List of Demerit Points
Demerit points are applied only after the ticket is paid or the driver is convicted in court.
Demerit Points System: Understanding the Basics
Demerit points are integral to road safety regulations, crucially affecting driving privileges and insurance costs.
Unlike a typical scoring system, demerit points are accumulated on a driver’s record for each infraction, leading to serious consequences for driving legality through licence suspensions and their associated affect on insurance rates.
Understanding this accumulation process is essential for maintaining a good driving record.
Different Impacts on Novice and Experienced Drivers
The demerit points system has distinct implications for novice and experienced drivers.
Novice drivers, including those holding G1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses, are subjected to stricter rules and face suspensions for accumulating fewer points compared to experienced drivers.
For experienced drivers, while they have a higher point threshold before suspension, accumulating points can still lead to increased insurance premiums and, in severe cases, suspension or revocation of the license.
| Offence | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 15km/h or less | 0 |
| Speeding 16km/h to 29km/h | 3 |
| Speeding 30km/h to 49km/h | 4 |
| Speeding more than 50km/h | 6 |
| Stunt Driving | 7 |
| Racing | 6 |
| Careless Driving | 6 |
| Cell Phone - Distracted Driving | 3 |
| Cross Divided Highway | 3 |
| Drive in Prohibited Lane - HOV Lanes | 3 |
| Drive in High Occupancy Lane | 3 |
| Drive through railway barrier | 3 |
| Disobey Stop Sign | 3 |
| Disobey Red Light | 3 |
| Disobey Sign - Bylaw | 2 |
| Disobey Police Officer | 3 |
| Drive Wrong Way | 3 |
| Fail to Remain at Accident | 7 |
| Fail to Report Accident | 3 |
| Failing to Yield Right of Way | 3 |
| Fail to Stop for Police | 7 |
| Fail to Stop for School Bus | 6 |
| Fail to Lower High Beam | 2 |
| Fail to Share Roadway | 2 |
| Fail to Stop for Emergency Vehicles | 3 |
| Failing to Signal | 2 |
| Following too Closely | 4 |
| Improper Passing | 2 |
| Improperly Open Door | 2 |
| Pass off Roadway | 2 |
| Pedestrian Crossover | 2 |
| Proceed Contrary to Sign | 2 |
| Radar Warning Device | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Slow Driving | 2 |
| Turn not in Safety | 2 |
Insurance Implications
Insurance companies look at convictions not demerits to access how much you will pay for insurance.
Convictions affect your insurance, including ANY traffic ticket, even for minor offences e.g. speeding 10 over the limit.
Demerit points only affect licence suspensions. Depending upon the class of licence accumulating demerit points can cause the licence to be suspended.
This is an information site only. The list of demerit points may not be complete and the complete up to date list of demerit points is available at the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Demerit points are accumulated not lost. The accumulation of demerit points can result in licence suspensions for drivers.