Are AARTO demerit points being recorded against licences in South Africa?

As of August 2026, DemeritCheck has not located a proclamation bringing AARTO Act sections 24–28 into operation. Demerit values in Schedule 3 of the 2026 regulations are published, but points are not being enforced against driving licences on that basis.

Is AARTO live if demerits are not?

Administrative infringement and fine processes under proclaimed sections of the AARTO Act operate in listed municipalities from 1 July 2026 (Proclamation 322, GG 54917). That is separate from demerit recording and licence suspension under sections 24–28.

Are AARTO demerit points live yet? — August 2026 status

Last verified: August 2026. Editorial: DemeritCheck · Calculator · Updates & sources · Methodology · Corrections

August 2026 answer: Demerit values are published. Demeritenforcement (recording points on a licence and suspending it) is not live on the instruments we have read. Calculator totals here are educational modelling, not an official balance.

What is in force

AARTO Regulations, 2026 (GN R.7646, GG 54922) — including Schedule 3 column 6 demerit values and the 15-point natural-person threshold in regulation 20(6).
Phase 2 administrative fines — Proclamation 322 (GG 54917) commenced listed AARTO Act sections in 62 municipalities from 1 July 2026 (infringement notices, courtesy letters, enforcement orders for the money side).

What is not in force

AARTO Act sections 24 to 28 — the provisions that allocate demerit points to a licence, disqualify drivers over the threshold, require surrender of documents, cancel licences after repeat events, and reduce points — were omitted from Proclamation 322. Until a later proclamation brings those sections into operation, no demerit total is being enforced against a driving licence under that machinery.

Why news dates keep getting this wrong

Headlines often collapse “AARTO is rolling out” with “demerits have started.” A withdrawn 2025 package and later speculative dates (including a widely quoted September 2026 demerit start) still circulate. We keep superseded dates visible on Updates & sources so you can recognise zombie claims. We do not invent a replacement go-live date.

What this means for you this month

You can still receive AARTO fines / infringement processes where Phase 2 applies.
You can look up what a charge would be worth in demerit points under Schedule 3.
You should not treat DemeritCheck (or any unofficial site) as proof that points are already on your licence.
When a future proclamation starts sections 24–28, we will update this page and the calculator caveats together.

How we will know demerits have started

A Government Gazette proclamation that expressly brings sections 24–28 (or equivalent) into operation — not an RTIA media statement alone, and not a news paraphrase. Secondary reporting may tip us off; the gazette decides what we assert.

Full chronology → · Educational calculator → · How demerit points work → · Methodology →