Class G Driver Licences
Class G drivers may accumulate up to 8 demerit points, at 9 points the Ministry will call the driver in for an interview.
Demerit Points for G licences
How Class G drivers accumulate demerit points and the potential repercussions.
Class G Drivers Point Accumulation & Thresholds
In Ontario, Class G drivers are subject to the Ontario Demerit Point System, which is intended to promote safe driving habits.
Drivers accumulate points on their record when convicted of traffic offences, with the number of points varying based on the severity of the offense. This system allows Class G drivers to accumulate up to 8 points without facing serious consequences, though they may receive warning notices from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO).
At 9 demerit points, class G driver are subject to a 30 day drivers licence suspension for the accumulation of too many traffic violations and the associated demerit points.
Demerit Point Interviews
Consequences of Exceeding Point Limits
When a driver accumulates 9 to 14 points, they are required to attend an interview at the Ministry of Transport.
This interview is an opportunity for the authorities to assess and advise on the driver’s behavior while operating a motor vehicle.
Failure to attend can result in license suspension. Accumulating 15 points triggers an automatic 30-day suspension of the driver’s license, with possible longer suspensions for subsequent offences.
Demerit Points & Insurance Rates
In Ontario, when it comes to insurance rates, what impacts a driver’s premiums are convictions for traffic violations, not the accumulation of demerit points.
Insurance companies give substantial weight to convictions because they are legally recognized indicators of a driver’s behavior on the road. Each conviction is a documented instance where a driver has been found guilty of a traffic offence, and this record serves as a direct insight into their driving habits.
Serious convictions, such as those for impaired driving, reckless driving, or excessive speeding, are particularly concerning for insurers. These offences suggest a pattern of risky behavior that significantly increases the likelihood of accidents and claims.
Demerit Points & Insurance Rates
In Ontario, accumulating traffic tickets can significantly affect insurance rates. Insurance providers consider these as indicators of risky driving. A history of infractions often leads to higher premiums due to the perceived increased risk of accidents or further offenses.
Where the driver accumulated too many points they risk a licence suspension. Where a Class G drivers licence is suspended the suspension will dramatically affect the insurance rates.
Each traffic violation adds points to the driver’s record and can be seen by insurers, influencing their assessment of a driver’s risk. The impact on insurance rates varies depending on the violation’s severity and the insurer’s policies. Minor infractions might slightly increase premiums, while major offenses can cause substantial hikes. Drivers with numerous violations might need to seek high-risk insurers, generally associated with higher premiums.
Therefore, maintaining a clean driving record is essential in Ontario, not only for safety but also for keeping insurance costs lower.
Accumulating Points
In the Ontario demerit point system, points are added, not taken away.
When a driver commits a moving traffic violation, demerit points are added to their license only upon conviction.
The demerit points are not recorded on the driver’s abstract immediately. Instead, they are added only after the driver has either paid the traffic ticket or has been convicted in court. Many drivers opt to contest their traffic tickets, which can lead to either the removal or reduction of these demerit points from their record.
When Points Appear on Licences
Demerit points are added to an Ontario driver’s license under two conditions:
- either after the driver is convicted of a traffic offence, or
- once the driver pays the ticket for the offence.
This system allows drivers an opportunity to potentially reduce the duration of demerit points on their record by opting for a trial.
Points are not added to the driver’s record until the conclusion of the court case, which can be scheduled anywhere from 3 to 12 months after the offence, depending on the court’s schedule.
Once demerit points are registered on the license, they remain there for two years from the date the ticket was issued.
It’s important to note that the conviction itself is a separate record that stays on the driver’s abstract for three years, either from the date of the court decision or from when the ticket was paid.
