Australia Demerit Points Lookup
Pick your state or territory and licence type, enter the demerit points on your record, and see how close you are to the suspension threshold. Covers all eight jurisdictions: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT. Free, instant, and calculated entirely in your browser; no sign-up.
New South Wales demerit points
0
threshold: 13 points
13 points below the threshold
A New South Wales fully licensed driver is suspended at 13 demerit points (points counted over a rolling 3-year period). You are currently 13 points below that.
Professional drivers can opt in to a higher 14-point threshold.
See New South Wales demerit points for the full ladder and offence values, and confirm your official standing with Transport for NSW / Service NSW.
This tool compares a demerit-point total against the published suspension threshold for the chosen licence class in each Australian state and territory. It does not access your driving record, and the exact points against you depend on the offences as recorded, your licence class and the accrual window. Only your state or territory licensing authority can confirm your official standing. This is general information, not legal advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not a government body or a law firm.
Why the Thresholds Differ
There is no national demerit-point system in Australia. Each state and territory runs its own, and the common belief that the limit is "12 points everywhere except New South Wales" is wrong once you look past a full licence.
A fully licensed driver is suspended at 12 points in most jurisdictions, but New South Wales uses 13 (14 for a professional driver who opts in). The real divergence is for provisional and learner drivers, where the limits run from 2 to 8 points, and the accrual window itself changes: Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory count novice points over a shorter 1-year window, while a full licence is measured over 3 years. Western Australia sets its provisional threshold by years of driving experience rather than P-plate colour, and the ACT keeps a legacy 12-point threshold for a learner licence issued before 2020 that has not since been renewed.
Because of this, the same point total can mean very different things. Five points is comfortably clear for a full NSW licence, one point from suspension for a Victorian probationary driver, and already over the limit for an ACT probationary driver. See demerit points explained for the full comparison, or your state's page for its exact ladder.
What Points Do Not Tell You
Demerit points are separate from the fine and from your insurance. A conviction can raise your premiums for years even where the points later drop off, which is often the real reason drivers dispute a charge. Points are also separate from the immediate penalties that serious offences carry: high-range speeding, drink or drug driving and street racing can trigger an on-the-spot licence suspension and a court charge that goes far beyond points. Double-demerit periods, which apply over holidays in several states and year-round for repeat mobile-phone or seatbelt offences in Queensland, can also push a total over the threshold faster than expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these my official points?
No. This tool shows where a given number of points sits against each jurisdiction’s published suspension threshold, but it does not access your driving record. Only your state or territory authority (Transport for NSW, VicRoads, Queensland TMR, WA DoT, Service SA, Transport Tasmania, Access Canberra, or the NT MVR) can tell you your official standing, usually by ordering a copy of your driving record.
Is the suspension limit really 12 points everywhere?
Only for a full licence in most states, and not even then in New South Wales, which uses 13 (14 for a professional driver who opts in). Provisional and learner limits are much lower and differ by state, from 4 points in most jurisdictions down to 2 points in 6 months for an ACT probationary driver, and up to 8 points for a WA provisional driver with 1 to 2 years of experience. The Northern Territory uses 5 for novice drivers, not 4.
How long do demerit points stay on my record?
Points are generally counted over a rolling 3-year period for a full licence. For novice drivers the window is often shorter: Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory count novice points over a 12-month period, and the ACT probationary category uses 6 months. Victoria holds points on the record for 4 years but assesses the novice limit over a rolling window. Check your state page for the exact rule.
What is a good behaviour period?
Several states let a full-licence driver who reaches the threshold choose a good behaviour period, typically 12 months, instead of an immediate suspension. The catch is that incurring even one or two further points during that period usually doubles the original suspension. The option and its terms vary by state, so confirm with your licensing authority before relying on it.
Do interstate offences count?
Yes. Australian states and territories share driving records, so an offence committed in another state is added to your home record and assessed against your home jurisdiction’s threshold. The demerit value applied is generally your home jurisdiction’s value for the equivalent offence.
Does this tool store what I enter?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved, transmitted, or used to contact you.
This lookup uses the published demerit-point suspension thresholds for the eight Australian states and territories. It estimates where a point total sits against the threshold and is general information, not legal advice. RecordingLaw.com is not affiliated with any government body. Confirm your official points and standing with your state or territory licensing authority.
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