Demerit points explained

Demerit points are added to a driver's licence for traffic offences. They count for three or four years, depending on the state. Every state and territory lets drivers check their own balance for free, and every WithProof seller declares theirs on the ad.

What it tells you: the owner's current demerit point balance — demerit points earned for driving offences in the last three or four years. What it doesn't: anything before that, fines that carry no demerit points, or how the car was treated. Treat it as one more thing to weigh, not a verdict.

How long do demerit points last?

• 3 years from the date of the offence in NSW, QLD, SA, WA, TAS, ACT and NT.
• 4 years from the date of the offence in VIC.
• A licence suspension resets the demerit points, so a driver just off a suspension can show zero.
• The periods are set by each state and territory, and can change.

For NSW, see the Service NSW demerit points page.

At inspection, ask the seller to show you their current balance in their state's app — the links are on our homepage. The declared number is a snapshot on the date it was declared; the live balance is what counts.