New AARTO demerit point system locked into law: ALL the key dates
This marks the most definitive timeline yet for the controversial system, following years of legal challenges, misinformation, and shifting deadlines.
The implementation of the AARTO system will happen in three major waves: 1 December 2025 : First rollout in 69 municipalities.
: First rollout in 69 municipalities. 1 April 2026 : Extension to a further 144 municipalities.
: Extension to a further 144 municipalities. 1 September 2026: National commencement of the demerit point system for all licensed drivers.
These phases will introduce new regulations covering traffic fines, infringement notices, appeals, and penalties.
From 1 September 2026, the driving demerit system will apply across South Africa.
Here's how it works: Learner drivers : Licence suspended after 6 points .
: Licence suspended after . Fully licensed drivers : Suspension begins at 15 points .
: Suspension begins at . Third suspension: Licence is cancelled, and the driver must reapply and retake tests.
Each traffic offence will carry a set number of points. Accumulating too many can result in temporary suspension or permanent cancellation of your licence.
Points gradually reduce over time with good behaviour, allowing drivers to improve their record. Motorists will receive electronic infringement notices instead of paper fines.
instead of paper fines. There is a 32-day grace period to respond or pay.
to respond or pay. Paying within the initial period qualifies drivers for a 50% discount .
. Failure to respond leads to additional penalties, possible licence demerits, and enforcement action.
The AARTO system aims to promote safer roads by holding drivers accountable.
However, critics warn it could be misused as a revenue-generating tool if poorly implemented.
The Department of Transport insists that the system will improve law enforcement and streamline the administrative handling of road violations.
A dedicated tribunal is being set up to hear appeals. Stay informed: Municipalities will begin educational campaigns ahead of the rollout.
Keep your driving record clean to avoid starting with points once the system begins.
Watch for official communications regarding infringement notices or appeals processes.
Prepare for electronic, rather than paper-based, fine and penalty handling.
The nationwide rollout of AARTO and its demerit point system is now locked into law.
With over a year until full implementation, authorities have committed to using this time for driver education, system testing, and public awareness.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald
18 hours ago
- The Herald
How SA's new driving licence demerit system will work
On August 1 the government gazetted the legislation for the long-delayed Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system to be rolled out. The second phase will be implemented on December 1 in 69 municipalities, with the remaining 144 municipalities to follow on April 1 2026. The demerit points system comes into effect countrywide on September 1 2026, designed to ensure that habitual traffic offenders are removed from South Africa's roads. Aarto is the government's plan to replace the criminal system with an administrative one. With Aarto, drivers will be allocated points for offences and face suspension or cancellation of their licences if they accumulate too many, in addition to any penalty fee payable. It is administered by the Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA), a state-owned entity financed from fines and money appropriated by parliament. Aarto decriminalises most traffic violations and subjects them to administrative processes. It does this by categorising road traffic violations as infringements or offences. Infringements (decriminalised violations) are dealt with administratively and offences are dealt with in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. Here's how it will work: Drivers start with zero points, with different infringements carrying different demerit points depending on severity, up to a maximum of six points. The points are in addition to a penalty fee imposed for the infringement or the requirement to go to court for more serious offences. For initial infringements, drivers will have the option to resolve them within 32 days and benefit from a 50% discount or choose other options such as submitting a representation or paying in instalments. A driver may accumulate up to 15 demerit points without losing their driving privileges. The licence of a driver is suspended for three months for each demerit point above the threshold. One demerit point is deducted for every three months the driver does not incur any additional demerit points. Four points can be reduced on completion of a rehabilitation programme. Driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period is a criminal offence. A conviction can result in a fine or imprisonment for up to one year or both. A driver's licence may be suspended twice in the lifetime of its holder. If the threshold is again exceeded after two suspensions, the driver's licence is cancelled. In the case of a cancelled licence the driver will have to start with a learner's licence once the disqualification period has lapsed. If you receive an infringement notice but were not the driver of the vehicle, you may nominate the driver who committed the infringement. You must nominate a driver in the first 32 days after receiving an infringement notice. This may be done on the website. If you believe there are reasonable grounds for cancelling your infringement notice you may submit a representation on the same website. You can elect to be tried in court when issued with an infringement notice (only for infringement notices with an infringement date up to November 30 2025), when you receive a courtesy letter, or when your representation for an infringement fails. For unsuccessful representation outcomes received for infringement dates from December 1 2025, you approach through an application made to the Appeals Tribunal, an independent body accountable to the department of transport. If your application fails you may lodge an appeal or review application to a magistrate's court. Examples of fines and demerit points allocation • Exceeding speed limit 11km/h-15km/h: R250 and zero points • Exceeding speed limit 16km/h-20km/h: R500 and one point • Exceeding speed limit 21km/h-25km/h: R750 and two points • Exceeding speed limit more than 40km/h: Court and six points • Failing to keep left: R1,000 and three points • Failing to use indicators: R500 and one point • Vehicle not registered or licensed: R1,000 and three points • Vehicle with no number plates: Court and six points • Vehicle with only one number plate: R500 and two points • Driver not licensed: R1,250 and four points • Driver's licence not in vehicle: R1,250 and four points • Disobeying stop sign or robot: R750 and two points • Driving under the influence of alcohol: Court and six points Infringement notices, courtesy letters and enforcement orders An infringement notice is served on an alleged infringer to know they have contravened a traffic law. It can either be issued on the side of the road, via postage or it can be an electronic infringement issued via email. Paying the penalty within 32 days of receiving it qualifies you for a 50% discount. If you fail to act within 32 days, the RTIA issues a courtesy letter. This removes the 50% discount and adds a R100 fee for the courtesy letter. Within 32 days you may pay the full penalty, arrange to pay it in instalments or make a written representation setting out why you are not liable for the infringement. If your representation fails you must pay an additional R200 administrative penalty. If you fail to act within 32 days of the courtesy letter, the RTIA issues an enforcement order that electronically blocks issuing of documents on NaTIS, meaning that no driving licence, professional driving permit or vehicle licence disc may be issued. It also allocates demerit points to your name.
TimesLIVE
20 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
How SA's new driving licence demerit system will work
On August 1 the government gazetted the legislation for the long-delayed Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) system to be rolled out. The second phase will be implemented on December 1 in 69 municipalities, with the remaining 144 municipalities to follow on April 1 2026. The demerit points system comes into effect countrywide on September 1 2026, designed to ensure that habitual traffic offenders are removed from South Africa's roads. Aarto is the government's plan to replace the criminal system with an administrative one. With Aarto, drivers will be allocated points for offences and face suspension or cancellation of their licences if they accumulate too many, in addition to any penalty fee payable. It is administered by the Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA), a state-owned entity financed from fines and money appropriated by parliament. Aarto decriminalises most traffic violations and subjects them to administrative processes. It does this by categorising road traffic violations as infringements or offences. Infringements (decriminalised violations) are dealt with administratively and offences are dealt with in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act. Here's how it will work: Drivers start with zero points, with different infringements carrying different demerit points depending on severity, up to a maximum of six points. The points are in addition to a penalty fee imposed for the infringement or the requirement to go to court for more serious offences. For initial infringements, drivers will have the option to resolve them within 32 days and benefit from a 50% discount or choose other options such as submitting a representation or paying in instalments. A driver may accumulate up to 15 demerit points without losing their driving privileges. The licence of a driver is suspended for three months for each demerit point above the threshold. One demerit point is deducted for every three months the driver does not incur any additional demerit points. Four points can be reduced on completion of a rehabilitation programme. Driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period is a criminal offence. A conviction can result in a fine or imprisonment for up to one year or both. A driver's licence may be suspended twice in the lifetime of its holder. If the threshold is again exceeded after two suspensions, the driver's licence is cancelled. In the case of a cancelled licence the driver will have to start with a learner's licence once the disqualification period has lapsed. If you receive an infringement notice but were not the driver of the vehicle, you may nominate the driver who committed the infringement. You must nominate a driver in the first 32 days after receiving an infringement notice. This may be done on the website. If you believe there are reasonable grounds for cancelling your infringement notice you may submit a representation on the same website. You can elect to be tried in court when issued with an infringement notice (only for infringement notices with an infringement date up to November 30 2025), when you receive a courtesy letter, or when your representation for an infringement fails. For unsuccessful representation outcomes received for infringement dates from December 1 2025, you approach through an application made to the Appeals Tribunal, an independent body accountable to the department of transport. If your application fails you may lodge an appeal or review application to a magistrate's court. Examples of fines and demerit points allocation • Exceeding speed limit 11km/h-15km/h: R250 and zero points • Exceeding speed limit 16km/h-20km/h: R500 and one point • Exceeding speed limit 21km/h-25km/h: R750 and two points • Exceeding speed limit more than 40km/h: Court and six points • Failing to keep left: R1,000 and three points • Failing to use indicators: R500 and one point • Vehicle not registered or licensed: R1,000 and three points • Vehicle with no number plates: Court and six points • Vehicle with only one number plate: R500 and two points • Driver not licensed: R1,250 and four points • Driver's licence not in vehicle: R1,250 and four points • Disobeying stop sign or robot: R750 and two points • Driving under the influence of alcohol: Court and six points Infringement notices, courtesy letters and enforcement orders An infringement notice is served on an alleged infringer to know they have contravened a traffic law. It can either be issued on the side of the road, via postage or it can be an electronic infringement issued via email. Paying the penalty within 32 days of receiving it qualifies you for a 50% discount. If you fail to act within 32 days, the RTIA issues a courtesy letter. This removes the 50% discount and adds a R100 fee for the courtesy letter. Within 32 days you may pay the full penalty, arrange to pay it in instalments or make a written representation setting out why you are not liable for the infringement. If your representation fails you must pay an additional R200 administrative penalty. If you fail to act within 32 days of the courtesy letter, the RTIA issues an enforcement order that electronically blocks issuing of documents on NaTIS, meaning that no driving licence, professional driving permit or vehicle licence disc may be issued. It also allocates demerit points to your name.
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Is South Africa ready for the new driving demerit system?
Starting on December 1 traffic violations will no longer just cost you a fine — they could cost you your licence. South Africa's controversial new Aarto demerit system is officially happening, with rollout dates set across all municipalities. By September 1 2026 the full demerit system will kick in nationwide. Drivers will earn points for offences like speeding or skipping red lights. Rack up too many and your licence could be suspended or cancelled. The process will be handled administratively, meaning no court appearances but automated penalties from the Road Traffic Infringement Agency.
