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.
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 just found out that you have a fine and it is at Notice of Final Demand or Enforcement Warrant stage, there are options available.
You can apply for an Infringement Extension with the Magistrates' Court but you must apply to the court within the following timeframes:
Tolling, traffic and speeding fines issued by Victoria Police (excluding excessive speed and parking) |
Within 14 days of becoming aware of the fine | |
Drink-driving fines, drug-driving fines and excessive speed fines |
If no conviction has been recorded, you must apply within 14 days of becoming aware of the fine. |
|
Alcohol-related boating fines |
If no conviction has been recorded, you must apply within 7 days of becoming aware of the fine. |
|
A waste or littering fine issued by the Environment Protection Agency for an offence that occurred in relation to a vehicle |
Within 14 days of becoming aware of the fine |
Your application should be accompanied by 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 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 have the opportunity to deal with the fine as if you were aware of the original infringement notice. This includes reinstating your options to nominate, elect to go to court, submit a review or pay the original fine amount.
Fines Victoria must receive your application within 14 days of the date that you became aware of your fine.
Fines for excessive speed are different from other fines, they are more serious, with a conviction recorded 28 days from the Infringement Notice issue date.
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 within 14 days of becoming aware of the fine:
If you cannot afford to pay your fine in full, you can ask to pay in regular instalments. If eligible, you can pay your fines in monthly or fortnightly payments. Your payments can also be automatically deducted from your Centrelink payment.
You can also ask for more time to pay.
If you meet certain criteria, you may be able to apply for the Work and Development Permit scheme or the Family Violence Scheme.
By law, you update your address with VicRoads within 14 days of moving.
Fines sent to the address registered with VicRoads are taken to be received by you seven days after the date of the notice – even if you no longer live there and did not receive the fine.
You can update your contact details for both your licence and vehicle registration online at VicRoads.
If you have outstanding fines, are paying off your fines in instalments, have a payment extension or have submitted a review request, you should let us know if you've changed your address or contact details.