AARTO Demerit Points Are Coming: What SA Drivers Need to Know (and How It Might Affect Your Insurance)

SA’s AARTO demerit system launches Dec 2025. Learn how points work, when licences get suspended, and how it could impact your insurance.

Remember in school how your teacher would give you demerits for not doing your homework, or breaking a class rule? Yeah, that’s making a comeback, except it’s with your driving. 

From September 2026, every traffic fine will come with demerit points, and if these stack up higher than the Ponte City Towers, you could get your licence suspended.

But what does this mean for you, your drives, and your car insurance?

Let’s find out:

TL;DR – Our version of “I’m not reading all that, *SparkNotes pls.”

• AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) is a South African law that treats traffic violations as administrative offences instead of crimes.
• The demerit system begins rollout in December 2025 (69 municipalities), goes national in April 2026, and points start counting in September 2026.
• Drivers accumulate demerit points for specific offences listed in Schedule 3. Once they exceed the 15-point threshold, their licences are suspended.
• Depending on your policy and insurer, a suspended licence can affect your insurance.

What is AARTO?

Short for the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, AARTO is a South African law that simplifies handling traffic violations by treating them as administrative offences instead of criminal offences. 

They’re essentially the new administrator of the National Road Traffic Act, responsible for administering, collecting, and adjudicating fines related to road traffic offences.

AARTO is administered by the Road Traffic Infringement Authority (RTIA), and its demerit points are prescribed in Schedule 3 of the AARTO Regulations (the official “Charge Book”). It adds points to a driver’s record for offences that lead to licence suspension if the person is a repeat offender. 

How The Demerit Point System Works 

So, everyone begins with zero points, and each infringement carries a certain number of points, depending on its severity. Let’s examine a few of these infringements and their points.

*The following examples are for illustration only. Actual point values are set out in Schedule 3 of the AARTO Regulations and may vary by offence or vehicle type.

 According to an article by Fines SA, Various traffic offences carry a specific number of demerit points. The points accumulate, and if you reach the maximum limit of 15 points, your licence will be suspended for three months for every point accumulated over the 15-point threshold.

Key Dates & Rollout Timeline

Now that we’ve tackled what this change actually is and how it works, let’s get into when it’s coming into effect:

You’ve got a bit of time to clean up your driving before demerits become a reality for all South African drivers. 

Fleet & Business Owner Implications

If you own or manage a fleet, AARTO is also introducing some new admin responsibilities for you. 

When an infringement is issued and you were not the driver, your company must nominate the responsible driver within 32 days. If a driver isn’t nominated, the fine stays with the business, which can lead to blocked licence renewals or suspended operator cards until resolved.

To nominate a driver, you must download and complete the AARTO 07 driver nomination form. You will also need the full particulars of the driver, together with a copy of their driver’s licence. 

How This Affects Your Insurance

So, you’re probably wondering how this demerit system will affect your insurance. Well, it’s got 3 major impacts on it. Let’s get into them: 

• Suspended Licence = No Cover
  Driving without a valid licence is illegal. Plus, driving while your licence is suspended or cancelled may place you outside your policy’s terms, and your insurer can reject a claim, especially if the suspension contributed to the accident. Always check your policy wording and disclose any suspensions.

• Risk Assessment
  Insurers take your driving history into account. Frequent infringements can signal risky behaviour, which could lead to higher insurance premiums or excesses.

• Claims Process Complications
  Being involved in an accident during a suspension period could seriously affect the insurance claims process.

The bottom line: keeping your licence clean helps keep your insurance cover intact. 

Since we’re chit-chatting about insurance, it might just be time to unlock comprehensive coverage for your car, especially before demerits become a thing. 

Click here for a quick and free quote? 

What to Do When You Get an AARTO Infringement Notice

If you get hit with an AARTO infringement notice, here are the steps you need to follow:

1. Make sure you act within the 32 days, as ignoring the deadline can lead to things escalating.
2. Choose your response:
   – Pay the fine (discount if paid early).
   – Make a representation if you believe it’s invalid.
   – Nominate the actual driver (if it wasn’t you).
   – Decide to go to court.
3. Keep proof and hold on to receipts or correspondence.
4. Track your points via the RTIA portal. You can monitor your status on the official RTIA website or through approved service channels.

That makes sense, right? But what if you want to reduce your demerit points and prevent others from entering the group chat?

Reducing and Preventing Demerit Points

The good news is that AARTO’s demerit points don’t stay with you forever; there are ways to bring your score back down, and it’s all about good driving habits. 

1. Stay Clean:
   You’ll automatically lose one demerit point every three months you go without getting any new infringements. Think of it as a “good behaviour credit.” Stay offence-free for long enough, and you can slowly work your way back down to zero.
2. Attend approved Rehab Programmes:
   AARTO will be bringing official rehabilitation programmes, which are approved courses run by RTIA-accredited providers. These courses usually cover safe driving practices, the consequences of risky behaviour, and how to improve road awareness. The spokesperson of the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), Monde Mkalipi, was quoted as saying, “We have prepared so well for the implementation of AARTO, which includes the Points Demerit System and the Rehabilitation programme. All these elements of AARTO are being packaged for automation and loading into the NaTIS.”
3. Steer clear of bad driving habits:
   The most effective way to stay in the clear is simply not to rack up points in the first place. Some practical habits to build now:

• Obey the speed limits on the road.
• Go hands-free or pull over when taking calls.
• Plan your journeys ahead of time to avoid rushing and taking risky shortcuts.
• Check for outstanding fines monthly, so nothing surprises you.
• Make sure your car is always roadworthy. 

By keeping your points low or ideally at zero, you protect your driving freedom and your insurance cover.

FAQs: Understanding the AARTO

1. When does the AARTO demerit system start in South Africa?
   The phased rollout begins on the 1st of December 2025 in 69 municipalities, with a full national rollout by April 2026. Demerit points officially start being recorded from 1 September 2026.
2. How many points until my licence is suspended?
   If the demerit points exceed the maximum 15 points, you will be disqualified from driving or using the vehicle for three months for every point surpassing the 15 points.
3. Can I reduce or remove demerit points?
   Yes, you can. For every 3 months of offence-free driving, 1 point falls away. You can also attend an RTIA-approved rehabilitation programme, which removes 4 points (but only once yearly).
4. Does a suspended licence affect my insurance?
   Yes, it does. Driving without a valid licence means your insurer may reject any claims if you’re in an accident during the suspension period.
5. What happens if I ignore an AARTO infringement notice?
   Ignoring an AARTO infringement notice can lead to extra penalties, enforcement orders, and even blocks on renewing your licence or vehicle discs. Always act within the 32-day window to respond, pay, or nominate a driver.

Drive Well and Leave Demerits in Your Childhood

The AARTO is basically your credit score, but for driving. The cleaner it is, the better it is for your licence, wallet, and insurance record.

Speaking of insurance, there’s no better time than now (well, after yesterday of course) to give your car the comprehensive protection it deserves. Because if AARTO is raising the stakes, it’s having cover makes more sense. 

Just click here and secure your quote. It only takes 90 seconds, and it’s free too. 

Please Note: The information provided above is for informational purposes only; you should not construe any such information as legal or financial advice. 

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