When points add up
Demerit points are not assigned by the court. The Ministry of Transportation adds them to your driving record after a conviction, and they stay for two years from the offence date. Too many points can lead to a licence suspension — and most convictions also affect your insurance.
Fully licensed drivers
- 6 to 8 points: warning letter
- 9 to 14 points: second warning letter
- 15 or more points: 30-day licence suspension
New drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2, M1-L, M2-L)
- 2 to 5 points: warning letter
- 6 to 8 points: second warning letter
- 9 or more points: 60-day licence suspension
Escalating penalties for new drivers
Novice drivers convicted of an offence worth 4 or more demerit points (for example careless driving or speeding 30 km/h or more over) also face escalating penalties:
- First offence: 30-day licence suspension
- Second offence: 90-day licence suspension
- Third offence: novice licence cancelled — you must start the licensing process again
After a suspension
When your licence is reinstated, your points are reduced to 7 (full licence) or 4 (novice licence). If you reach the suspension level again, the next suspension is six months. Failing to surrender a suspended licence can lead to a suspension of up to two years.
Points from outside Ontario
Convictions in other Canadian provinces and territories, New York State and Michigan for offences such as speeding, careless driving and failing to stop for a school bus are added to your Ontario record as if they happened here.
General information only, not legal advice. Penalties and points are taken from Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act, the demerit point regulation (O. Reg. 339/94) and Ministry of Transportation guidance as of October 2026, and can change. Your options depend on the facts of your case.
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