AARTO demerit system: What you need to know
From speeding to driving unlicensed, AARTO demerit points are coming. Find out how the new system works, which offences carry penalties, and how to avoid licence suspension.
South Africa’s long-awaited AARTO demerit system is expected to roll out soon, bringing significant changes for motorists across the country.
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system introduces a points-based approach to traffic enforcement, designed to remove repeat offenders from the roads. Here’s what every driver needs to know.
How the demerit system works
Every motorist starts with a clean slate of zero points. Different traffic offences carry between one and six demerit points, depending on severity. The maximum points a fully licensed driver can accumulate before facing penalties is 15.
Once a driver reaches 15 points, their licence is suspended for three months for each point above the threshold. For example, if a driver has 17 points, their licence would be suspended for six months.
Points are reduced by one for every three months the driver does not commit any additional offences. A rehabilitation programme can also reduce points by four.
3 suspensions mean cancellation
A driver’s licence may be suspended twice during its lifetime. If the threshold is exceeded for a third time, the licence is cancelled. The driver would then need to start from scratch with a learner’s licence.
Learner drivers have a lower threshold of six demerit points before losing their driving privileges.
What offences carry demerit points?
Source: AARTO demerit point allocation table
How to check your demerit points
Motorists will be able to check their demerit points by logging into their account on the Fines SA platform or mobile app.
What the rollout means for motorists
Traffic infringements will no longer be handled by criminal courts. Instead, the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) will manage the process administratively. Infringement notices can be sent by email or SMS, so updating contact details with licensing authorities is essential.
Motorists who pay their fines within 32 days qualify for a 50% discount. Those who do not act within 32 days lose this discount and receive a courtesy letter with an additional R100 fee. Further delays can lead to enforcement orders that block licence and vehicle disc renewals.
Allowing a person with a suspended licence to drive your vehicle incurs a R3 500 fine.
