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Demerit Points Ontario
What are demerit points?
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation uses the Demerit point system to monitor all drivers. Anyone who drives in Ontario are subject to the system if convicted of an offence under the Highway Traffic Act. The goal of the system is to enforce drivers to consistently improve their ability to drive, and not abuse their privileges. There are severe consequences for accumulating demerit points in Ontario. Drivers who accumulate demerit points in Ontario may face a temporary licence suspension, and fines.
You can accumulate demerit points on your Ontario Drivers Licence when you do not follow driving rules in the following locations:
- Other Canadian provinces and territories
- State of New York
- State of Michigan
How do demerit points work?
Every driver begins with zero demerit points in Ontario and if you are convicted of an offence, they begin to accumulate. The maximum number of points one can have is fifteen (15). Each type of offence can result in a different number of demerit points, conditional to the severity of the offence.
How long do demerit points last in Ontario & When do they reset?
Demerit points stay on your record for a maximum of two (2) years from the official offence date. After two (2) years has passed, they will automatically be removed from your record. Demerit points go on a driver’s record and stay unless a judge overturns the conviction in court. If you receive a guilty conviction or pay your fine, the demerit points will show on your Ontario driving record.
A conviction happens either when you pay your traffic ticket or are found guilty of the offence in court. If you are convicted, the court sends a record to the Ministry of Transportation. The offence date is when the offence occurs, in contrast to the conviction date which is when you are found guilty in court or paid your traffic ticket offence.
Do Ontario demerit points affect insurance?
It does not matter if there are Ontario demerit points or not, any conviction on your driving record can affect your insurance premiums. The Ontario demerit points themselves do not raise premiums, but when convicted they will. Your insurance company does not immediately recalculate your rates once you receive a traffic ticket with points. Upon successful defence, your premiums will remain unchanged. After a conviction, the insurer will increase rates when the insurance renews or after they check your Ontario driving record. The more severe the incident, the more premiums can increase. To calculate your Ontario Car Insurance premium, the companies regard the type and class of your conviction.
These include:
- Minor driving convictions, 0-3 Ontario demerit points
- Major driving convictions, 6 Ontario demerit points
- Criminal driving convictions
Any class of conviction will raise your premium.
The following Offences do not earn Ontario demerit points:
- Driving without insurance
- Red light camera tickets (driver cannot be identified)
- Impaired driving (more serious penalties)
How to check demerit points in Ontario:
Demerit points on Ontario are not written on your traffic ticket, and officers are not required to advise how many demerit points are associated with the offence they are giving you or any hidden penalties. For your reference, we have listed the most common charges police give and the associated demerit points in Ontario.
To check your demerit points in Ontario, you can order a Ontario driving record online, by mail, email, fax and in person at any Service Ontario Location, with the appliable fees. You can request an uncertified 3- year Ontario driving record, certified 3-year Ontario Driving record, 5-year driving record, or complete driver’s record. A Complete driver record will show all your driving convictions, licence suspensions and reinstatements.
The consequences for accumulating demerit points in Ontario are susceptible on how many you have added to your driving record.
As a driver with a full licence, if you have:
6 to 8 points:
You will be sent a warning letter.
9 to 14 points:
You will be sent a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behavior.
15+ points:
Your licence will be suspended for 30 days.
When your Ontario Drivers 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 Ontario Drivers licence.
If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your Ontario Drivers licence for up to two years.
Ontario Novice 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:
You will be sent a second warning letter encouraging you to improve your driving behavior.
9 or more points:
Your licence will be suspended for 60 days.
When your Ontario licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. It will indicate the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your Ontario Drivers licence.
If you do not surrender your Ontario Drivers licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.
Novice drivers can also receive “escalating” penalties – consequences that get stiffer with each similar offence – for breaking certain laws.
Escalating penalties can apply if you are:
- convicted of breaking graduated licencing rules
- convicted of a Highway Traffic Act offence that results in four or more demerit points (e.g., street racing, careless driving)
- subject to a court-ordered suspension for a Highway Traffic Act offence that would have otherwise resulted in four or more Ontario demerit points.
For a first offence: your Ontario driver’s licence is suspended for 30 days.
For a second offence: your Ontario driver’s licence is suspended for 90 days.
For a third offence: you will lose your Ontario novice licence. You will need to re-apply for your licence and start all over, taking all tests and paying all fees. You will also lose any time discount you earned, any time you were credited, and any fees you have paid.
Demerit points across ontario
Did you know...
7 Points – Failing to Remain at Scene of Accident
7 Points – Driver failing to stop when signaled or requested to by a police officer
6 Points – Careless Driving
6 Points – Racing
6 Points – Failing to Stop for School Bus
6 Points – Exceeding Speed limit by 50 Kilometers per hour or more
5 Points – Driver of public vehicle or School Bus failing to stop at Railway Crossings
4 Points – Exceeding Speed limit by 30-49 Kilometers per hour
4 Points – Following too closely
3 Points – Exceeding Speed limit by 16-29 Kilometers per hour
3 Points – Driving through, around, or under Railway Crossing Barrier
3 Points – Failing to Yield Right of Way
3 Points – Failing to obey a stop sign, signal light or Railway Crossing Signal
3 Points – Failing to Obey directions of police constable
3 Points – Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed highway
3 Points – Failing to report an accident
3 Points – Improper passing
3 Points – Improper Driving where highway divided into lanes
3 Points – Crowding Driver’s Seat
3 Points – Drive Wrong Way – Divided Highway
3 Points – Cross Divided highway – No proper crossing provided
3 Points – Wrong Way in one way Street or Traffic
3 Points – Failing to slow down and proceed with caution when approaching stopped emergency vehicle
3 Points – Failing to move into another lane when approaching stopped emergency vehicle – if safe to do
2 Points – Backing on a highway
2 Points – Pedestrian Crossover
2 Points – Failing to share road
2 Points – Improper Right Turn
2 Points – Improper Left Turn
2 Points – Failing to Signal
2 Points – Unnecessary Slow Driving
2 Points – Failing to lower headlamp beam
2 Points – Improper opening of vehicle door
2 Points – Prohibited Turns
2 Points – Towing of persons on toboggans, bicycles, skis, etc. prohibited
2 Points – Failing to obey sign prescribed by regulation under subsection 182(1)
2 Points – Driver failing to wear complete Seatbelt assembly
2 Points – Driver failing to ensure passenger under 16 years wears complete seatbelt assembly
2 Points – Driver failing to ensure child passenger under 23 Kilograms occupies position with seatbelt
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