If you just found out that a fine has been issued against you and you did not receive it in person, there are options available to you.

If you didn't know about your fine, and it is now at Penalty Reminder Notice stage

You may be able to apply for an internal review on the grounds that you were not aware of the original fine.

You cannot apply for an internal review, on this ground, if you were stopped by a member of Victoria Police and issued with a paper fine on-the-spot.

See Request a review, and click on the Infringement Notice or Penalty Reminder Notice tab and refer to the section on Person Unaware.

For other options available to you for dealing with your fine see Penalty Reminder Notice.

If you didn't know about your fine, and it is now at Notice of Final Demand or Enforcement Warrant stage

If you just found out that you have a fine and it is at Notice of Final Demand or Enforcement Warrant stage, there are options available.

Traffic and tolling offences

You can apply for an Infringement Extension with Fines Victoria within 14 days of becoming aware of a :

• traffic fines (such as speeding and red-light camera fines)
• tolling fine
• litter or waste fine that happened in a vehicle.

Your application must include a statutory declaration or affidavit and should include other supporting evidence. Your application may not be granted if you can’t show you were not previously aware of the fine.

If your application is granted, you will have an additional 28 days from the date your application is decided to deal with your fine.

Fines Victoria will check its records to confirm whether you were aware of your fine more than 14 days before you submitted your application.

Offences which result in a conviction

For offences that result in a conviction, like an excessive speeding fine, you still need to apply for an Infringement Extension with the Magistrates' Court (link opens in a new window). You must apply to the court within the following timeframes:

Your application should include supporting evidence. The magistrate may not grant the application unless they are satisfied that you were not previously aware of the fine.

If your application is granted, you will have an additional 28 days from the date your application is decided to deal with your fine.

Parking and other fines

If you did not receive the fine in person and have only just found out about it, you can apply for an Enforcement Review on the ground of Person unaware. 

If your application is granted you will be able to deal with the fine as if you were aware of the original infringement notice. This includes reinstating your options to nominate, electing to go to court, submit a review or pay the original fine amount.

You must make an application within 14 days of the date that you became aware of your fine

If you have lost your licence for excessive speeding (25km/h or more over the limit), but you did not know about the fine

Fines for excessive speed are different from other fines. They are more serious and a conviction is recorded 28 days from the date the Infringement Notice was issued.

If you were not aware of the notice before the conviction took place, you can make one of the following applications for an Infringement Extension with the Magistrates' Court (link opens in a new window) within 14 days of becoming aware of the fine:

1. If you want to dispute the fine (object to the notice)
   If you want to dispute the fine, you can make an application to the Magistrates' Court for an extension of time to object to the notice. If your application is granted, the infringement is cancelled, and you will be served with a charge and summons with a date to appear in court.
   
   
2. If you were not the driver at the time
   If you were not the driver at the time of the offence, you can make an application to the Magistrates' Court for an infringement extension to submit a nomination statement. If your application is granted, you will be provided with an additional 28 days to submit a nomination statement to Victoria Police.
   
   You must provide evidence to support your application. The magistrate may not grant the application unless they are satisfied that you were not aware of the fine before the infringement notice took effect as a conviction.