Demerit points are designed to encourage safer driving.¹ For P2 licence holders, understanding how this system works is crucial. You’re no longer a brand-new driver, but you’re still operating under tighter restrictions than those on a full licence. With a lower point limit, even a small lapse in judgment could jeopardise your licence.
As rules differ across states and territories, the number of points you can accumulate, how suspensions are applied and what to do if you exceed the limit can vary widely depending on where you live.
Here, we break down how many demerit points you can get on a P2 licence, and what offences put you at risk.
What is a P2 licence?
Recognised by its distinct green P plates, a P2 licence is the second stage of the provisional licence system in most Australian states and territories. It typically lasts 2-3 years, depending on the state or territory your licence is issued in.
Once you finish your P1 period, you move to your P2 licence. The requirements to gain your P2 may vary, but in states such as NSW, P1 drivers are required to complete and pass a Hazard Perception Test to progress from P1 to P2. You’ll still be considered a provisional driver, but you’ll have fewer restrictions than you had on your red Ps.
This allows you to gain more driving experience with increased independence while still operating under a safety-focused licensing framework.
During this time, you’ll need to display green P plates at all times and follow the rules set for your licence type. This can mean following restrictions from both the state/territory that issued your P2 licence and the one that you are driving in.
You will need to check with both your issuing authority and the authority of your current location to confirm.
How demerit points work
Demerit points are penalties added to your driving record when you commit certain traffic offences. Operating Australia-wide, this system is designed to discourage unsafe driving by increasing consequences for high-risk behaviour, such as speeding, using a mobile phone while driving, running a red light, and failing to wear a seatbelt.
Each offence carries a set number of demerit points, which can accumulate on your licence over time. If you reach or exceed your demerit point limit within the relevant period, you may face penalties such as a licence suspension, a refusal to renew, or the need to choose a “good behaviour” period.
Driving offences that bring demerit points on green Ps
P2 drivers have a relatively low demerit point limit, which means even one mistake can push you close to a suspension or fine. Knowing which offences carry points makes it easier to stay safe on the road and hold on to your licence.
- Speeding offences: As all forms of speeding are dangerous, one can attract points for low-range speeding at under 10km/h to high-range speeding at more than 26–30 km/h over the limit, which can result in enough points to exceed the full P2 limit in many states.
- Mobile phone offences: Illegal mobile phone use carries significant demerit points for P2 drivers. The exact restrictions are dependent on location; however, it is important to note that any use of a mobile phone while driving comes with a risk that we recommend you avoid altogether by limiting phone use to none.
- Traffic light and signal offences: Running a red light or ignoring lane arrows usually result in several points, depending on where you are.
- School zone offences: Speeding in an active school zone attracts higher penalties than on normal roads due to the increased risk to young children.
- Not displaying P plates correctly: Incorrect or missing P plates can lead to fines and demerit points. P plates must be clearly visible, on the front and rear of your vehicle, and not obstructed by tinted windows, dirt, or accessories.
- Not wearing a seatbelt: Failing to wear a seatbelt or not ensuring passengers are correctly restrained results in significant demerit points.
How many demerit points for P2 licence holders by state and territory
The demerit point limit for P2 drivers depends on the state or territory that issued the licence. Every jurisdiction sets its own threshold, and exceeding that limit can lead to an automatic suspension or, in some places, the option to choose a good behaviour period.
As rules differ across Australia, it’s important to know the limit that applies to your licence, not the state you’re driving in.
Here’s a clear breakdown of P2 demerit point limits by state and territory:
| State / Territory | P2 Demerit Point Limit | Calculation Period | What Happens When You Exceed the Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales² | 7 points | Within the P2 licence duration | Licence suspension (typically 3 months) or refusal to renew it. |
| Victoria³ | 5 points in 1 year, or 12 points in 3 years | 1-year and 3-year limits | 3-month licence suspension, with an extra month for every 4 points over the limit OR 12-month ‘demerit point extension’. Must challenge the offence itself if disputing. |
| Queensland⁴ | 4 points | Within 1 year | Notice to Choose: 3-month suspension OR 12-month ‘good behaviour’ period. Breaching good behaviour results in a 6-month suspension. |
| Western Australia⁵ | 8 points | From the learner’s permit issue until the end of the P2 licence | Licence suspension or disqualification. |
| South Australia⁶ | 4 points | Within the P2 licence duration | At least a 6-month disqualification from driving. |
| Tasmania⁷ | 4 points | Within 1 year | Suspension based on total points: 3–5 months. P2 period extended by the suspension length. |
| Australian Capital Territory (ACT)⁸ | 4 points | Within 3 years | Licence suspension (typically 3 months). |
What happens when you exceed P2 demerit point limits
If you go over the demerit point limit on your P2 licence in Australia, your right to drive will be restricted.
While this exact process varies slightly between states and territories, potential consequences are similar nationwide. Let’s take a look at each one.
Licence suspension
For most P2 drivers, exceeding your demerit point limit results in a licence suspension. During this period, you’re not allowed to drive under any circumstances because your licence is legally inactive.
A formal suspension notice will outline when your suspension starts and what options, if any, you have to avoid it.
Keep in mind that driving while suspended is a criminal offence. If you drive during your suspension, you risk serious penalties, including court action, heavy fines, an extended disqualification, and, in severe cases, imprisonment.
The ‘good behaviour’ alternative
In Queensland and Victoria, P2 drivers may avoid an immediate suspension by choosing a 12-month Good Driving Behaviour (GDB)/Demerit Point Extension period. This option lets you stay on the road after exceeding your demerit point limit, but it comes with strict conditions.
Importantly, you must drive for a full year without exceeding a very small demerit point allowance. Any further offence during this time can lead to a much longer suspension than the one you were originally facing.
Queensland
P2 drivers who go over their demerit point limit can elect a 1-year GDB period instead of serving a suspension. You must nominate this option before the “choice date” listed on your notice.
If you elect the GDB period, you keep your licence, but you cannot earn 2 or more points during the 12 months. If you breach the GDB conditions, your licence is automatically suspended for 6 months.⁹
Victoria
You have the option to accept an extended demerit point period, which allows you to continue driving on your P2 licence. You must choose this option within 28 days of receiving your VicRoads notice.
During this 12 month period, you cannot incur any further demerit points or lose your licence for any reason. If you do, your licence will be suspended for twice the length of the original suspension period you were offered.³
South Australia’s Safer Driver Agreement
In South Australia, a provisional driver who breaches their licence conditions or reaches four or more demerit points may be offered the option to enter into a Safer Driver Agreement, provided the offence is not classified as a serious disqualification offence.¹⁰
The Safer Driver Agreement remains in force for the remainder of the driver’s provisional licence period.
However, if the driver breaches their licence conditions again or accumulates four or more additional demerit points while under the agreement, the consequences are significantly more severe.
The driver will be disqualified for 12 months, which is double the original disqualification period. This disqualification must be served in full and cannot be appealed through the court system. The driver will also be ineligible to apply for another Safer Driver Agreement for five years.
Licence disqualification
Repeat offenders or drivers who commit serious traffic offences may face licence disqualification rather than suspension.
If your P2 licence is cancelled, you typically need to apply for a new P2 licence and complete the entirety of this license period before progressing to a full licence. ¹¹ ¹² ¹³ ¹⁴ ¹⁵ ¹⁶
How to avoid demerit point offences as a P2 driver
Avoiding demerit points as a P2 driver comes down to consistent, responsible habits. These practical tips can help you stay within the rules and reduce your risk on the road:
- Follow the speed limit: Check your speed often to ensure you’re sticking to the limit and use cruise control where safe.
- Put your phone out of reach: Set it to Do Not Disturb and store it somewhere you can’t touch while driving or stopped at traffic lights.
- Minimise other distractions: Music, conversations, and GPS notifications can all become distracting, and when they do, it’s best to pull over.
- Display your P plates correctly: Make sure your green P plates are securely attached and visible from the front and rear at all times.
- Wear your seatbelt (and check passengers): Always buckle up before moving off and ensure everyone else in the car is properly restrained.
- Be cautious during high-risk periods: Long weekends and holiday periods are some of the busiest and most dangerous times on our roads, often accompanied by increased police presence and, in some states and territories, double demerit periods. To limit your risk of incurring a penalty, always plan your route and drive according to the conditions.
- Know your local rules: Each state and territory has different P2 conditions, point limits and double demerit rules. Check your local road authority to avoid surprises.
These simple habits can help protect your licence, prevent penalties and support safer driving while you complete your P2 stage.
P2 demerit point FAQs
The easiest way to find out how many demerit points you have on your P2 licence is to log in to your state or territory’s official online licensing system:
In the ACT, you must check this information over the phone on Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or at an Access Canberra Service Centre.
Yes. In general, any demerit points you earn on your P1 licence stay with you when you move to P2, so long as they are still active.³ ⁵ ⁸ ¹⁷ ¹⁸ ¹⁹ ²⁰
They don’t reset or clear when you upgrade, so they continue to count toward your P2 demerit point limit.
Double demerits are enforced in NSW²¹, the ACT²² and WA²³ during holiday periods. These states increase the demerit points for specific offences to discourage risky behaviour when roads are busiest.
Meanwhile, Queensland imposes double demerit points all year round for specific repeat offences.²⁴
Victoria, SA, and Tasmania do not currently impose double demerit points.²⁵
If you’ve been issued demerit points incorrectly, then they can only be removed if you successfully challenge the offence that led to them. This means you must dispute the fine, infringement notice or court conviction that created the points in the first place. If the offence is withdrawn, overturned or dismissed, the associated demerit points are removed from your record.
Depending on the jurisdiction,²⁶ ²⁷ ²⁸ ²⁹ ³⁰ ³¹ ³² you may:
- Request an internal review of the infringement.
- Provide evidence to show the offence didn’t occur.
- Elect to take the matter to court if you want it formally heard.
The key is to dispute the fine before it turns into demerit points or leads to a suspension. Checking your point balance regularly and responding to notices promptly gives you the best chance of protecting your P2 licence.
In most of Australia, demerit points stay active for three years from the date of the offence, even if you upgrade from P1 to P2 or move to a full licence.² ¹⁷ ²¹ Once the three years are up, the points stop affecting your total, but the offence remains listed on your driving history.
However, some states calculate this differently, with their own regulations around point accumulation and expiry:
- Tasmania uses a rolling 12-month period.⁷
In the ACT, the 3-year period begins from the date of the most recent offence on your record.⁸ - In Victoria, demerit points last for four years.³
- In WA, this timeline changes if you accumulate 12 or more points (four or eight points if you are a novice driver) within three years and receive an Excessive Demerit Points Notice.³³
If you’re unsure about your current tally, checking your official record is the most reliable way to confirm it.
Learn how to drive safely with Road Sense Australia
Keeping your P2 licence relies on consistent safe driving habits, like following speed limits, avoiding mobile phones, wearing your seatbelt and staying focused every time you’re on the road. These simple behaviours help prevent the offences that lead to demerit points and reduce your risk of suspension.
If you want to build stronger driving skills or you’re dealing with the consequences of an offence, Road Sense Australia’s Traffic Offenders Intervention Program (TOIP) can help.
TOIP won’t remove existing demerit points, but it can help you understand what contributed to the offence, learn safer ways to respond on the road and improve your decision-making.
Delivered online or in person, our flexible program gives you the tools to become a more confident and responsible driver. Enrol today.
Please note this blog is not intended as legal advice. Please consult your state or territory’s roads authority for advice on your personal situation.
- Fitzharris, M., 2015. The role of demerit point systems in licencing and road safety. Presentation, Road Traffic Infringement Agency, Midrand, Johannesburg, 24 June. Available at: https://researchmgt.monash.edu/ws/portalfiles/portal/310088698/2015_Demerits_RTIA.pdf [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- NSW Government, How demerit points work — Learner and provisional drivers, NSW Government, 2025. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/demerits-penalties-and-offences/how-demerit-points-work/learner-and-provisional-drivers [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Transport for Victoria, Demerit points, Victorian Government, 2025. Available at: https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-and-active-transport/road-rules-and-safety/demerit-points [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Queensland Government, Provisional licence demerit points, Queensland Government, 2023. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/demerit/provisional [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Western Australian Government, Driving on your P plates, Department of Transport WA, 2025. Available at: https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/drivers-licence/get-a-licence/learner-driver-resources/driving-on-your-p-plates [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Government of South Australia, Road rules – Offences and Penalties, South Australian Government, 2025. Available at: https://mylicence.sa.gov.au/roadrules/offences-and-penalties [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Tasmanian Government, Demerit points, Transport Tasmania, 2025. Available at: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/demerits_and_offences/demerit_points [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Access Canberra, Demerit points and suspensions, ACT Government, 2024. Available at: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/driving-transport-and-parking/traffic-and-parking/demerit-points-and-suspensions [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Queensland Government, 2023. Provisional licence demerit points. Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/demerit/provisional [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Government of South Australia, 2025. Losing your licence or permit. The Driver’s Handbook. Department for Infrastructure and Transport, South Australian Government. Available at: https://mylicence.sa.gov.au/road-rules/the-drivers-handbook/losing-licence [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Government of South Australia, 2023. Provisional licence disqualification. Department for Infrastructure and Transport. Available at: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/offences/disqualification-and-suspension/types-of-disqualification/provisional-licence [Accessed 28 January 2026]
- NSW Government, 2020. Provisional P2 licence. NSW Government. Available at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/driver-and-rider-licences/driver-licences/provisional-p2-licence [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Armstrong Legal, 2025. Licence disqualification (Vic). Available at: https://www.armstronglegal.com.au/criminal-law/vic/penalties/licence-disqualification/ [Accessed 28 January 2026]
- Queensland Government, 2023. Licence disqualification. Queensland Government. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/loss-of-licence/licence-disqualification [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Legal Aid WA, 2025. Removal of a driver’s licence disqualification. Legal Aid Western Australia. Available at: https://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/find-legal-answers/cars-and-driving/drivers-licences/removal-drivers-licence-disqualification [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Tasmanian Government, 2025. Disqualifications, suspensions and cancellations. Department of State Growth. Available at: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/licensing/demerits_and_offences/disqualifications,_suspensions_and_cancellations [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Queensland Government, 2023. About demerit points. Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Government. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/demerit/about [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Go To Court, 2025. Demerit points in Tasmania. Go To Court Lawyers. Available at: https://www.gotocourt.com.au/traffic-law/tas/demerit-points
- Legal Aid NSW, 2025. Fined out Part 7: Demerit points and your driver licence. Legal Aid NSW. Available at: https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/ways-to-get-help/publications-and-resources/fined-out/part-07-demerit-points-and-your-driver-licence [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Government of South Australia, 2025. Check demerit points. South Australian Government. Available at: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/driving-and-transport/offences/check-demerit-points [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Transport for NSW, 2025. Demerit points. Transport for NSW. Available at: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/topics-tips/demerit-points [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Budget Direct, 2025. Double demerit points in the ACT. Budget Direct Insurance. Available at: https://www.budgetdirect.com.au/car-insurance/articles/double-demerit-points/act.html [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Road Safety Commission WA, 2025. Double demerits. Government of Western Australia. Available at: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/road-safety-commission/double-demerits [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Queensland Government, 2024. Double demerit points. Queensland Government. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/demerit/double [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- YOUI, 2025. Get the lowdown on double demerits in your state. YOUI Insurance. Available at: https://www.youi.com.au/you-connect/articles-and-guides/get-the-lowdown-on-double-demerits-in-your-state [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Service NSW, 2025. Request a review for a fine. NSW Government. Available at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/request-a-review-for-a-fine [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Fines Victoria, 2025. Request a review. Victorian Government. Available at: https://online.fines.vic.gov.au/Your-options/Request-a-review [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Queensland Government, 2024. Dispute or contest a fine. Queensland Government. Available at: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/contest [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit, 2025. Disputing enforcement. Government of South Australia. Available at: https://www.fines.sa.gov.au/disputing-enforcement [Accessed 28 January 2026].
Access Canberra, 2025. - Traffic and parking fines and infringements. ACT Government. Available at: https://www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au/driving-transport-and-parking/traffic-and-parking/traffic-and-parking-fines-infringements [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Department of Transport WA, 2025. Traffic infringements. Government of Western Australia. Available at: https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/drivers-licence/driver-rules-penalties-infringements/traffic-infringements [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Department of Justice Tasmania, 2025. Fines forms. Tasmanian Government. Available at: https://www.justice.tas.gov.au/fines/forms [Accessed 28 January 2026].
- Department of Transport WA, 2025. Demerit points. Government of Western Australia. Available at: https://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/drivers-licence/driver-rules-penalties-infringements/demerit-points [Accessed 28 January 2026].
