Drivers and Vehicles

Demerit Point 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 Points
Failing to remain at the scene of a collision	Failing to stop when signaled/requested by a police officer
6 Points
Careless Driving	Racing
Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more	Failing to stop for a school bus
5 Points
Driver of a bus failing to stop at an unprotected railway crossing
4 Points
Exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h	Following too closely
3 Points
Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h	Driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
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	Driving the wrong way on a divided road
Failing to report a collision to a police officer	Improper driving when road is divided into lanes
Crowding the driver's seat	Going the wrong way on a one-way road
Driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road	Crossing a divided road where no proper crossing is provided
Failing to slow and carefully pass a stopped emergency vehicle	Failing to move, where possible, into another lane when passing a stopped emergency vehicle
Improper passing	Improper use of high occupancy vehicle lane
2 Points
Improper opening of a vehicle door	Prohibited turns
Towing people — on toboggans, bicycles, skis, etc.	Failing to obey signs
Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing	Failing to share the road
Improper right turn	Improper left turn
Failing to signal	Unnecessary slow driving
Reversing on a divided high-speed road	Driver failing to wear a seat belt
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
Failing to lower headlamp beams	Backing on a highway
Driver failing to ensure infant/child passenger is properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system or booster seat

Demerit Points and New Drivers

As a Class G1, G2, M1 or M2 driver, if you get two or more demerit points, you will be sent a warning letter.
At six points, you may have to go to an interview to discuss your record and give reasons why your licence should not be suspended. If you don't attend, your licence may be suspended.
At nine points, your licence will be suspended for 60 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to surrender your licence. A driver's licence may be surrendered at any Driver & Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, Ministry of Transportation Queen's Park Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, or mailed to:
Ministry of Transportation
Driver Improvement Office
Building A, Main Floor
2680 Keele Street
Downsview, ON M3M 3E6
DriveTest centres do not accept surrendered licences for suspension purposes.
After the suspension, the number of points on your record will be reduced to four. Any additional points could again bring you to the interview level. If you reach nine points again, your licence can be suspended for six months from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation.

Demerit Points and Fully Licensed Drivers

As a fully licensed driver, if you get six demerit points, you will be sent a warning letter.
At nine points, you may have to go to an interview to discuss your record and give reasons why your licence should not be suspended. If you don't attend, your licence may be suspended.
At 15 or more points, your licence will be suspended for 30 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation for the first suspension. You can lose your licence for up to two years if you fail to surrender your licence. A driver's licence may be surrendered at any Driver & Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, Ministry of Transportation Queen's Park Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, or mailed to:
Ministry of Transportation
Driver Improvement Office
Building A, Main Floor
2680 Keele Street
Downsview, ON M3M 3E6
DriveTest centres do not accept surrendered licences for suspension purposes.
After the suspension you may be required to complete a driver re-examination (vision, knowledge and road tests), the number of points on your record will be reduced to seven. Any extra points could again bring you to the interview level. If you reach 15 points again, your licence will be suspended for six months.

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	Criminal
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	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

For French enquiries, please call 1-800-387-3445.