South Australia Demerit Points: Thresholds, Expiation Fees and the Victims of Crime Levy (2026)

South Australia's Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT), operating through Service SA, disqualifies full-licence holders who reach 12 demerit points within 3 years, and provisional or learner drivers who reach just 4, under the Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA).

How South Australia's Demerit Point System Works

South Australia's demerit point scheme is administered by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT), which delivers licensing services through Service SA and the mylicence.sa.gov.au road rules portal. Every driver starts at zero. When a driver commits a designated offence, whether detected by police, a speed camera or a red-light camera, DIT records the prescribed number of demerit points against their licence under Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 98B. South Australian traffic law uses the term "expiation" rather than "infringement" for these on-the-spot penalty notices; paying an expiation notice, or having the matter finalised in court, triggers the points, which then apply retroactively from the date of the offence, not the date of payment. A driver who reaches 6 or more points within the 3-year window receives a warning notice by post, unless their address is interstate. For the national picture, see demerit points explained in Australia.

The 12-Point Threshold for Full South Australian Licences

A driver holding a full South Australian licence becomes liable to disqualification once they have incurred 12 or more demerit points for offences committed within a 3-year period, under Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 98BC. The disqualification scales with how far over the threshold the driver has gone: 12 to 15 points brings 3 months, 16 to 19 points brings 4 months, and 20 or more points brings 5 months. Once DIT issues a disqualification notice, the driver has 28 days to acknowledge it and pay the fee, or a second notice follows with a higher fee and a freeze on other Service SA transactions. Within that 28-day window an eligible driver may instead elect a 12-month good behaviour option under Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 98BE: the licence stays current provided the driver gains fewer than 2 further demerit points during the 12 months, and a breach doubles the original disqualification with no right of appeal or a second election.

The 4-Point Threshold for Provisional and Learner Drivers

Provisional (P1 and P2) and learner permit holders face a far lower bar than full-licence drivers: incurring 4 or more demerit points, or breaching a licence condition, makes a novice driver liable to disqualification. A first disqualification runs for 6 months; a driver with a previous provisional disqualification, a successful appeal, or a previous Safer Driver Agreement within the past 5 years instead faces 12 months. DIT tracks the 4-point threshold against points accrued during the current permit or provisional licence period, not the full-licence 3-year window. A first-time provisional driver may instead elect a Safer Driver Agreement under Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 81BA, surrendering the current licence for a freshly issued P1 (3 years) or P2 (2 years) licence rather than a straight suspension; a breach doubles the disqualification to 12 months. A driver who does not qualify for either option can sit out the disqualification, or appeal to the Magistrates Court for severe and unusual hardship. To check how close a specific point total is to the 4-point threshold, use the South Australia demerit points lookup.

FY2026-27 Mobile Phone and Speeding Expiation Fees

South Australia's expiation fees reset each 1 July under the Road Traffic (Miscellaneous) Regulations 2014 and the Motor Vehicles Regulations 2025, so a figure quoted from an earlier financial year is usually already out of date. For FY2026-27, using a mobile phone while driving carries a $592 base expiation fee, 3 demerit points, and a further $108 Victims of Crime Levy under the Victims of Crime (Fund and Levy) Regulations 2018, bringing the total to roughly $700. The levy is a statutory surcharge added to most SA expiation notices to help fund victim support services, which is why the total a driver is asked to pay is consistently higher than the headline offence fee alone. Speeding fees scale with how far over the limit a driver was detected.

Drink Driving BAC Categories in South Australia

South Australia's drink driving penalties are not a simple low, medium, high structure. Under Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) s 47B, which prohibits driving with a prescribed concentration of alcohol in the blood, penalties scale along two axes at once: which BAC band the driver was detected in, and whether it is a first offence or a repeat one within a set period. A full-licence holder must stay under 0.05, while a learner's permit or provisional licence holder is held to a zero-alcohol limit of 0.00. Because both the BAC band and the offence count independently move the outcome, the same reading can carry a materially different disqualification and fine for a repeat offender than for a first-time offender. Readers who need the exact penalty for a specific BAC reading and offence history should confirm current figures with DIT or Service SA. For the national BAC framework across every state and territory, see drink driving limits in Australia.

How South Australia Compares to Other States

South Australia's 12-point full-licence threshold matches the national norm, but the novice threshold and accrual mechanics differ once you cross the border. New South Wales sets a higher full-licence threshold of 13 points, while its P2 provisional drivers are allowed 7 and P1 drivers only 4; see New South Wales demerit points. Victoria keeps 12 for a full licence but runs a dual test for novices, liable at 5 points within 12 months or 12 within 3 years, whichever comes first; see Victoria demerit points. Queensland also uses 12 for a full licence, but its novice drivers face a 4-point threshold measured over 1 year rather than 3; see Queensland demerit points. A driver splitting time between states should not assume their home jurisdiction's numbers carry over. See the Australia driving laws hub for the full 8-jurisdiction comparison.

Key South Australia Demerit Point Figures at a Glance

This article provides general legal information about South Australia's demerit point scheme as verified on 20 July 2026. It is not legal advice and does not account for a reader's specific driving record, licence class or history. Demerit point values, expiation fees and disqualification rules change, most recently on 1 July each financial year, so confirm current figures before relying on them. For advice on a specific disqualification, expiation notice or court matter, consult a legal practitioner admitted in the relevant Australian state or territory, or contact the Department for Infrastructure and Transport or Service SA directly on 13 10 84.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many demerit points before I lose my licence in South Australia?

A full South Australian licence holder becomes liable to disqualification at 12 or more demerit points within a 3-year period. Provisional (P1/P2) and learner permit holders reach that liability far sooner, at just 4 or more demerit points, under Motor Vehicles Act 1959 (SA) s 98BC.

How long do demerit points last in South Australia?

Demerit points expire 3 years after the date of the offence that caused them, not the date the fine was paid. Points are only recorded once the expiation fee is paid or the matter is finalised in court.

What is a good behaviour option in South Australia?

A good behaviour option is a 12-month election a full-licence holder can make instead of serving a demerit disqualification, provided they qualify and elect within 28 days of the notice being issued. Gaining 2 or more points during the good behaviour period doubles the original disqualification and removes any further right of appeal.

What happens if a provisional driver in South Australia gets 4 demerit points?

A provisional (P1 or P2) driver who reaches 4 or more demerit points, or breaches a licence condition, is liable to a 6-month disqualification for a first offence, or 12 months if they have a relevant disqualification, appeal or Safer Driver Agreement in the past 5 years. Eligible first-time drivers may instead elect a Safer Driver Agreement.

How much is the mobile phone fine in South Australia?

For FY2026-27, using a mobile phone while driving in South Australia carries a $592 expiation fee plus a $108 Victims of Crime Levy, for a total of roughly $700, along with 3 demerit points.

Is South Australia's drink driving penalty based on BAC level alone?

No. South Australia's drink driving penalties under Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) s 47B scale on two axes at once: the driver's BAC band at the time of detection and whether it is a first offence or a repeat one, so the same reading can carry a different outcome depending on driving history.