Demerit Points & Fines in Western Australia (2026-27)
12 points within 3 years (full licence).
WA Road Safety Commission / Department of Transport (2026-27) · 2026-27 scheduleWestern Australia applies double demerits during declared holiday periods, and the scheme covers a broad set of offences rather than a narrow list. The state also splits mobile phone offences into tiers: simply touching or holding a phone sits in a lower tier, while using it to text or interact with social media sits in a more serious tier that is penalised heavily.
Drink-driving is handled according to the reading. A lower-range breach can often be dealt with by an infringement notice, while higher ranges are directed to court. Learner and provisional drivers face tighter limits than fully licensed drivers, and the schedule shown here is marked with the date it was taken from.
| Offence | Points | Fine |
|---|---|---|
Speeding by up to 9 km/h · details
| 0 | $100 |
Speeding by 10–19 km/h
| 2 | $200 |
Speeding by 20–29 km/h
| 3 | $400 |
Speeding by 30–40 km/h
| 6 | $800 |
Speeding by more than 40 km/h
| 7 | $1,200 |
Texting or social media on a phone while driving
| 4 | $1,000 |
Holding or touching a phone while driving
| 3 | $500 |
Driver not wearing a seatbelt · details
| 4 | $550 |
Driving with unrestrained passengers · details
| 4 | $550 |
Running a red light
| 3 | $300 |
Drink driving — BAC 0.05 to under 0.06 (first offence)
| 3 | $1,000 |
Drink driving — BAC 0.06 to under 0.07 (first offence)
| 4 | $1,000 |
Drink driving — BAC 0.07 to under 0.08 (first offence)
| 5 | $1,000 |
Drug driving — drug presence (first offence)
| 3 | $1,250 |
| Fine basis: Infringement, 2026-27 schedule. Court-only offences carry no on-the-spot fine; where a figure is shown it is the court-imposed maximum. | ||
How WA compares with the other states
- Each state's lowest speeding band: WA's $100 fine is the lowest of the 8 states with an on-the-spot fine, $294 less than the highest (ACT, $394).
- Each state's lowest drink-driving range, first offence, full licence: WA's $1,000 fine is the highest of the 6 states with an on-the-spot fine, $600 more than the lowest (NT, $400).
- Drug presence, first offence: WA's $1,250 fine is the highest of the 6 states with an on-the-spot fine, $850 more than the lowest (NT, $400).
| Offence compared | WA fine | Rank (1 = highest) | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Each state's lowest speeding band | $100 | 8 of 8 | ACT $394 | WA $100 |
| Holding or using a handheld phone while driving (full licence) | $500 | 5 of 8 | QLD $1,295 | TAS $426 |
| Driver not wearing a seatbelt | $550 | 3 of 8 | QLD $1,295 | VIC $418 |
| Running a red light | $300 | 6 of 8 | QLD $690 | TAS $213 |
| Each state's lowest drink-driving range, first offence, full licence | $1,000 | 1 of 6 | WA $1,000 | NT $400 |
| Drug presence, first offence | $1,250 | 1 of 6 | WA $1,250 | NT $400 |
| Speeding 12 km/h over the limit | $200 | 6 of 8 | QLD $518 | NT $150 |
| Speeding 27 km/h over the limit | $400 | 6 of 8 | SA $987 | NT $300 |
| Each state's own band for the same conduct; court-only matters are not ranked against on-the-spot fines. | ||||
Losing your licence in WA
| Licence type | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Full / open licence | 12 points within 3 years (full licence). |
| Provisional / learner | Learner and first-year provisional: 4 points; second-year provisional: 8 points. |
Double demerits in WA
Western Australia doubles demerit points during declared holiday periods, which typically take in long weekends and the Christmas and New Year break. The loading reaches across a wide range of offences, including speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelt breaches, red-light offences and mobile phone use, so during these periods most of the common infringements carry increased points. The dates are declared ahead of each period, so it is worth checking the official notice before travelling over a long weekend.
Frequently asked questions
- How many demerit points can you get in WA before losing your licence?
- 12 points within 3 years (full licence). Learner and first-year provisional: 4 points; second-year provisional: 8 points.
- Does WA have double demerits?
Western Australia doubles demerit points during declared holiday periods, which typically take in long weekends and the Christmas and New Year break. The loading reaches across a wide range of offences, including speeding, drink and drug driving, seatbelt breaches, red-light offences and mobile phone use, so during these periods most of the common infringements carry increased points. The dates are declared ahead of each period, so it is worth checking the official notice before travelling over a long weekend.
Compare a penalty across all 8 states
Other states
Penalties are the standard on-the-spot amounts for a first offence by a full-licence holder unless noted. Aggravated, repeat and court-elected matters differ. This is information, not legal advice.