You don’t “lose” demerit points on your driving record.

You start with zero points and gain or accumulate points for being convicted of breaking certain traffic laws.

Demerit points stay on your record for two years from the offence date or the date the driver is convicted or pays the ticket.

If you accumulate enough points, you can lose your driver’s licence.

You can also get demerit points on your Ontario’s driver’s licence when you violate driving laws in:

• other Canadian provinces and territories
• the State of New York
• the State of Michigan

The consequences for gaining demerit points depend on how many you have added to your driving record.

As a driver with a full licence, if you have:

• 2 to 8 points:
  • You will be sent a warning letter
• 9 to 14 points:
  • possible demerit point interview
  • you will be sent a second warning letter
    • encouraging you to improve your driving behaviour
• 15+ points:
  • licence will be suspended for 30 days.

When your licence is suspended, you will get a letter from the Ministry of Transportation. It will tell you the date your suspension takes effect and that you need to surrender your licence.

If you do not surrender your licence, you can lose your licence for up to two years.

Drives are considered a novice drivers if you have a G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L or M2-L licence.

Novice drivers face different consequences for demerit points.

As a new driver, if you receive:

• 2 to 3 points:
• warning letter

• Any ticket with 4 or more demerits
• 30 day suspension
• 9 or more points
• licence will be suspended for 60 days.

When a licence is suspended, the Ministry of Transportation sends a letter to the drivers registered address.

The suspensions will tell the date the suspension takes effect and that the driver needs to surrender their licence.

Where the driver refuses the licence the ministry may suspend the licence for a further 2 years.

Where a novice driver commits an offence resulting in demerit points, the driver may also receive a licence suspension or cancellation under Ontario’s escalating penalties program.

Novice drivers can also receive “escalating” penalties – consequences that get stiffer with each similar offence – for breaking certain laws.

Escalating penalties can apply if you are:

• convicted of breaking graduated licensing rules
• convicted of a Highway Traffic Act offence that results in four or more demerit points (e.g., stunt driving, careless driving)
• subject to a court-ordered suspension for a Highway Traffic Act offence that would have otherwise resulted in four or more demerit points

For a first offence: your driver’s licence is suspended for 30 days.

For a second offence: your driver’s licence is suspended for 90 days.

For a third offence: you will lose your novice licence.

You will need to re-apply for your licence and start all over, taking all tests and paying all fees.

You will also lose any time discount you earned, any time you were credited, and any fees you have paid.

Demerit points do not affect insurance rates.

The accumulation of demerit to the point where a licence suspension occurs will affect insurance rates.

Where a driver receives a licence suspension as a result of demerit points the insurance will increase dramatically.

Where a driver is convicted of a driving offence in another Canadian province, the State of New York or Michigan, demerit points will be added to the driving record ,just as if the offence happened in Ontario.

Traffic offences outside Ontario that will add demerit points:

• speeding
• careless driving
• racing/stunt driving
• failure to obey a stop sign
• failure to obey a signal light
• failure to stop for a school bus
• failing to remain at or return to the scene of an collision

Criminal offences

Criminal offences outside Ontario that will result in a suspension:

• impaired driving
• dangerous driving
• criminal negligence
• vehicular manslaughter
• driving while disqualified or prohibited
• failure to remain at the scene of a collision