NZ Demerit Points: The Numbers Most Drivers Never Check
Most of us know demerit points exist. Very few of us know how many we have, how many a ticket actually costs, or when old points drop off. That is usually fine, right up until a suspension notice arrives and the maths suddenly matters.
Here are the numbers worth knowing before that happens.
The one number that matters most: 100 in 2 years
If you get 100 or more demerit points within 2 years, you get a 3-month licence suspension and you are not allowed to drive [1]. The law says "in any 2-year period", so it is a rolling window, not a calendar year [7].
A few details catch people out:
- The suspension starts when the notice is served on you, not when you post anything back. It can be served by NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), the police, or an authorised NZTA agent [1], and the law allows it to be served at the roadside [7].
- Your points are wiped when you are suspended. Any demerit points on your licence at the time of the suspension are cancelled and no longer count towards your total [1].
- Your licence does not switch back on by itself. At the end of the 3 months you are unlicensed and cannot drive until you have got your licence back [1]. Any licence card you held when you were suspended is permanently cancelled [5].
What common offences cost
These are NZTA's published figures for everyday offences [1]:
| Offence | Demerit points |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 km/h over the limit | 10 |
| 11 to 20 km/h over | 20 |
| 21 to 30 km/h over | 35 |
| 31 to 35 km/h over | 40 |
| More than 35 km/h over | 50 |
| Using a mobile phone while driving | 20 |
| Not stopping or giving way at a stop sign | 20 |
| Not giving way at a give-way sign | 20 |
| Following too closely | 20 |
| Passing unsafely, or to the right of a no-passing line | 35 |
| Not giving way at a pedestrian crossing | 35 |
| Careless or inconsiderate use of a vehicle | 35 |
| Breaking learner or restricted licence conditions | 35 |
Look at the top and bottom of the speeding scale. Two tickets for more than 35 km/h over is exactly 100 points [1]. Three tickets in the 21 to 30 km/h band is 105 [1]. It does not take a reckless driver to get there, just a couple of bad days on the open road inside the same two years.
Some alcohol offences carry points too. Driving with a breath alcohol level between 250 and 400 micrograms is 50 points [1].
The speed camera exception
Speeding caught by a speed camera does not give you demerit points [1][8]. You still pay the fine, but it does not move you closer to 100. Being stopped by an officer is different.
When it is more than points
Very high speeds skip the points system altogether. Your licence is suspended on the spot for 28 days if a police officer detects you going more than 40 km/h over a permanently posted limit, or more than 50 km/h over a temporary limit [6].
The 50-point letter
Under the Land Transport Act, once 50 or more demerit points have been recorded against you, NZTA must, when reasonably practicable, send you a written notice telling you how many points you have and what further points will mean [7].
But do not rely on it. The law says a suspension is not invalid just because you did not get the 50-point notice, or got it late [7]. The warning is a courtesy, not a safety net.
How points expire
Demerit points stay on your licence record for 2 years from the date of the offence [1]. Note the wording: the offence date, not the date you paid the fine or the date the ticket arrived in the mail.
So each set of points has its own expiry date. If you picked up 35 points in March and 40 in October, the March points drop off first. Your real total depends on the date of every offence still inside the window.
There is one more way points disappear. If a court disqualifies you for 6 months or more, any demerit points on your licence are cancelled and stop counting towards your total [1].
Learner and restricted drivers
Learner and restricted drivers are in the same system, with an extra trap: breaking your licence conditions is itself a demerit offence. Driving alone on a learner licence, or carrying passengers on a restricted when you are not allowed to, is 35 points [1]. Three of those is 105 [1].
A change restricted drivers need to know about
New Zealand moves to a new car licence system on 25 January 2027 [4]. If you get demerit points on your restricted licence between 7 May 2026 and 24 January 2027, time could be added to your restricted period on 25 January 2027 [4]. Each time you get demerits, your restricted period could be extended by 6 months [4]. NZTA's example: get demerits 3 times and you could wait an extra 18 months [3].
If you move on to your full licence before 25 January 2027, or keep a clean record, no extra time applies [4].
How to check your own points
This is the part almost nobody does, and it takes minutes.
- Your current total: if you have a verified RealMe identity, you can view your total active demerit points online or in the NZTA app [2].
- Your full history: you can order a Demerit points and suspension history report, which shows all your demerit points and demerit suspensions over the last 7 years. There is no fee, and NZTA emails it to you straight away [2].
- No RealMe? You can call NZTA to apply. You will need your licence number if you know it, your full name as shown on your licence, your date of birth, your town or city of birth (or country if born overseas), an email address and a mobile number for the security PIN [2]. Police list NZTA's number for demerit point queries as 0800 822 422 [8].
The demerit report does not cover court convictions. For a list of traffic convictions and sentencing, you apply to the Ministry of Justice [2].
If you are already suspended
If you have reached 100 points, a limited licence may be an option. The law allows people suspended under the demerit points system to apply to a court for one [7]. A court can only grant it if it is satisfied the suspension causes extreme hardship to you, or undue hardship to someone else, and it limits the licence to the least driving needed to ease that hardship [7]. It is not automatic, and some people are excluded from applying altogether, such as those disqualified for certain alcohol, drug or dangerous driving offences [7].
NZ Limited Licence prepares limited licence application documents for suspended drivers who need to drive for work. It is not a law firm, does not give legal advice and does not appear in court, and it cannot promise a licence will be granted. Phone 0800 437 005.
Either way, the cheapest move is the first one: check your total today, and write down when each set of points expires.
Sources
- Demerit points, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/driving-offences-and-penalties/demerit-points (accessed 27 September 2026)
- Demerit points and suspension history, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/confirming-your-licence-details/demerit-points-and-suspension-history (accessed 27 September 2026)
- How to get a restricted licence, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/apply-for-a-car-licence/how-to-get-a-restricted-licence (accessed 27 September 2026)
- Moving to the new car licence system, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/apply-for-a-car-licence/changes-to-getting-a-car-licence/moving-to-the-new-car-licence-system (accessed 27 September 2026)
- Getting your licence back, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driver-licences/driving-offences-and-penalties/getting-your-licence-back (accessed 27 September 2026)
- Stepping over the line (Road Code), NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, https://www.nzta.govt.nz/driving-skills/learn-to-drive/roadcode/general-road-code/about-driver-responsibility/stepping-over-the-line (accessed 27 September 2026)
- Land Transport Act 1998, sections 89, 90, 103 and 105 (version as at 4 September 2026), New Zealand Legislation, https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1998/110/en/latest/ (accessed 27 September 2026)
- How do I find out more about demerit points?, New Zealand Police, https://www.police.govt.nz/faq/how-do-i-find-out-more-about-demerit-points (accessed 27 September 2026)
Frequently asked questions
Do speed camera tickets give you demerit points?
No. Speeding recorded by a speed camera does not give you demerit points, although you still have to pay the fine.
When do my demerit points expire?
Each set of points stays on your record for 2 years from the date of the offence that caused it.
Can I still drive once my 3-month suspension ends?
Not straight away. You are unlicensed until you apply at a driver licensing agent and your new licence is issued.
How do I find out how many points I have?
With a verified RealMe identity you can check your total online or in the NZTA app, or order a free 7-year history report that is emailed to you.