Speeding Fines NSW 2026: Fines, Demerit Points and Licence Suspensions

Speeding is one of the most common driving offences in NSW, and one of the most expensive. The speeding fines NSW drivers pay go up every 1 July, and they rose again on 1 July 2026. On top of the fine, every speeding offence carries demerit points, and higher range speeding can cost you your licence for months.

This guide sets out the current NSW speeding fines and demerit points, how school zones and double demerits change the picture, when your licence can be suspended and what your options are if you receive a speeding fine.

NSW Speeding Fines Table (From 1 July 2026)

The table below shows the penalty notice amounts and demerit points for drivers of cars and other light vehicles (Class A) who hold a full licence. The amounts are taken from the Judicial Commission of NSW Lawcodes database, which lists the speeding fines in force from 1 July 2026.

"More than 10 km/h" means more than 10 km/h but not more than 20 km/h over the limit, and so on for each band. Heavy vehicles attract higher fines, and fines are indexed every 1 July, so always check the amount on your own penalty notice. The NSW Government speeding offences page has more detail.

If the offence is dealt with by a court instead of a penalty notice, the maximum fine is 20 penalty units ($2,200), or 30 penalty units ($3,300) for speeding by more than 45 km/h.

Speeding Fine NSW Under 10km/h

The lowest band, speeding by 10 km/h or less, now costs $153 and 1 demerit point, or 2 points during double demerits. It can feel like a technicality, but it is not minor: the Transport for NSW speed fact sheet notes that most speeding deaths occur at no more than 10 km/h over the speed limit. If you have a long clean driving record, this is also the kind of fine where a review may lead to a caution (see "Your options" below).

So, how many demerit points for speeding under 10 km/h? One point for a full licence holder, two during double demerit periods, and at least 4 points for learner and provisional drivers.

School Zone Speeding Fines in NSW

School zones in NSW usually operate from 8am to 9:30am and from 2:30pm to 4pm on school days, with a 40 km/h limit. Speeding in a school zone attracts higher fines and an extra demerit point:

Double demerits double the school zone points as well, and learner and provisional drivers receive at least 5 demerit points for any speeding offence in a school zone.

How Many Demerit Points for Speeding in NSW?

Speeding demerit points NSW drivers receive work on a sliding scale: 1 point for 10 km/h or less, 3 points for more than 10 km/h, 4 points for more than 20 km/h, 5 points for more than 30 km/h and 6 points for more than 45 km/h over the limit. Demerit points count against your licence for 3 years, and your licence is suspended if you reach your limit within any 3 year period.

Your demerit point limit depends on your licence type:

Learner and provisional drivers

Learner and provisional drivers receive at least 4 demerit points for speeding NSW offences of any size. Because the limit for learners and P1 drivers is 4, any speeding offence means a licence suspension of at least 3 months, even at the lowest level. P2 drivers who are suspended, for example for speeding by more than 30 km/h or for reaching their demerit point limit, must also stay on their P2 licence for an extra 6 months for every suspension.

Double demerit periods

During double demerit periods over long weekends and holiday periods, the points for speeding are doubled. For example, double demerits applied over the Labour Day long weekend from 2 to 5 October 2026. Double demerits also apply to mobile phone, seatbelt and motorcycle helmet offences. The fine itself does not double, only the demerit points. Transport for NSW publishes the dates of each double demerit period.

The demerit point reward program

From 17 January 2023 to 31 January 2026, NSW trialled a program that removed one demerit point from unrestricted licence holders who had demerit points on their record and stayed offence-free for 12 months. Learner and provisional drivers were not included. The NSW Government announced in December 2025 that it would make the program permanent and introduced a bill to Parliament in February 2026. As at early October 2026, that bill had not been passed by both houses, so the scheme is not currently law. Check Transport for NSW for the latest position.

You can check your demerit points with Service NSW, and our guide to demerit points in NSW explains how to protect your licence.

When Will Speeding Cost You Your Licence?

Speeding can lead to a licence suspension in several ways:

• Speeding by more than 30 km/h: a 3 month licence suspension.
• Speeding by more than 45 km/h: a 6 month licence suspension. Police can suspend your licence on the spot, and can also impound your vehicle or confiscate your number plates.
• Learner and provisional drivers speeding by more than 30 km/h: police can suspend the licence on the spot.
• Camera detected offences: police cannot suspend your licence at the roadside, but Transport for NSW will send you a Notice of Suspension.
• Reaching your demerit point limit: a separate suspension applies on top of any speeding suspension. For an unrestricted licence it is 3 months for 13 to 15 points, 4 months for 16 to 19 points and 5 months for 20 or more points.

Unrestricted licence holders facing a demerit point suspension can usually choose a 12 month good behaviour period instead. The catch is that incurring 2 or more demerit points during that period leads to a suspension of double the original length.

Driving while your licence is suspended is a serious offence that can lead to long disqualifications, heavy fines and even imprisonment. If this has happened to you, speak to our suspended and disqualified driving lawyers.

How Speeding Is Detected in NSW

Speed limits are enforced by police and by an extensive camera network. Transport for NSW uses:

• Fixed speed cameras, which have warning signs
• Mobile speed cameras, with warning signs before and after the camera and a sign on top of the vehicle
• Red light speed cameras at intersections, which detect both red light and speeding offences
• Average speed cameras, which measure your average speed between two points. These have long applied to heavy vehicles. After a trial, enforcement for light vehicles is continuing at two sites, on the Pacific Highway (Kew to Lake Innes) and the Hume Highway (Coolac to Gundagai), while a formal review is finalised
• School zone cameras

Police also detect speeding with radar and lidar devices and by following vehicles. When a camera detects an offence, it records the vehicle's make, colour and number plate, the date, time and location, the direction of travel, the speed and the speed limit.

Speed limits exist for a reason. According to Transport for NSW, speeding contributes to about 42% of road fatalities and 25% of serious injuries in NSW each year.

Got a Speeding Fine NSW? Your Options

If you have received a speeding fine, you generally have five options. Acting before the due date on your notice keeps all of them open.

1. Pay the fine

Paying by the due date avoids extra fees. Paying also means the offence and demerit points are recorded against your licence.

2. Request a review with Revenue NSW

You can ask Revenue NSW to review the fine before the due date, and you will usually receive a reply within 21 days. For some speeding offences under 20 km/h, leniency may be considered if you have held a NSW licence for 10 years with a clear driving record. The possible outcomes include the fine standing, a caution instead of a fine (a caution may still appear on your driving record) or the fine being cancelled. Leniency is not available for speeding by more than 20 km/h, school zone offences or heavy vehicle offences. You can request a review on the NSW Government website.

3. Nominate the driver

If someone else was driving your car when a camera detected the offence, you can nominate them through myPenalty or by statutory declaration, usually before the due date on the reminder notice. Making a false nomination is a serious offence.

4. Take the matter to court

You can elect to have the fine dealt with by the Local Court. This can make sense if you have a defence, for example the speed reading is wrong or you were not the driver, or if you rely on your licence, have a good driving record and want to ask for a section 10 dismissal. If the court finds the offence proven but makes a section 10 order without recording a conviction, such as a dismissal under section 10(1)(a), no demerit points are recorded.

There are risks. The court can impose a higher fine (up to $2,200, or $3,300 for speeding by more than 45 km/h), you may have to pay court costs, and a conviction or disqualification is possible. Once the court process has started, you cannot change your mind and go back to the fine. Completing a traffic offenders program and preparing character references can help your case, so get advice before you elect to go to court.

5. Appeal a licence suspension

You can appeal a speeding suspension to the Local Court:

• Suspension by Transport for NSW: lodge your appeal within 28 days of the date on the Notice of Suspension and before the suspension starts. The suspension is stayed (paused) until the court hears your appeal, but if the appeal is dismissed you may have to pay Transport for NSW's legal costs.
• On-the-spot suspension by police: lodge your appeal within 28 days. Your licence stays suspended until the appeal is heard unless the court orders a stay, and both a stay and any change to a police suspension require exceptional circumstances.

Unrestricted licence holders, and drivers suspended for breaching a good behaviour period, cannot appeal a demerit point suspension. Learner and provisional licence holders can. Legal Aid NSW explains the appeal process, and our licence appeal lawyers can run the appeal for you.

Is it worth going to court for a speeding fine?

It depends on your record, the size of the offence and how much you need your licence. For a first offence at the lower end, a review is often the best first step. For higher range speeding, a suspension that threatens your job, or a fine you believe is wrong, getting legal advice before the due date is usually worth it. Our fixed fees for traffic cases mean you know the cost upfront.

Practical Tips to Avoid Speeding Fines

• Check the speed limit sign after every intersection and when entering a new area, as limits change often
• Slow down to 40 km/h in school zones during school zone hours, and watch for flashing lights
• Take extra care in roadworks, where lower temporary limits apply
• Use cruise control or a speed limiter on long drives and highways
• Remember that average speed cameras measure your speed over a long distance, not at one point
• Check your demerit point balance regularly so a suspension does not take you by surprise

How Our Traffic Lawyers Can Help

NS Criminal Lawyers & Associates represents drivers across Sydney and NSW in speeding and licence matters. Our speeding fine lawyers can:

• Advise you on whether to pay, request a review or take the fine to court
• Represent you in the Local Court and argue for a section 10 dismissal or the lowest possible penalty
• Run licence suspension appeals
• Help you prepare character references, a letter of apology and evidence of a traffic offenders program

Learn more about our speeding fine lawyers in Sydney and our wider traffic law services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Speeding Fines in NSW

How much is a speeding fine in NSW in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, a speeding fine for a car driver in NSW is $153 (10 km/h or less over), $354 (more than 10 km/h), $608 (more than 20 km/h), $1,163 (more than 30 km/h) or $3,135 (more than 45 km/h). School zone fines are higher.

Do you lose your licence for speeding more than 30 km/h over in NSW?

Yes. Speeding by more than 30 km/h over the limit leads to a 3 month licence suspension, and speeding by more than 45 km/h leads to a 6 month suspension. You can appeal a speeding suspension to the Local Court.

Are speeding fines higher during double demerits?

No. The fine stays the same, but the demerit points are doubled.

How long do demerit points last in NSW?

Demerit points count against your licence for 3 years. Your licence is suspended if you reach your demerit point limit within any 3 year period.

Can I get a speeding fine reduced to a warning?

Possibly. Revenue NSW may give a caution for some speeding offences under 20 km/h if you have held a NSW licence for 10 years with a clear driving record. You must ask for a review before the due date, and a caution may still appear on your driving record.

Will I get demerit points if I go to court?

If you are convicted, yes. If the court makes a section 10 order without recording a conviction, no demerit points are recorded.

This article provides general information only and is not legal advice. The law referred to is current in New South Wales as at the date of publication. For advice about your circumstances, please contact a qualified criminal defence lawyer.