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Ontario Demerit Points System
Drivers convicted of certain driving-related offences have demerit points recorded on their records. It is a common misconception that drivers “lose” points due to convictions for certain traffic offences. In fact, a driver begins with zero demerit points and accumulates demerit points for convictions. Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date. If you collect enough points, you can lose your driver’s licence.
Below is a table outlining the demerit point penalties for driving offences:
7 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
Failing to remain at the scene of a collision
Failing to stop when signaled or asked by a police officer
6 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
Careless driving
Racing
Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/hour or more
Failing to stop for a school bus
5 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
Failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing (for bus drivers only)
4 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
Exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/hour
Following too closely
3 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
Driving while holding or using a hand-held wireless communications or entertainment device (cellphone)
Driving while viewing a display screen unrelated to the driving task
Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/hour
Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
Driving the wrong way on a divided road
Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
Failing to yield the right-of-way
Failing to obey a stop sign, traffic control stop/slow sign, traffic light or railway crossing signal
Failing to obey the directions of a police officer
Failing to report a collision to a police officer
Failing to slow and carefully pass a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing (move-over)
Failing to move, where possible, into another lane when passing a stopped emergency vehicle or a tow truck with its amber lights flashing
Improper passing
Improper driving when road is divided into lanes
Improper use of a high occupancy vehicle lane
Going the wrong way on a one-way road
Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
Crowding the driver’s seat
2 demerit points will be added if you are convicted of:
Improper right turn
Improper left turn
Improper opening of a vehicle door
Prohibited turns
Towing people — on toboggans, bicycles, skis (car surfing)
Unnecessary slow driving
Backing on highway
Failing to lower headlamp beams
Failing to obey signs
Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
Failing to share the road
Failing to signal
Driver failing to wear a seat belt
Driver failing to ensure infant/child passenger is properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system or booster seat
Driver failing to ensure that a passenger less than 23 kg is properly secured
Driver failing to ensure that a passenger under 16 years is wearing a seat belt
Penalties for demerit points
The consequences for gaining demerit points depend on how many you have added to your driving record.
As a driver with a full licence, if you have:
2 to 8 points:
You will be sent a warning letter.
9 to 14 points:
Your licence could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.
If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your licence could be suspended.
The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person a any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s licence.
15+ points:
Your licence will be suspended for 30 days.
When your licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your licence.
If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.
Penalties for demerit points: new drivers
You are considered a novice – or new – driver if you have a G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L or M2-L licence. As a new driver, you face different consequences for adding demerit points.
As a new driver, if you have:
2 to 5 points:
You will be sent a warning letter.
6 to 8 points:
Your licence could be suspended. You may have to attend an interview to discuss your driving record. At this meeting, you will need to provide reasons why your licence should not be suspended.
If you have to attend an interview, you will get a letter (Notice of Interview) to notify you of the time, date and location of the meeting. If you do not attend, your licence could be suspended.
The fee for a demerit point interview is $50 and must be paid in person at any ServiceOntario Centre. You can pay the fee when you receive the Notice of Interview or within 10 business days of attending the interview. Failure to pay the interview fee will result in the cancellation of your driver’s licence.
9 or more points:
Your licence will be suspended for 60 days.
When your licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your licence.
If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.
Demerit Points for Out-of-Province Convictions
- Drivers convicted of a driving related offence in the State of New York, the State of Michigan or any Canadian province or territory, will have home jurisdictional penalties such as demerit points and/or suspensions applied to their Ontario driver record as if the offence occurred in Ontario.
- Examples of out-of-province convictions where Ontario demerit points and /or suspensions will be applied include:
Traffic
Speeding
Fail to obey stop sign
Fail to obey signal light
Fail to stop for school bus
Racing
Fail to remain or return to the scene of a collision
Careless driving
Criminal
Motor manslaughter
Criminal negligence
Dangerous driving
Failure to remain at scene of a collision
Impaired Driving
Driving while disqualified or prohibited
The Ontario Registrar of Motor Vehicles is required to keep these records under Section 205 of the Highway Traffic Act and may use them for the purposes of administering the Ministry’s Demerit Point System. Inquiries should be directed to:
Licensing Administration Office
Ministry of Transportation
Main Floor, Building A
2680 Keele Street
Downsview, ON M3M 3E6
Tel: 416-235-2999 or 1-800-387-3445
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