Learner and provisional drivers hit their demerit limit much sooner than full-licence holders, as low as 4 points in several states, so one camera fine can mean a suspension. You can still ask for a review or leniency, so check the due date and decide before you pay.
Check your fine for free →Free case-strength check first, and if your grounds are weak we’ll tell you · one flat price, $10 parking & toll, $15 everything elseOn a full licence, a single fine usually costs money and a few points. On a learner or provisional licence the points limit is far lower, so the same fine can be the one that tips you over. NSW is blunt about it: its page says any speeding offence for a learner or P1 driver carries at least 4 points, which is the P1 limit, and means a 3-month suspension or refused renewal.
There is a second layer. NSW also holds P1 drivers to 90 km/h and P2 drivers to 100 km/h even where the posted limit is higher, and police can suspend a provisional licence on the spot for speeding more than 30 km/h over. So for a young driver the question is rarely just “can I afford this fine?” It is “what does this fine do to my licence?”
These are the figures each government page publishes. They differ a lot, so read your own state:
| State | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| NSW | Learner and P1: 4 points. P2: 7 points. Reaching it means a 3-month suspension or refused renewal. Any speeding offence for a learner or P1 carries at least 4 points. NSW says you can appeal within 28 days of receiving the notice. |
| Victoria | Learner permit or P1/P2 held by a driver under 22: 5 points in any 12 months, or 12 in 3 years. VicRoads says that on reaching your limit you can have your licence suspended or extend your demerit point period. Points last four years. |
| Queensland | Provisional licence: 4 or more points within one year. You choose a 3-month suspension or a 1-year good driving behaviour period; 2 or more points during that period means a 6-month suspension. No choice by the date on the notice means an automatic 3-month suspension. |
| South Australia | Learner or provisional: 4 or more points means a 6-month disqualification. Points expire three years after the offence. The disqualification starts 28 days after the notice is sent if you acknowledge it. |
| Western Australia | The Department of Transport says a novice limit applies, listed as four or eight points in three years, without saying which stage gets which. Call the demerit point line on 1300 720 111 to confirm yours. |
| Tasmania | Learner or provisional: 4 or more points within 12 months. 4 to 15 points is a 3-month suspension, 16 to 19 is 4 months, 20 or more is 5 months. |
| ACT | Provisional: 4 points within 3 years, 3-month suspension. Learner licences issued or renewed after 1 January 2020: also 4 points in 3 years. |
| Northern Territory | Learner or provisional: 5 points in 12 months, or 12 in 3 years. 5 to 8 points is 3 months, 9 to 12 is 4 months, 13 or more is 5 months. |
Limits and suspension lengths change, and the points an offence carries depend on how far over or how serious it was. Your notice and your state’s licensing authority always come first.
Being on P-plates, or needing your licence for work or study, is not on its own a reason a fine gets withdrawn. A review looks at whether the fine was issued correctly; a leniency request is a plea for discretion, and it may or may not be granted. Where you have a genuine problem with the fine itself, such as the wrong vehicle, a wrong detail on the notice or a real emergency, say so with evidence. Where you were over the limit and you know it, an honest, respectful letter about the circumstances is still your best shot, and we will tell you plainly if the grounds look thin.
Points follow the penalty. If an authority withdraws a fine after review, ask it to confirm in writing that nothing is recorded against your licence, and check your driver record afterwards. For the wider picture, see demerit points explained.
Fight My Fine asks a few plain-English questions, gives you a free read on how strong your grounds are, and tells you honestly if they are weak. Then it drafts an editable letter for the right authority. One flat price: $10 for parking and unpaid-toll fines, $15 for all other fine types. If we rate your dispute Strong and the authority does not budge, you get your full fee back. The authority makes the decision, and we never predict it.
A printable checklist of what to gather, what to check and what to send before the due date. Pop in your email and it’s yours.
Yes. You have the same right to ask for a review or leniency as any other driver, and because the demerit limits are lower the stakes are higher. Check your notice for the due date and decide what to do before you pay. The authority makes the final decision, and nothing here guarantees an outcome.
It depends on the state and the licence stage. Official pages give 4 points for learners and P1 in NSW, 7 for NSW P2, 4 in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, and 5 in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Western Australia lists a novice limit of four or eight. See the table above and confirm with your own licensing authority.
It can happen. NSW says any speeding offence for a learner or P1 carries at least 4 points, which is that licence's limit, and leads to a 3-month suspension or refused renewal. Other states count points over 12 months or 3 years, so check how many points your offence carries and what you already have.
It varies. NSW says you can appeal a demerit-limit suspension within 28 days of receiving the notice, and Queensland gives you a choice date on its notice to pick a suspension or a good driving behaviour period. Treat the dates on your own notice as the ones that count.
Fight My Fine is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and this article is general information, not legal advice. Demerit limits, suspension periods and deadlines change and differ by state, so the dates on your own notice always come first. Outcomes depend on your circumstances and the issuing authority’s decision, and nothing here is a prediction or guarantee. For serious matters or anything heading to court, speak with a qualified lawyer or a free legal service.