Speeding by 10 km/h or less in New South Wales: Demerit Points & Fine (2026-27)
Penalty notice from the official NSW offence schedule, which still showed its 2025–26 amounts when re-checked on 23 September 2026 while NSW's mobile-phone page already carries the indexed 2026–27 fine, so this may sit one indexation behind; we re-stamp when the schedule updates
NSW Government offence and demerit schedule · 2026-27 schedule- Double demerits: Yes — points double during NSW holiday double-demerit periods (fines unchanged)
- Learner / provisional: Learner/provisional same band: $149 but 4 demerit points; any speeding offence by a learner or P1 holder attracts at least 4 points and at least a 3-month licence suspension/refusal. School zone (non-L/P): $246 and 2 points.
How this penalty compares
- $149 is the lowest of 12 on-the-spot fines in NSW's schedule.
- At 5 km/h over the limit, NSW ranks 6th highest of 8 states, from WA ($100) to ACT ($394).
- Speeding by 10–20 km/h costs $345, $196 more than this band, with 3 demerit points instead of 1.
| Offence | Points | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| NSW: Speeding by 10 km/h or less | 1 | $149 |
| VIC: Speeding by less than 10 km/h | 1 | $261 |
| QLD: Speeding by less than 11 km/h | 1 | $345 |
| WA: Speeding by up to 9 km/h | 0 | $100 |
| SA: Speeding by less than 10 km/h | 2 | $215 |
| TAS: Speeding by less than 10 km/h | 2 | $106.50 |
| ACT: Speeding by up to 15 km/h | 1 | $394 |
| NT: Speeding by up to 15 km/h | 1 | $150 |
Compare speeding across states →
Speeding is measured as the margin by which a vehicle's speed exceeds the posted limit for the road, and penalties are arranged in bands: the further over the limit, the higher the band and the heavier the consequence. Most jurisdictions increase both the fine and the demerit points as the bands climb, and at the upper end the response can move beyond points to an immediate or automatic loss of licence.
Enforcement comes from a mix of sources. Fixed and mobile speed cameras handle much of the detection and issue notices based on the registered operator of the vehicle, while police using radar or following vehicles can stop a driver at the roadside. Point-to-point cameras measure average speed over a stretch of road rather than at a single spot, which is aimed at sustained speeding rather than a brief lapse.
Penalties escalate with the band because the risk of harm rises sharply the faster a vehicle is travelling, both in the likelihood of a crash and in its severity. Newer and restricted drivers often work to lower points thresholds than fully licensed drivers, so the same offence can carry a driver closer to suspension. The exact bands, points and fines differ by state and territory, which is where the schedules above come in.
All NSW speeding penalties
| Offence | Points | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding by 10 km/h or less | 1 | $149 |
| Speeding by 10–20 km/h | 3 | $345 |
| Speeding by 20–30 km/h | 4 | $592 |
| Speeding by 30–45 km/h | 5 | $1,133 |
| Speeding by more than 45 km/h | 6 | $3,054 |
Frequently asked questions
- What happens if I'm caught — speeding by 10 km/h or less in NSW?
- The standard penalty is 1 demerit point and a $149 fine.
- How close does this put me to suspension in NSW?
- 13 points within 3 years on a full (unrestricted) licence — 14 for professional drivers. This offence adds 1 point to your record.
Standard first-offence penalty for a full-licence holder unless noted. Information, not legal advice — if your licence is at stake, get legal advice.