Demerit Points in Ontario, Explained for New Drivers

Demerit points are how Ontario tracks risky driving. You don't start with points: you collect them when you're convicted of certain driving offences, and if you collect too many, your licence is suspended. As a new driver, the threshold is lower, so this is worth understanding early.

How the system works

• You get demerit points only when you're convicted of a driving offence.
• Points stay on your record for two years from the date of the offence.
• Collect too many and your licence can be suspended.

The number of points depends on the offence: bigger risks carry more points.

New drivers are held to a tighter standard

This is the key fact for anyone with a G1 or G2 (a "novice" licence): you're suspended at a lower number of points than a fully licensed driver. Here's the novice ladder:

• 2 points: you receive a warning letter.
• 6 points: you receive a second warning letter.
• 9 or more points: your licence is suspended for 60 days. After the suspension, your points are reduced to four, but reach nine again and you could be off the road for six months.

By comparison, a fully licensed driver isn't suspended until 15 points. The message is clear: as a new driver, keep your record clean.

A separate rule for breaking novice conditions

There's also a separate track called the Novice Driver Escalating Sanctions system. If you're convicted of breaking one of your graduated-licensing conditions (like the zero-alcohol rule or driving hours), or an offence that carries four or more points, you face an escalating suspension. For these offences the demerit points are recorded as zero and don't count toward the nine-point novice threshold: the escalating suspension is the penalty instead.

How to keep your points at zero

The whole system rewards steady, careful driving, and the habits that keep you point-free are the same ones the G1 test checks: obey speed limits, stop fully, yield right-of-way, and never drive after drinking. Get those right and demerit points simply never become your problem.

Penalties and the rules behind them show up throughout the G1. Practise the licensing and penalty questions, or start a free round. Related: speed limits and penalties and the zero-alcohol rule for new drivers.