How Fast One Bad Decision Can Cost You Your Licence
Driving in Ontario isn’t just about staying between the lines and dodging potholes the size of Lake Ontario. Behind the scenes, there’s a quiet little scorecard tracking your behaviour on the road. It’s called demerit points, and unlike loyalty points, you really don’t want to collect them. Understanding Demerit Points in Ontario
Let’s break down how demerit points work in Ontario, what earns them, and why ignoring them is a fast track to taking the bus.
What Are Demerit Points, Really?
Demerit points are penalties added to your driving record when you’re convicted of certain traffic offences under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. They don’t expire overnight, they don’t disappear because you “needed to get to work,” and they absolutely follow you around for two years.
Think of them as Ontario’s way of saying: We noticed that.
The Big Ones: High-Point Offences
Some driving mistakes are considered “minor oops,” while others scream absolutely not. The more dangerous the offence, the more points you earn.
Seven demerit points are added if you fail to remain at the scene of a collision or refuse to stop when signaled by police. That’s nearly halfway to a suspension in one move.
Six points come from offences like careless driving, racing, failing to stop for a school bus, or extreme speeding (40–50 km/h over the limit). Ontario does not admire your confidence here.
Four points apply to things like speeding 30–49 km/h over the limit, tailgating, or failing to stop at a pedestrian crossover. Three points are where most drivers get caught: distracted driving, running stop signs, ignoring traffic lights, improper passing, or failing to yield.
Even two-point offences add up faster than people expect. Improper turns, seatbelt violations, failing to signal, or letting passengers ride unbuckled all chip away at your record.
Full Licence vs New Driver: Not the Same Game
If you hold a full G licence, Ontario gives you some rope—but not enough to hang yourself repeatedly.
With six to eight points, you’ll receive a warning letter. Nine to fourteen points trigger a second warning. Once you hit fifteen or more, your licence is suspended for 30 days. No negotiations, no excuses.
New drivers (G1 and G2 holders) live under much stricter rules. Two to five points earn a warning. Six to eight bring a stronger warning. At nine points or more, your licence is suspended for 60 days. Ontario does not believe in easing novices into chaos.
Escalating Penalties: When Ontario Loses Patience
For new drivers, some offences don’t just add points—they trigger escalating penalties.
If you break graduated licensing rules or commit serious offences like careless driving or street racing, the consequences stack quickly. A first offence results in a 30-day suspension. A second jumps to 90 days. A third means you lose your novice licence entirely and must start the licensing process from scratch, tests, fees, and all.
Yes, all of it. Again.
Licence Suspension: What Happens Next
When your licence is suspended, the Ministry of Transportation sends you a letter with clear instructions. You must surrender your licence either in person at ServiceOntario or by mail. Ignoring this step can extend your suspension up to two years, which is an impressively bad trade-off.
After your suspension ends, you may need to retake vision, written, and road tests. If reinstated, your points drop—but not to zero. Full licence holders reset to seven points. Novice drivers reset to four. Those points stay on record for two years, waiting patiently for their friends.
Out-of-Province Offences Still Count
Ontario has a long memory and good partnerships. If you’re convicted of certain driving offences in other Canadian provinces, New York, or Michigan, demerit points are added as if the offence happened at home.
Serious criminal driving offences outside Ontario can result in an outright suspension, no points required.
The Takeaway
Demerit points don’t exist to ruin your life. They exist to remind drivers that vehicles are heavy, fast, and deeply uninterested in excuses. One bad decision can be shrugged off. A pattern of them ends in suspension, lost time, lost money, and a lot of waiting around at bus stops.
Drive smart. Signal. Slow down. Keep your phone out of reach. Ontario is watching, quietly tallying, and extremely good at math.
