification periods at each level, consult the Act or contact Access Canberra. For the national picture, see drink-driving limits across Australia.

How the ACT Compares to Other Jurisdictions

The ACT's 12-point full licence threshold matches Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia; New South Wales is the outlier with a 13-point full licence threshold (14 for an approved professional driver opt-in). Where the ACT stands apart is its novice structure. Queensland and South Australia use a flat 4-point novice threshold similar to the ACT's standard post-2020 rule, but neither runs a legacy carve-out for pre-2020 licences or a separate 2-point probationary category that ends in cancellation. Victoria instead uses a dual test of 5 points in 12 months or 12 points in 3 years. A driver relocating to the ACT should not assume their previous jurisdiction's thresholds carry across. See New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland demerit points for the detail.

ACT Demerit Points at a Glance

This article provides general legal information about demerit points and driver licensing in the Australian Capital Territory, verified against Access Canberra and the ACT Legislation Register on 20 July 2026. It is not legal advice. For advice on a specific situation, consult a legal practitioner admitted in the relevant Australian state or territory, or contact Access Canberra directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many demerit points before I lose my licence in the ACT?

It depends on licence class. A full licence allows up to 12 points within three years before suspension. A standard learner or provisional licence (issued from 1 January 2020) allows only 4 points in the same window, and a probationary licence allows just 2 points, also counted over three years, before it is cancelled.

How long do demerit points last in the ACT?

For every ACT licence class, including probationary, points count within a rolling three-year period. The 6 months often quoted for probationary licences is the period off the road after cancellation, not the counting window. Points reset to zero on upgrade from learner to provisional, but carry over from provisional to full.

What is the ACT's legacy learner licence rule?

A learner licence issued before 1 January 2020 and not renewed since keeps the older 12-point threshold rather than the 4-point threshold applied from that date onward. Confirm with Access Canberra if this may apply to you.

What is a probationary licence and how does it differ from a provisional licence?

A probationary licence is a separate, stricter category with a 2-point threshold (counted over the same three years, and ending in cancellation rather than suspension), compared with the 4-point, 3-year rule for standard provisional and learner licences. Holders must also maintain zero blood or breath alcohol concentration.

Can a full licence holder in the ACT avoid a demerit-point suspension?

Full licence holders may be able to elect into a good behaviour period instead of an immediate suspension, an option not extended to other licence classes. The election carries a reduced points allowance; confirm current terms with Access Canberra.

How much is the mobile phone fine in the ACT in 2026?

For FY2026-27, holding a phone while driving, for example to make a call, carries a $615 fine and 3 points. Messaging, using an app or the internet carries a $745 fine and 4 points.

What is the top speeding penalty in the ACT?

Exceeding the limit by more than 45 km/h outside a school zone carries a $1,891 fine and 6 points for FY2026-27. Within a school zone, the top band carries $2,186 and 6 points.

Does the ACT use low, medium and high drink-driving bands like some other states?

No. The Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977 (ACT) sets out its own 4-level framework, not a three-tier low, mid and high structure. Full licence holders may drive at a BAC up to 0.05; learner, provisional and probationary holders must maintain 0.00.