Driving offences such as creeping over the speed limit or failing to buckle up can not only put you and others at risk on the road, they can also attract demerit points on your driver’s licence. These can quickly add up, even before you factor in double demerits.
So, do you know the rules around double demerits in your state or territory? Or how they might apply if you’re driving in a state other than your own?
In this article, we provide a helpful list of things to know about double demerits, including what they are, when double demerits start and end across a long weekend, what offences can attract double demerits – and how they may impact your car insurance premiums.
What are demerit points?
Demerit points are penalty points drivers incur when caught breaking certain road rules. These points accrue over time until a limit is reached, after which more severe penalties – such as licence suspension – could apply. Different offences attract different demerit point values, and different licence types usually have different demerit point limits.1
All Australian drivers start with zero demerit points – the more offences you commit, the more points you’ll accrue.2
What are double demerit points?
Put simply, double demerits are when twice the usual amount of demerit points incurred by certain offences are applied to your licence.1 Not all Australian states and territories use double demerits, but those that do usually enforce them during specific times of year, such as during public holidays.3
For instance, if you are driving in New South Wales over the Easter or Christmas periods and have just one demerit point on your unrestricted licence, an offence that would typically attract six demerit points could double to 12 points. This could lead to you reaching your 13 demerit point limit and your licence being suspended.1
Why do we have double demerits?
Following the logic of the demerit points scheme, double demerits in Australia are based on the rationale that stricter penalties encourage safer driving. In most states and territories where double demerits are used, they coincide with public holidays and long weekends as an attempt by the government to incentivise good driving behaviour during these periods.4
Data from Transport for NSW, obtained by local news outlets, shows that after NSW first introduced the double demerits system in 1997, the state’s road toll during holiday periods declined – from 55 in 1997, to 22 in 2008.5
Bernard Carlon, Chief of the Centre for Road Safety at Transport for NSW, told ABC News that double demerit points have been “very effective in reducing road trauma during these periods.”6
“In the five years to 2023, our research shows that around 10 lives have been saved on NSW roads during double demerit periods,” Carlon says.6
Do double demerits double the fines?
No. While traffic offences that attract demerit points also come with a fine – and sometimes a hefty one – you don’t receive double fine amounts with double demerits.3
Do all states have double demerits periods?
In short, no. In Australia, the ACT, NSW and WA apply double demerits to certain offences during specific times of year, such as the Christmas to New Year period,7 while Queensland applies double demerits year-round to certain repeat offences.8
Double demerits don’t apply at any time of the year in the NT, South Australia, Tasmania or Victoria.7 However, if you’re a driver from a state that does have double demerits, you won’t necessarily avoid increased penalties if you’re caught in a non-double demerits state.
For instance, a Queensland driver who commits a demerit-point offence interstate may be subject to the demerit points that apply in Queensland for the same offence. This means, if it’s a repeat offence, double demerits could apply.8
If you are a NSW driver and commit an offence outside New South Wales, the number of demerit points that offence attracts in NSW – including double demerits if you’re caught during a long weekend or holiday period – may still be applied to your licence.1
If you’re unsure how demerit points work in your state or territory, check with your local government.
When do double demerits start and end?
In places where double demerit periods are only used at certain times of the year, double demerits typically start at 12am on the first day of the period and end at 11.59pm on the last day.9
Double demerits NSW
The NSW double demerits scheme currently enforces double demerits during six holiday periods throughout the year – Australia Day, Easter, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday, Labour Day, and Christmas to New Year.4
Double demerits apply to:1
- Speeding
- Seatbelt offences
- Riding without a helmet
- Mobile phone offences1
Double demerits WA
Double demerits in WA apply during all long weekends, including the WA Day June long weekend, and for an extended period across Christmas and New Year.10
Double demerits apply to:
- Speeding
- Drink or drug driving
- Failing to wear a seatbelt or child restraint
- Running a red light
- Illegal use of a mobile phone while driving
- Driving a motor vehicle fitted with a device designed to evade detection by a speed camera (14 points during double demerits period)
- Driving a motor vehicle in a manner to evade detection by a speed camera (14 points during double demerits period)10
Double demerits ACT
In the ACT, double demerits are enforced during all public holiday periods except Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day.
Double demerits apply to:11
- Mobile phone offences
- Speeding
- Illegal mobile phone usage
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Riding a motorcycle without a helmet11
Double demerits Queensland
In Queensland, double demerit points apply all year round for certain repeat offences. If you commit the same offence more than once within 12 months, you could earn double demerits for the second or any subsequent offence.8
These include8:
- Mobile phone offences
- Driver seatbelt offences
- Exceeding the speed limit by more than 20km/h
- Failing to ensure passengers under 16 are appropriately restrained
- Motorcycle helmet offences8
How do double demerits affect my car insurance?
Some insurance companies will take your driving history – including any demerit points you have accrued – into account when calculating your premium.12
“If you have accrued demerit points, this might increase your premium,” says Marni Jackson, Youi’s Head of Product – Vehicle and Lifestyle.
When it comes to Compulsory Third Party insurance (CTP), Youi’s Head of Product – CTP, Glen Robinson says demerit points may be taken into account depending on where you live.
“In some states, such as NSW, the number of demerit points you have incurred contributes to the price of your CTP insurance, with higher demerits typically leading to you paying higher premiums,” says Robinson.
How to reduce your speeding risk during double demerit periods
With speeding being one of the most common types of traffic offences that incurs double demerits, the following habits may help you stay under the speed limit:13
- Stay alert to changing speed zones, particularly in residential streets and built-up areas.14
- Check your car’s speedometer regularly because your speed can creep up without you noticing.15
- Use technology such as cruise control when you’re driving on highways to set and maintain a safe speed.14
- Allow plenty of travel time, including time for rest breaks, so you don’t feel pressured to drive faster.16 This can be particularly important during peak travel times to help you avoid long weekend double demerits or Christmas double demerits.
It’s important for all drivers to be aware of and drive to Australia’s speed limits, but it can be particularly important for young drivers.
Not only does some research show that younger drivers are more likely to speed,14 but bear in mind that provisional drivers’ and learners’ demerit points limits are lower than full licence holders.1 Plus, in some states and territories, drivers who hold a learner or a provisional licence can be required to stick to lower speeds – regardless of what the speed sign displays.17, 18
Demerit point relief for safe drivers
While double demerit points exist to encourage safer driving behaviour during peak periods, incentive schemes reward safe drivers by removing accrued demerit points.
In NSW, a trial program allows eligible NSW licence holders with active demerit points to have one point removed if they stay traffic-offence-free for 12 months. The scheme is scheduled to end on 31 January 2026 and is only available to unrestricted licence holders.4
Meanwhile, drivers anywhere in Australia who accumulate enough demerit points to have their licence suspended may have the option to serve a 12-month good behaviour or demerit point extension period instead. In Victoria and the NT, any licence holder is eligible, while elsewhere, this only applies to full licence holders.19-26
Good behaviour programs might mean you can keep driving. However, if you accumulate more than one or two demerit points over the next year – and in Victoria, any demerit points26 – your licence will be suspended for double the original suspension period.19-25
How to check your demerit point balance
Demerit points have an expiry date and you can check how many you have notched up at any point in time, no matter where you live.26
- In Queensland: Using the Department of Transport and Main Roads online service
- In NSW: Check online by logging in to your MyServiceNSW Account
- In Victoria: Log in to your myVicRoads account. If you need help checking your demerit points, call 13 11 71
- In South Australia: Log in to your mySAGOV account
- In Tasmania: Log in to myServiceTas or call Service Tasmania on 1300 13 55 13
- In WA: Check online with your date of birth and licence details
- In the NT: Check online using your MVR Customer ID number
- In the ACT: Call Access Canberra on 13 22 81 or visit an Access Canberra Service Centre21
To avoid having to swap from the driver’s seat to a bus seat – or risking higher premiums on your car insurance – it might be a good idea to familiarise yourself with the ins and outs of Australia’s double demerits schemes outlined above.
Note: Information in this article is relevant as of September 2025 and by its nature will change over-time. Check relevant Government websites for updates if this information is important to you.
1 Source: NSW Government – How demerit points work
2 Source: Vic Roads – Demerit points
3 Source: Drive – Do double demerits mean double the fines?, March 2024
4 Source: NSW Government – Demerit points
5 Source: Coonamble Times – Double demerits do the job, June 2023
6 Source: ABC – Governments say double demerits work, but academics want more research, January 2025
7 Source: Drive – Which offences get double demerit points?, January 2025
8 Source: Qld Government – Double demerit points
9 Source: ACT Policing – Double demerit reminder following disappointing Easter period, October 2024
10 Source: WA Government – Double demerits, January 2025
11 Source: ACT Government – Road Transport (Offences) Amendment Regulation 2018 (No 1)
12 Source: Canstar – Do demerit points affect your car insurance premiums?, April 2025
13 Source: Australian Government – Police enforcement, 25 Aug 2025
14 Source: Transport Accident Commission – Alarming research shows young drivers most likely to speed, May 2025
15 Source: Road Safety Education – Speeding
16 Source: NSW Government – Speed
17 Source: NSW Government – Learner drivers
18 Source: NSW Government – P1 & P2 drivers
19 Source: Qld Government – Open licence demerit points
20 Source: WA Government, Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure – Demerit points
21 Source: ACT Government – Demerit points and suspensions
22 Source: Tas Government – Disqualifications, suspensions and cancellations
23 Source: SA Government – Demerit disqualification
24 Source: NSW Government – Apply for a good behaviour period
25 Source: NT Government – Apply for good driving behaviour option
26 Source: Transport Victoria – Demerit points
