By James Stevens, Director and Solicitor, Go To Court Lawyers. Last reviewed 10 April 2026.
Key points
- Full licence: disqualification when your current points reach 12 (points expire 3 years after the offence): 3 months (under 16 points), 4 months (16 to 19) or 5 months (20 or more).
- Novice drivers: 4 points from your learner's permit to the end of your first year on P plates, and 8 points in your second year; 3 months, and a P licence is cancelled.
- Double or Nothing (full, non-novice licences only): elect a 12-month good behaviour period on Form E18 within 21 days of being served with the notice; late elections are not accepted. Two or more points during it doubles the disqualification.
- Holiday double demerits apply in WA for speeding, drink or drug driving, seatbelts, red lights and mobile phones. Next: 18 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
- No appeal and no extraordinary licence for a demerit disqualification; the only route is to challenge the offences behind it.
- Interstate points: the transport department says they are not recorded on a WA licence.
- For advice about a demerit notice or a charge, call 1800 577 015 at any hour: free general legal information, and a 60-minute consultation with a lawyer who practises in WA for a fixed $295.
In Western Australia, a full licence holder is disqualified when current demerit points reach 12 (for 3, 4 or 5 months) and a novice driver at 4 points, or 8 in the second year on P plates, while an eligible full licence holder can instead elect Double or Nothing on Form E18 within 21 days of being served with the notice.
Checked on 23 October 2026 against the Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Act 2008 and Regulations 2014, the Road Traffic Code 2000, the Road Traffic Act 1974, the transport department (Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure), the Road Safety Commission and Legal Aid WA.
The limits
| Licence | Limit | Disqualification |
|---|---|---|
| Full licence | 12 current points | 3 months (under 16 points), 4 months (16 to 19) or 5 months (20 or more) |
| Novice: learner's permit to the end of your first year on P plates | 4 points | 3 months |
| Novice: second year on P plates | 8 points | 3 months |
- Points expire 3 years after the offence date, so in practice the full licence limit is 12 points within 3 years. Points counted in a notice are cancelled and your tally restarts at zero.
- Full licence: the disqualification starts on the 28th day after the notice is given, or later, and your licence is suspended while it lasts. Afterwards you can resume driving without a test if your licence is still current.
- Novice drivers: the disqualification starts on the date shown on your notice; a P licence is cancelled (you reapply afterwards), and a learner's permit is suspended.
- The notice must be given to you personally (at a service centre, through Australia Post Secure Collect or an agent), not by email.
Double or Nothing (the good behaviour period)
- Who: only full licence holders who are not on a provisional licence and are not novice drivers. P-platers cannot elect.
- How: elect in writing on Form E18 within 21 days after the notice is served on you: in person at a service centre or regional agent, or by email or post. The law gives no discretion to accept a late election.
- The period runs for 12 months, starting 28 days after the notice is served.
- Breach: offences adding up to 2 or more points, or an offence carrying a compulsory court disqualification, during the year means disqualification for double the original period (for example, 3 months becomes 6), with no extraordinary licence.
Holiday double demerits
- Holiday periods: when a public holiday falls on a Monday, Friday to Monday; on a Friday, Thursday to Sunday; Easter, Thursday to Easter Monday; Christmas, 17 days from the last Friday before Christmas Day.
- Offences that double: speeding, drink or drug driving, seatbelt and child restraint offences, red light offences and illegal mobile phone use.
- Next period: Friday 18 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
Points for common offences
| Offence | Points (holiday period) | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding up to 9 km/h over | 0 | $100 |
| Speeding more than 9, up to 19 km/h over | 2 (4) | $200 |
| Speeding more than 19, up to 29 km/h over | 3 (6) | $400 |
| Speeding more than 29, up to 40 km/h over | 6 (12) | $800 |
| Speeding more than 40 km/h over | 7 (14) | $1,200 |
| Driver not wearing a seatbelt | 4 (8) | $550 |
| Mobile phone: holding it to make, receive or end a call | 3 (6) | $500 |
| Mobile phone: texting, email, social media or viewing | 4 (8) | $1,000 |
| Red light | 3 (6) | $300 |
| Following too closely | 2 | $200 |
No appeal, no extraordinary licence
- No appeal or review of a demerit disqualification notice or a breach notice. The only way to dispute it is to challenge one or more of the offences behind it; points are removed if an infringement is withdrawn or a conviction quashed.
- No extraordinary licence can be applied for during a demerit disqualification or a good behaviour breach disqualification.
Driving while disqualified
A first offence carries a fine of $400 to $2,000 and up to 12 months' jail; a later offence $1,000 to $4,000 and up to 18 months. The court must also disqualify you for 9 months to 3 years, on top of any other disqualification, and police must impound the vehicle for 28 days unless that is impracticable.
Interstate offences and checking your points
- Interstate offences: the transport department says you must pay an interstate fine, but the points are not recorded against your WA licence, and points do not transfer when you swap an interstate licence for a WA one. The other state may still record points and withdraw your right to drive there.
- When points are recorded: once an infringement is dealt with (for example paid) or you are convicted; the department says within 48 hours.
- Checking: use the department's online demerit point check (you need your licence number, date of birth and licence expiry date), or call 1300 720 111.
Free help in Western Australia
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Aid WA Infoline | 1300 650 579; First Nations callers, Legal Yarn 1800 319 803 | 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday (WA time) |
| Transport department, Demerit Point hotline | 1300 720 111 | Not published |
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 Western Australia is a fixed $295, by phone, video or in person where the lawyer offers it. The lawyer can advise whether to elect Double or Nothing, whether an offence behind the points can be challenged, and represent you on a charge of driving while disqualified. 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 Road Traffic (Authorisation to Drive) Act 2008 (as at 16 November 2024) and Regulations 2014 (as at 1 July 2026), the Road Traffic Code 2000 (as at 14 May 2026), the Road Traffic Act 1974 and the Road Traffic (Administration) Act 2008, the transport department's demerit point, good behaviour period, extraordinary licence and P-plate pages, the Road Safety Commission's double demerit page and Legal Aid WA, on 23 October 2026. A penalty unit in WA is $50.