Unlicensed Drivers Can Build Up Demerit Points Before Getting a Licence Under New Traffic Rules
- South Africans without a driver's licence can accumulate demerit points under new traffic regulations, tied to their identity number
- Learner licence holders who commit traffic violations will carry those demerit points over to their full licence once issued
- The AARTO demerit points system is still awaiting full activation, with implementation in the fourth quarter of 2026 potentially delayed
PAY ATTENTION: Mark Briefly News as a preferred source, and our content will appear higher in your Google feed!
Source: Getty Images
South Africans who do not yet hold a driver's licence may want to think twice before getting behind the wheel. Under new traffic regulations tied to the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system, unlicensed individuals can accumulate demerit points that will follow them once they obtain a licence.
Driving.co.za managing director Rob Handfield-Jones explained the implications to MyBroadband, noting that any points picked up without a licence will be recorded against a person's identity number in the National Road Traffic Offences Register. He said:
"In these cases, points will be marked against their identity number and then be transferred to any licence they subsequently acquire."
There is an added financial sting: unlicensed South African citizens and permanent residents will not qualify for any discount on their fines. The automatic reduction of demerit points also does not begin until that person holds a valid licence.
PAY ATTENTION: You can now search for all your favourite news and topics on Briefly News.
Source: Getty Images
Learner drivers also at risk
Holders of learner's licences are not exempt either. According to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), any demerit points accumulated on a learner's licence carry over to the full driver's licence once issued. This means new drivers could begin their time on the road already partway towards the 15-point suspension threshold.
Once that threshold is crossed, a driver's licence is suspended for three months for every point above 15. Driving during a suspension period is a criminal offence. Licences can only be suspended twice; a third breach results in cancellation, after which the driver must redo both the learner and driver tests.
When will the system kick in?
The demerit points system is not yet fully active. The first phase, covering the administrative side of AARTO, was piloted in Pretoria and Johannesburg from 2008. President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a broader rollout to 60 additional municipalities on 1 July 2026. As of late October 2026, the remaining municipalities had not yet been included, which means the planned fourth-quarter 2026 launch of the penalty points system could face delays.
Once fully implemented, motorists start with zero demerit points and accumulate them as they pay fines.
Fines and points attached to common violations:
- Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 20km/h: R500 and 1 demerit point
- Exceeding the speed limit by 21 to 25km/h: R750 and 2 demerit points
- Disobeying a stop sign or traffic light: R750 and 2 demerit points
- Driving without a licence: R1,250 and 4 demerit points
- Driving an unregistered vehicle: R1,000 and 3 demerit points
- Failing to keep left: R1,000 and 3 demerit points
- Driving under the influence: criminal offence, court hearing, and 6 demerit points
- Exceeding the speed limit by more than 40km/h: criminal offence, court hearing, and 6 demerit points
Demerit points are valid for three months before they expire. The Department of Transport will offer repeat offenders whose licences have been cancelled the option to enter a driver rehabilitation programme, which can reduce ban periods for those who complete it.
Read the full story here.
More Briefly News stories on drivers licenses
- Gauteng is piloting a new driver’s licence booking and payment system at Edenvale and Marlboro DLTCs as it tackles booking fraud, downtime and compliance.
- Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed that 26,126 provincial police officers lacked valid driver's licences, sparking sarcastic reactions online.
- South Africa’s proposed 10-year driver’s licence cards are moving closer to implementation. Here’s who qualifies, what could change and what motorists can expect.
PAY ATTENTION: Follow Briefly News on Twitter and never miss the hottest topics! Find us at @brieflyza!
Source: Briefly News
