Licence suspension & consequences
What the AARTO Act provides for once a driver's final demerit-point total exceeds 15 — and why none of it is currently being enforced against licences.
Last verified: August 2026. Calculate your demerit points → · Updates & sources →
The demerit-point schedule in the AARTO Regulations, 2026 is in force, but the enforcement provisions described below — AARTO Act sections 24 to 28, covering allocation, disqualification, surrender, cancellation, and reduction of demerit points — were not proclaimed as of July 2026. Nothing on this page describes a live process. It explains what the Act provides for once those sections do come into force.
What the Act provides for, section by section
The AARTO Act (No. 46 of 1998, as amended) sets out demerit-point enforcement in five sections. As of July 2026, none of these five sections have been proclaimed:
- Section 24 — allocation of demerit points to a driving licence or operator card.
- Section 25 — disqualification from driving once your points exceed the published threshold.
- Section 26 — surrender of the driving licence or operator card once disqualified.
- Section 27 — cancellation of the licence after repeated disqualification.
- Section 28 — reduction ("decay") of demerit points over time.
Regulation 20(6) of the AARTO Regulations, 2026 sets the disqualification total these sections hook into: 15 demerit points for natural-person drivers (see how demerit points work →).
Suspension length: the 3-months-per-point formula
Section 25(2)(a) of the Act links the disqualification period to how far over the 15-point threshold a driver's final total is, commonly described as three months for every point over 15 — for example, 17 final points would suggest a six-month disqualification, and 20 points would suggest nine months. The Act also allows this multiplier to be varied by regulation for specific categories of driver, but no such variation has been published in the 2026 instrument set.
Our calculator shows this formula as an illustrative estimate only once your final total exceeds 15 points. It is not a prediction of any action against your licence — because section 25 is not yet in force, no disqualification period is currently running against anyone's licence on this basis.
Surrender and cancellation
Once disqualified under section 25, section 26 provides for the driver to surrender their driving licence or operator card. Section 27 provides for cancellation of the licence after repeated disqualification. Neither section is in force yet, and this site does not model the surrender or cancellation process — for what a live disqualification or cancellation notice would require, consult the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) or a qualified attorney.
Re-testing and getting your licence back
We have not found a confirmed, published procedure in the enacted AARTO Act or 2026 Regulations describing whether a driver must retake a driving test (or reapply for a licence) after a disqualification period ends. Rather than guess, we are leaving this deliberately unanswered here: if and when demerit enforcement is proclaimed, confirm the reinstatement process directly with the RTIA or a qualified attorney before relying on any online summary, including this one.
Point reduction ("decay") over time
Section 28 of the Act provides for demerit points to reduce over time for a driver who avoids new infringements — commonly described as losing one point for every three months without a new final offence. Regulation 20(7) separately provides for a larger reduction — four points — after successfully completing a rehabilitation programme. Rehabilitation programmes are a 2019 Amendment Act concept (section 2(g)) that was itself excluded from the July 2026 commencement notice, alongside sections 24–28. Neither reduction mechanism is currently operating against any driver's points.
Professional Driving Permit (PrDP) holders
The 2026 Regulations do not set a separate demerit-point schedule or disqualification threshold for PrDP holders. Demerit points attach to the person as a driving-licence holder; a PrDP is treated as an associated document that would be surrendered alongside the driving licence if a disqualification took effect (regulation 22). In other words, exceeding 15 points would put a PrDP holder's professional permit at risk in the same way as their driving licence — but, as above, this mechanism is not yet in force. For advice about how a specific infringement could affect your PrDP or your employment, consult a qualified attorney or your employer's compliance channel. FAQ: PrDP holders →
Why this matters even though enforcement isn't live
Demerit points already accrue on paper under Schedule 3 of the 2026 Regulations, even though sections 24–28 are not yet proclaimed. When enforcement is switched on, it is expected to apply to points already on the books rather than starting the count from zero. Understanding the suspension framework now — rather than after enforcement begins — is why we've published this page separately from our general how demerit points work guide.
What this page does not do
- Predict whether or when sections 24–28 will be proclaimed
- Confirm a re-testing or licence-reinstatement procedure
- Check your official demerit-point balance with RTIA, RTMC, or eNaTIS
- Provide legal advice about a suspension, cancellation, or appeal
- Claim affiliation with RTIA, RTMC, or any government body
For official information about a disqualification, suspension, or cancellation, contact RTIA or the relevant official channel. For legal advice about a specific matter, consult a qualified attorney. Read the full disclaimer →
Calculate your demerit points → · How demerit points work → · Common high-point offences → · Common questions →