Demerit Points and Licence Suspension in Tasmania - Thresholds and Appeals

By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.

Demerit Points and Licence Suspension in Tasmania - What You Need to Know

Tasmania's demerit point system can result in licence suspension once you accumulate certain threshold points within a 12-month period. Learner drivers face suspension at just 4 points, provisional drivers at 5 points, and full licence holders at 12 points. If you've received a notice of suspension or are close to your limit, you have limited time to lodge an appeal or apply for a good behaviour bond - typically just 28 days from the notice date. Acting quickly with proper legal advice can mean the difference between keeping your licence and losing it for months.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

You absolutely need legal help if you're facing licence suspension and your livelihood depends on driving. A lawyer can challenge individual demerit point penalties, negotiate with Transport Tasmania, lodge appeals to the Magistrates Court, and help you secure a good behaviour bond where eligible. Without legal representation, you're likely to lose your licence for the full suspension period - which ranges from 3 to 12 months depending on your circumstances.

The stakes are genuinely high. Licence suspension affects your ability to work, support your family, and maintain independence. A traffic lawyer who understands Tasmania's specific appeal processes and has relationships within the system can often achieve outcomes that seem impossible when you're representing yourself. The cost of legal representation is almost always less than the financial impact of losing your licence.

What Happens Next - The Process

1. Notice of Suspension Issued: Transport Tasmania sends you a written notice stating your accumulated points and suspension period, typically by registered mail to your last known address.
2. 28-Day Response Window: You have exactly 28 days from the notice date to lodge an appeal to the Magistrates Court or apply for a good behaviour bond if eligible.
3. Good Behaviour Bond Application: If you're a first-time offender eligible for a bond, you complete Form MR22A and submit it to Transport Tasmania with supporting documentation.
4. Magistrates Court Appeal: If pursuing a court appeal, your lawyer files the necessary documents at your local Magistrates Court and pays the filing fee (currently $87.20).
5. Hearing Preparation: Your lawyer gathers evidence, prepares submissions, and may negotiate with the prosecution before your court date.
6. Court Hearing: The Magistrate hears your case and decides whether to uphold, vary, or dismiss the suspension.
7. Decision Implementation: If successful, Transport Tasmania updates your record. If unsuccessful, the original suspension takes effect immediately.

Missing the 28-day deadline means automatic licence suspension with no further appeal rights, so immediate action is crucial.

The Law in Tasmania

Tasmania's demerit point system operates under the Vehicle and Traffic Act 1999 and the Road Rules 2009. The exact thresholds for suspension are:

• Learner Licence: 4 demerit points in 12 months = 3-month suspension
• Provisional P1 Licence: 5 demerit points in 12 months = 3-month suspension
• Provisional P2 Licence: 7 demerit points in 12 months = 3-month suspension
• Full Licence: 12 demerit points in 12 months = 3-month suspension
• Professional/Heavy Vehicle Licence: 12 demerit points in 12 months = 3-month suspension

Common offences and their demerit point penalties include:

• Speeding 1-15km/h over: 1 point
• Speeding 16-25km/h over: 3 points
• Speeding 26-35km/h over: 4 points
• Speeding 36-45km/h over: 6 points
• Speeding over 45km/h: 8 points
• Mobile phone use while driving: 3 points
• Running a red light: 3 points
• Disobeying stop sign: 3 points
• Not wearing seatbelt: 3 points
• Following too closely: 3 points

Tasmania recognises interstate demerit points under national reciprocal arrangements. Points incurred in any Australian state or territory count toward your Tasmania total, and Tasmania reports your offences back to your home state.

Good behaviour bonds are available for first-time offenders who haven't been suspended in the previous 5 years. The bond period is 12 months, during which any traffic offence carrying demerit points will trigger both the original suspension and an additional 6-month penalty.

Mistakes to Avoid

Ignoring the suspension notice hoping it will go away. We've seen dozens of clients who thought they could simply avoid dealing with Transport Tasmania notices. The suspension automatically takes effect, and continuing to drive results in additional charges for driving while suspended - a serious criminal offence carrying potential imprisonment.

Applying for a good behaviour bond when you're not eligible. Many people assume they qualify because it's their "first time" being suspended, but Transport Tasmania looks at your entire 5-year history. Previous suspensions, even interstate ones, disqualify you. We regularly see applications rejected because clients didn't disclose prior penalties in other states.

Lodging appeals without understanding the legal test. Magistrates can only overturn suspensions in limited circumstances - typically where there are exceptional hardship factors or procedural errors. Simply arguing that you "need your licence for work" isn't sufficient. We've seen self-represented appeals fail because people don't understand what evidence the court actually needs to hear.

Waiting until the last minute to get legal help. Effective appeals require time to gather supporting evidence, obtain character references, and prepare detailed submissions. Calling a lawyer the day before your 28-day deadline expires severely limits what can be achieved.

Assuming all traffic lawyers understand Tasmania's specific procedures. Transport Tasmania has unique forms, deadlines, and appeal processes that differ from other states. We've seen cases damaged by lawyers unfamiliar with Tasmania's requirements who missed crucial procedural steps.

Likely Outcomes and Costs

With experienced legal representation, approximately 60% of properly prepared appeals result in either suspension dismissal or reduction to a good behaviour bond. Self-represented appeals succeed less than 20% of the time, primarily because most people don't understand the legal criteria or how to present compelling evidence.

Legal representation for demerit point matters typically costs between $1,500-$4,000 depending on complexity. A straightforward good behaviour bond application might cost $1,500-$2,500, while a contested Magistrates Court appeal ranges from $2,500-$4,000. These costs are almost always less than the financial impact of 3-6 months without a licence.

Successful outcomes often depend on demonstrating exceptional hardship, medical circumstances requiring driving, or significant community contribution that would be affected by suspension. Simply needing to drive for work rarely succeeds alone - the court needs evidence of genuine hardship that goes beyond normal inconvenience.

Timeframes are tight but manageable with proper legal help. Good behaviour bond applications typically receive responses within 2-3 weeks. Court appeals are usually heard within 6-8 weeks of filing, though urgent applications can sometimes be expedited.

How Go To Court Lawyers Can Help

Go To Court Lawyers has over 800 lawyers across Australia, including experienced traffic law specialists who regularly handle demerit point appeals in Tasmania's Magistrates Courts. Our lawyers understand the specific procedures, forms, and legal tests that apply in Tasmania - knowledge that can make the difference between keeping your licence and losing it.

We offer a fixed $295 initial consultation where we'll review your notice, assess your appeal prospects, and explain all available options including good behaviour bonds. Our 24/7 legal hotline on 1300 636 846 means you can get urgent advice even outside business hours - crucial when working within Tasmania's strict 28-day deadlines.

With a 4.5-star rating from 780 reviews on Product Review, our clients consistently report successful outcomes that seemed impossible when they first contacted us. We've helped hundreds of Tasmanians keep their licences through strategic appeals, proper bond applications, and skilled court advocacy.

Don't risk losing your licence when expert legal help is available. Our Tasmania team knows exactly how to navigate Transport Tasmania's systems and present compelling cases to Magistrates. Call 1300 636 846 now or book your consultation online at gotocourt.com.au/book - every day you delay reduces your options and increases the risk of automatic suspension.