Rules of the road

Demerit Points

How demerit points are earned, how long they stay, and when you lose your licence.

A novice driver faces a licence suspension at 9 points, less than half the 15-point threshold for a fully licensed driver, and every point stays on record for two years from the offence date.

Demerit points are not just a record; they are a countdown with real, specific thresholds, and those thresholds are far lower for a novice driver than for a fully licensed one.

Key facts

A novice driver (G1, G2, M1, or M2) is suspended at 9 or more demerit points; a fully licensed driver is suspended at 15 or more.
Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the date of the offence.

Know the novice thresholds

A novice driver receives a warning letter at 2 to 5 points, a second warning letter at 6 to 8 points, and a licence suspension of 60 days at 9 or more points. Those thresholds are roughly a third of what a fully licensed driver is allowed before facing the same escalation.

A fully licensed driver, by comparison, gets a warning letter at 6 to 8 points, a second warning letter at 9 to 14 points, and a 30-day suspension at 15 or more points. The gap between the two systems is the entire reason novice drivers need to treat any points seriously.

Know what specific offences cost

Point values vary by offence: careless driving or racing carries 6 points, failing to remain at the scene of a collision carries 7, following too closely carries 4, using a hand-held device while driving carries 3, and an improper turn or failing to signal carries 2.

Points are added only after a conviction for an offence that carries them, not simply because you were stopped or ticketed; the number is fixed by the specific offence, not by an officer’s discretion.

Know how long points last and how suspensions clear

Demerit points stay on your driving record for two years from the date of the offence, then drop off automatically; there is no way to remove them earlier by paying a fine faster.

After a suspension ends and you complete any required tests, your point total is reduced, not erased: to 4 points for a novice licence, or to 7 points for a full licence, so a clean start still carries some points forward.

Common mistakes

Assuming a novice driver and a fully licensed driver face the same point thresholds.
Believing points disappear immediately once an associated fine is paid.
Focusing on the number of points rather than the dangerous habit that caused them.
Assuming a licence suspension resets your point total to zero.