AARTO demerit points are coming. Here’s what SA drivers need to know now, and how it might affect your insurance

South Africa’s demerit system isn’t just talk anymore, it’s happening.

The government has announced a phased rollout:

• 1 December 2025: 69 municipalities, including Joburg, Cape Town and Durban
• 1 April 2026: the rest of the country
• 1 September 2026: demerit points officially start counting

IOL, North West Newspapers

That gives you just under a year before points kick in. From then on, how you drive (and how you handle fines) could affect both your licence and your insurance.

Quick refresher: What is AARTO?

AARTO (short for Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) changes how traffic violations are handled. Instead of clogging up criminal courts, most fines will be managed by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA).

The big twist: a national demerit points system.

Every fine you get comes with points. Stack up too many and your licence takes a time-out.

How the point system works

Everyone starts with zero points. But existing fines don’t vanish. You’ll still need to pay any outstanding fines before the system goes live, or risk extra penalties.

From there, infringements add points depending on severity:

• 1 point for lesser offences like driving an unregistered vehicle, using your phone while driving, or skipping a stop sign
• 2–4 points for more serious violations such as running a red light or moderate speeding (e.g. 21–25 km/h over the limit = 2 points; 131–135 km/h in a 100 zone = 4 points)
• 6 points for the most dangerous offences, like driving under the influence

Rack up 15 points and your licence is suspended for three months. Do that three times, and your licence isn’t just suspended, it’s cancelled. That means starting all over again with a learner’s licence and driving test. Not exactly the kind of reset button you want to push.

What happens if you own a fleet?

With fleets, demerits don’t just follow the driver, they can also stick to the vehicle or even the operator. Speeding, for instance, lands on the driver’s licence, while something like overloading can count against the business. If you don’t nominate the right driver, those points and penalties could end up on the company, leading to suspended operator cards or blocked licence renewals.

Next question that might come to mind: Does this affect your insurance?

Yes, it might. If your licence is suspended or cancelled and you drive anyway, your insurance might not cover you. Driving without a valid licence is considered unlawful, and most policies won’t pay out for accidents in those circumstances.

Your driving record could also feed into how insurers assess risk. A pattern of fines, infringements or suspensions can flag you as higher risk, which could eventually affect what you pay for cover, either in the form of higher premiums or a bigger excess.

When it comes to claims, insurers often check the basics, like whether the driver involved had a valid licence at the time. A clean record makes that process much smoother and less admin-heavy.

For businesses that run fleets, the stakes are even higher. Demerit points can sit with the driver, the vehicle, or the operator, so companies will need to tighten up driver vetting, training and monitoring to avoid suspended licences, operational downtime and uninsured losses.

What to do when you get an AARTO notice

If you get an AARTO Infringement Notice, here’s what you need to do within 32 days of being served (or presumed served):

• Deal with it quickly. Deadlines matter. If you ignore them, things could escalate
• Check your options. Depending on the notice, you may be able to pay (often at a discount if quick), make representations, nominate the right driver, or elect a court trial (IOL).
• Keep proof. Payments, emails, confirmations, etc.
• Track your points. The RTIA is expected to launch a portal where you can check.

How can you reduce your demerit points?

Drivers do have ways to bring their demerit point balance down, but the process is gradual and designed to reward safe behaviour.

• Stay clean for 3 months = 1 point automatically falls off.
• Complete an approved rehab programme = 4 points off (but only once per year).
• No shortcuts. The only way to keep your balance low is by driving safely and avoiding new infringements.
• Heads-up: Paying your fine within 32 days gives you 50% off the fine, but the points still apply.

Five easy habits to keep points to a minimum

• Treat speed limits as ceilings, not suggestions.
• Park the phone. Use hands-free or Do Not Disturb.
• Keep your car roadworthy. Check tyres, lights, brakes, wipers, and licence disc regularly.

• Give yourself time. Storms or load-shedding almost always mean traffic and delays. It’s not an excuse to speed 😉.
• Do a monthly “fines check” so nothing slips through.

Think of AARTO like a driving credit score. Keep it clean and you’ll avoid stress, suspended licences and potential insurance hikes. Let it slip, and you could be redoing your learner’s licence and possibly paying more for cover.

For the latest updates, check the RTIA or the Government Gazette.