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If you’ve recently received a ticket, you’re likely wondering: How do demerit points work in Ontario?
In Ontario, demerit points are added to your driving record when you are convicted of traffic offences. If you accumulate too many, you may need high risk auto insurance in Ontario, or lose your driving privileges. But the consequences start long before a suspension; even a few points can hurt your chances of getting more affordable car insurance at renewal time.
To help you understand how demerit points work, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the demerit system, how long points stay on your record, and how to protect your insurance rates.
Demerit points are added to your driver’s licence if you are convicted of breaking specific driving laws or you receive an Ontario traffic ticket. The rules differ depending on whether you are a new driver or have a full G licence.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has a defined list of traffic violations that will result in demerit points under the Highway Traffic Act.
If you get a ticket, you may receive some demerit points and a fine. They range from 2 points for minor convictions to 6 points for serious traffic convictions.
The demerits system was created to hold drivers accountable for their actions. They are assigned to driving infractions, with more severe tickets receiving more points, and demerit points can increase insurance indirectly.
The demerit-point system encourages drivers to improve their behaviour and protects people from drivers who abuse the privilege of driving.
Worried about how demerit points impact your payments? Get a quote and find out how much you can save with ThinkInsure.
One of the most common misconceptions about demerit points in Ontario is that you “earn” or lose them. In the province, you start with zero demerit points. You gain them as you are convicted of breaking laws under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.
Demerit points remain on your driving record for two years from the date they were earned. After the two-year period has elapsed, the points are automatically removed.
Keep in mind that some tickets, such as being at fault for an accident can stay on your record for up to six years.
It is advisable to review your driving record to ensure that the demerit points have been removed if the scheduled removal date has passed.
How many you are allowed to collect depends on the type of driver’s licence you have. The following breaks down the penalties for them:
As a fully licensed driver, you can accumulate up to 15 demerit points before your driver’s licence is suspended. Here is a breakdown:
Once the suspension ends, you may need to take a vision, written, and road test again. If you pass, your licence will be reinstated, and the demerit points will be reduced to 7.
You face different demerit point penalties as a new or young driver. This includes drivers with a G1 or G2. Here’s a breakdown of penalties you could face:
Any of the above can result in your auto insurance rising significantly.
Not all traffic tickets increase insurance rates or have demerit points. The bad news is that they will still result in a fine. Tickets with no points are typically minor offences. Here's how you can be affected:
The number of demerit points you’ll receive for number of demerit points you’ll receive for speeding will depend on how fast you were caught going.
Here is a list of how they are assigned for speeding:
We all know that driving impaired, and texting and driving in particular, are huge issues on roads today. Depending on the conviction, your demerit points will be affected by:
Novice drivers with a G1, G2, M1 or M2 are not subject to demerit points for distracted driving, but they will face fines, a licence suspension or cancellation, which will impact how much you pay on average for car insurance.
If you face distracted and careless driving fines, you could see 6 points, fines of up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of six months, and up to a two-year licence suspension.
While most would assume that a driver would receive some points for impaired driving, there are no demerit points. Impaired driving is a criminal offence under the Criminal Code of Canada. Criminal charges have more severe consequences, including jail time.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation provides a complete list of offences that come with demerit points:
| Points | Offence Category | Specific Violations |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Minor/Procedural Violations | Improper turns/signalling; slow driving or backing up on a highway; failing to lower high beams or obey signs; seat belt or child safety violations. |
| 3 | Distractions & Right-of-Way | Distracted driving; speeding (16–29 km/h); disobeying signs, signals, or police; failing to yield or passing improperly; radar detector or HOV lane abuse. |
| 4 | Aggressive Driving | Speeding (30–49 km/h); tailgating; failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover. |
| 5 | Special Commercial | Failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing (Bus drivers only). |
| 6 | Severe/Dangerous Driving | Careless driving or racing; failing to stop for a school bus; speeding by 50+ km/h (or 40+ km/h if limit is under 80 km/h). |
| 7 | Critical/Criminal Offenses | Hit and run (failing to remain at scene); fleeing a police officer. |
If you accumulate fifteen (or more) demerit points with a full G licence, you will receive an automatic 30-day driver's licence suspension.
After the suspension, you will have your licence reinstated, and the number of points will be reduced, but they will still be on your record for two years. If you gain more points, you will receive another suspension.
Novice drivers (G1 & G2) will receive suspensions if they have four or more points. If they receive nine or more, they will have a 60-day suspension.
If you are curious as to how many demerit points you have accumulated, you can order a request for your driver’s abstract either online or in person. You can pay $12 for an uncertified version or $18 for a certified version. Both will include the total number of demerit points and a three or five year history, including convictions, penalties, and driving offences.
Yes, you can check online. You can order a copy of your driver’s abstract at the Service Ontario website. You can get it emailed to you directly. The cost is $12 to $18, depending on the report.
No, the demerit points associated with traffic violations will not appear on the ticket. Police officers are not authorized to assign them to a traffic offence. The Ministry of Transportation adds them once you pay your ticket or are found guilty in court.
Remember, they can stay on your record for two years, and if you accumulate too many, you could receive a warning or even a licence suspension.
Yes. You can get demerit points for traffic convictions in other provinces, and some U.S. states, such as Ontario, have reciprocal agreements with Michigan, New York, and other Canadian provinces and territories. The number of points you receive will depend on the conviction.
If you have been convicted of a driving offence in another Canadian province, the State of New York or Michigan, the offence will be added to your record just as if the offence happened in the province,
says Ontario.ca.
Here are some that will get added:
Speed cameras, red-light cameras, and parking tickets target vehicles, not drivers. Because your identity can't be confirmed, these fines won't add demerit points or increase insurance. Parking tickets are also not considered moving violations, so they won’t apply any points either.
At ThinkInsure, we help Ontario drivers find affordable coverage, even with points on their record. We compare rates from Canada’s top insurers to find you the best discounts.
Don't let past tickets dictate your rates. Compare car insurance quotes or speak with a ThinkInsure broker to start saving today!
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Digital Content Writer
Kayla-Jane has been a content writer with ThinkInsure since 2020. She creates insurance content for auto, home, and commercial. Kayla-Jane has a diploma in Journalism.
| Categories | Industry NewsAuto |
|---|---|
| Tags | Auto CoverageFAQsTickets |
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