Ontario Highway Traffic Act Guide
How Demerit Points Work in Ontario
According to the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), demerit points are added to your driving record when you’re convicted of certain traffic offences.
Points stay on your record for two years and can lead to licence suspension if you accumulate too many. These points do not directly raise your insurance rates, but they do appear on your driver’s abstract and can influence how insurance providers assess your driving history.
Ontario also applies demerit points for convictions that occur outside the province. Offences in other Canadian provinces and territories, as well as in New York State and Michigan, can be added to your Ontario record.
Many drivers also review what an Early Resolution meeting involves before deciding next steps.
Demerit Point faqs
Demerit points are added to your Ontario driving record when you’re convicted of traffic offences. They serve as a penalty system to track unsafe driving. The more points you accumulate, the closer you get to a licence suspension. Points remain on your record for two years from the date of the offence.
Fully licensed drivers can have up to 15 points. At 15, your licence is automatically suspended for 30 days. New drivers face lower thresholds and escalating penalties.
Demerit points themselves don’t impact insurance, but the convictions that cause them do. Any conviction on your record may increase your premium when your policy renews.
| Points | Examples of Offences |
|---|---|
| 7 | Failing to remain at a collision, failing to stop for police |
| 6 | Careless driving, racing, failing to stop for school bus, speeding by 50+ km/h |
| 5 | Failing to stop at a railway crossing (public vehicle or school bus) |
| 4 | Speeding by 30–49 km/h, following too closely |
| 3 | Speeding by 16–29 km/h, disobeying stop signs or signals |
| 2 | Failing to signal, improper turns, unnecessary slow driving |
Demerit Point Penalties in Ontario
The consequences of accumulating demerit points depend on your licence class and how many points are on your record.
To view your current points, read our guide on how to check Ontario demerit points.
Fully Licensed Drivers (G Class)
6 to 8 points: Warning letter from the Ministry of Transportation
9 to 14 points: Second warning letter with possible requirement to explain your driving behaviour
15 points or more: 30-day licence suspension. You must surrender your licence or risk losing it for up to two years
Novice Drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L, M2-L)
2 to 5 points: Warning letter
6 to 8 points: Second warning letter
9 points or more: 60-day suspension. Failing to surrender your licence can result in up to 2 years loss of driving privileges
Escalating Penalties for Novice Drivers
If you’re convicted of serious offences (e.g., 4+ points, street racing, careless driving), escalating penalties apply:
1st offence: 30-day suspension
2nd offence: 90-day suspension
3rd offence: Licence cancelled — you must reapply, retake all tests, and pay all fees
To understand how the record and process works, read our guide on how the POA court process generally works.
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How Long Demerit Points Stay on Your Record?
Demerit points stay on your Ontario driving record for two years from the date of the offence, not the conviction date.
Once two years have passed from the date you committed the offence, the points automatically disappear from your record — unless new offences are added in the meantime.
Important distinctions:
Offence date: When the violation occurred
Conviction date: When you paid the ticket or were found guilty in court
If you’re convicted, the court sends that record to the Ministry of Transportation, which then applies the demerit points. You can see how fines and points are handled under the Highway Traffic Act.
Do Demerit Points Affect Insurance in Ontario?
Demerit points themselves do not directly raise your insurance premiums — but the convictions that cause them do.
Insurance companies look at your driving record to assess risk. Any conviction, whether or not it carries points, can affect your rates when your policy renews.
Key factors insurers consider:
Type of conviction (minor, major, or criminal)
Severity of the offence
Number of recent convictions on record
Examples:
Minor convictions (0–3 points): Rolling stops, low-level speeding — may cause small increases
Major convictions (6+ points): Careless driving, stunt driving — likely to trigger steep increases
Criminal convictions: Impaired driving, dangerous driving — almost always cause major rate hikes or cancellation
Even offences that don’t carry demerit points (like red-light camera tickets or no insurance) can still impact your record and insurance if they result in a conviction.
Demerit points are added after conviction — not when the ticket is issued. The underlying charge is what affects your driving record.
Street Legal reviews disclosure, negotiates charge amendments, and represents drivers in Early Resolution meetings and trials under the Provincial Offences Act.
How to Check Your Demerit Points in Ontario
Demerit points are not shown on your traffic ticket, and police officers are not required to tell you how many points an offence carries.
To find out how many demerit points are on your record, you’ll need to request your driving record through ServiceOntario. This can be done:
Online
By mail
By fax
In person at any ServiceOntario location
Types of driving records you can request:
Uncertified 3-Year Record: Shows recent convictions and points
Certified 3-Year Record: Includes the same info but with official certification
5-Year Record: More detailed history
Complete Driver’s Record: All convictions, suspensions, reinstatements, and demerit points
Fees apply depending on the record type and method of delivery.
Offences That Don’t Carry Demerit Points in Ontario
Not all driving offences result in demerit points — but that doesn’t mean they’re harmless. Some can still impact your insurance, lead to fines, or carry more serious penalties.
Examples of offences with no demerit points:
Driving without insurance – Serious offence with large fines
Red light camera tickets – Driver not personally identified, so no points applied
Impaired driving – Handled under the Criminal Code with harsher penalties (licence suspension, criminal record, etc.)
Even without points, these convictions still appear on your driving record and can affect your insurance or legal standing.
Get Help Fighting Demerit Points and Traffic Tickets
Don’t let demerit points lead to higher insurance rates or licence suspension. Our team of experienced paralegals can assess your case and help you fight your ticket — often with no points or fines.
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