If you are caught committing a traffic offence you may be issued with a penalty in the form of an infringement notice (a fine).

Depending on the type of traffic offence, demerit points or a licence suspension may also be applied to your driver licence or learner permit.

A demerit point is a penalty point issued to you if you commit a driving related offence that has associated demerit points. These points are recorded against your driving record. Demerit points range from 1 to 4 depending on the seriousness of the offence. They accumulate and remain valid for 3 years.

Your demerit point limit depends on what type of licence or leaner permit you have. For more information about demerit points see the VicRoads website: About Demerit Points.

To check how many demerit points are recorded on your licence, see Check driver history on the VicRoads website.

Current fine $ amounts and demerit points/suspension periods

Penalties for speeding offences (except heavy vehicles)

The penalties for full licence holders caught speeding are:

Penalties for speeding offences - heavy vehicles

The penalties for full licence holders caught speeding in a heavy vehicle are:

Fine amounts correct as at 1 July 2023. Amounts are adjusted in July each year.

What is a heavy vehicle?

Heavy vehicle speeding penalties apply to:

• a vehicle with a maximum loaded weight (GVM) exceeding 4.5 tonnes
• a vehicle including any trailers being towed with a maximum loaded weight (GCM) exceeding 14.5 tonnes
• a bus with more than 12 seats.
  
  

Red light camera offences

Failing to obey traffic lights, both red-light and red-light arrow, incurs a penalty of $481 and three demerit points.

Portable device and seatbelt detection camera offences

Drivers caught by these cameras incur the following penalties:

• $577 fine if caught using a portable device such as a mobile phone while driving, and 4 demerit points
• $385 fine for not wearing a seatbelt correctly, and 3 demerit points.

Unregistered vehicle offences

Driving an unregistered two axle vehicle incurs a penalty of $962. Driving an unregistered three, four, five or more axle vehicle incurs a penalty of $1731.

Penalties for corporations

Companies are directed to nominate the driver responsible for any operator onus offences (such as speeding, red light and level crossing offences) committed in a company vehicle.

Once nominated, the fine is reissued to the driver at the amount relevant to the offence.  

If a company fails to nominate a driver, it is liable to pay a penalty of $3,846. Companies that fail to nominate a driver three or more times within a 12-month period may be liable for a penalty of $23,077.20 as per section 84BEA of the Road Safety Act 1986 (as at 1 July 2023).

More information on fees and penalties

See VicRoads for more information on fine amounts, payments and disputes. See Department of Treasury and Finance for more information on fine penalty units and indexation.