By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- Two ways to fight a NSW traffic fine: ask Revenue NSW for a review (any time; the fine is on hold) or elect to go to court before the due date on the reminder notice.
- A review succeeds if the fine was issued contrary to law, there was mistaken identity or exceptional circumstances, or a caution should have been given. A clean 10-year record can earn a caution for lower-risk offences, but not for school zone or mobile phone offences.
- Court is free to apply for, but if you lose, the court can impose a higher fine, costs and a conviction.
- Missed the reminder date? You can still go to court if you show something prevented you; a refusal can be taken to the Local Court within 28 days.
- Not driving? Name the driver of a camera-detected car by the reminder notice's due date.
- For advice about whether to review or go to court, call 1800 577 015 at any hour: free general legal information, and a 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in NSW for a fixed $295.
In NSW you can challenge a traffic fine by asking Revenue NSW for a review at any time, or by electing to have it decided by the Local Court before the due date on the reminder notice; a review must cancel the fine if it was issued contrary to law or there was mistaken identity or exceptional circumstances, while a court that finds you guilty can impose a higher fine, costs and a conviction.
Checked on 23 October 2026 against Revenue NSW, Legal Aid NSW, the NSW Police internal review guidelines and the Judicial Commission of NSW's Sentencing Bench Book.
Your three options
| Route | Deadline | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Ask Revenue NSW for a review | Any time, even after the fine is overdue; if you already paid in full before a reminder, within 60 days of the fine | The fine is on hold while it is reviewed, usually for about 21 days (Legal Aid NSW says Revenue NSW must tell you the outcome within 42 days). Outcomes: the fine stands, a caution, no further action, or the fine is cancelled. |
| Elect to go to court | Before the due date on the reminder notice; if you paid in full before a reminder, within 90 days of the fine | No fee to apply. The Local Court hears the matter; if you lose, it can impose a higher fine than the notice, costs, a victims support levy and a conviction. |
| Name the driver (camera fines) | Until the due date on the reminder notice (if you paid before a reminder, up to 90 days from service) | Online or by statutory declaration; required for demerit point offences if you were not driving. Not available for a fine handed to you in person. |
Asking for a review
- Grounds on which the fine must be withdrawn: it was issued contrary to law; mistaken identity; exceptional circumstances; you have an intellectual disability, mental illness or cognitive impairment, or were homeless, and so could not understand or control the conduct; or an official caution should have been given.
- A caution for a clean record: possible for a lower-risk offence (such as speeding by under 20 km/h) if you have a clear 10-year NSW driving record. School zone, mobile phone, heavy vehicle and non-demerit offences are excluded.
- Give evidence: explain your grounds and attach documents that support them.
Taking the fine to court
- After the reminder due date you can still ask to go to court, but you must show "hindrance" (something prevented you dealing with the fine), with evidence. Revenue NSW may take up to six weeks to decide; if it refuses, you can apply to the Local Court within 28 days.
- Once your court election is accepted, Revenue NSW's current page says you cannot change your mind. A 2026 amendment will allow one withdrawal within 21 days, but it starts on a date still to be proclaimed.
- In court the magistrate decides whether the offence is proved. If you are found guilty, the court can fine more than the notice, add costs and the victims support levy, and record a conviction.
- After a Local Court decision: you can appeal to the District Court within 28 days of sentence (up to 3 months with leave), or apply to annul a conviction made in your absence within the last two years.
Points, unpaid fines and your licence
- Demerit points are added when you pay the fine, when Revenue NSW enforces it, or when a court convicts you. A review or court election puts that on hold.
- If a fine goes overdue, Revenue NSW adds $65 ($25 for under-18s) and Transport for NSW can suspend your licence or cancel your registration. See non-payment of fines in NSW.
- Can't pay? You can pay by instalments at any time, and some people can work off fines under a Work and Development Order. A licence suspension for unpaid fines lifts automatically after six on-time instalments (unless an earlier plan for the same fine failed).
- See demerit points in NSW for the limits and suspensions.
Free help in New South Wales
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue NSW, fines not yet overdue | 1300 138 118 | 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday |
| Revenue NSW, overdue fines | 1300 655 805 | 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday |
| LawAccess NSW (Legal Aid NSW) | 1300 888 529 | 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays |
How Go To Court Lawyers can help
Our free line, 1800 577 015, answers at any hour. Jen, our AI legal information assistant, gives general legal information and takes your details; Jen is not a lawyer and does not give advice about your case. A 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in New South Wales is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person where the lawyer offers it. The lawyer can assess your grounds, advise whether a review or a court hearing is the better route, and appear for you in the Local Court. Requests are taken at any hour; how soon a lawyer can see you depends on who is available. Request a $295 consultation.
General information only, not legal advice. Updated 23 October 2026. Checked against the NSW Government's (Revenue NSW) pages on requesting a review, going to court, naming someone else, paying by instalments, Work and Development Orders and what happens if you don't pay (modified between March and October 2026); Legal Aid NSW's fines pages (August to October 2026); the NSW Police Force's Internal Review Guidelines for Penalty Notices; the Judicial Commission of NSW's Sentencing Bench Book (fines); and the Fines Legislation Amendment Act 2026, on 23 October 2026. The Fines Act 1996 itself could not be read on the NSW legislation website that day.