Speeding offences in New South Wales range from minor infringements to serious criminal matters. We represent clients facing speeding fines, licence suspension, and court proceedings across all NSW courts.
If you have been caught speeding, the penalties you face depend on how far you exceeded the speed limit, your licence type, and your driving record.
A speeding offence occurs when you drive a motor vehicle above the posted speed limit on NSW roads. Under the Road Rules 2014, exceeding the speed limit by any margin is an offence, regardless of whether you were aware of the limit or conditions at the time.
Different speeding offences carry different penalties, ranging from modest fines and demerit points for low-range offences to immediate licence suspension, heavy fines, and potential court penalties for serious speeding offences. Speeding is detected using fixed speed cameras, mobile speed cameras, point-to-point cameras, and NSW Police officers using radar or laser devices or in some cases, even estimations.
Speeding offences in New South Wales are classified according to how much you exceeded the speed limit. The penalties vary depending on whether you hold a full licence, provisional licence (P1 or P2), or learner permit.
Exceeding the speed limit by less than 10 km/h is the most common speeding offence. For full licence holders, this attracts a fine and 1 demerit point. While it may seem minor, these demerit points accumulate on your driving record and can contribute to reaching your demerit point threshold over time.
Driving 10 km/h to 20 km/h over the speed limit results in a higher fine and 3 demerit points. For provisional licence holders and those on a learner permit, this can have more significant consequences due to the lower demerit point limit that applies and/or the automatic suspension of some Provisional Licence holders for any speeding offence.
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 km/h but not more than 30 km/h carries 4 demerit points and a substantial fine. This level of speeding begins to attract more serious attention from authorities and may affect your ability to retain your licence if you already have points on your record.
Speeding more than 30 km/h over the limit is classified as a serious speeding offence. This carries 5 demerit points, a significant fine, and a minimum licence suspension of 3 months. Transport for NSW or NSW Police can suspend your licence for this offence. For provisional licence holders, police can issue an immediate licence suspension at the roadside.
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 km/h is the most serious speeding offence. It carries 6 demerit points, the highest speeding fines, and a minimum 6-month licence suspension. NSW Police can immediately suspend your licence on the spot and have the power to confiscate your vehicle’s number plates or impound your vehicle. This offence typically requires a court appearance, with maximum penalties including fines up to $3,300 for light vehicles and potential licence disqualification of 6 months or more.
The penalties for speeding in NSW depend on several factors: how much you exceeded the posted speed limit, the class of motor vehicle you were driving, whether the offence occurred in a school zone, and your licence type.
Speed Over Limit | Fine Amount | Demerit Points | Suspension Period |
Less than 10 km/h | $137 | 1 | None |
10–20 km/h | $316 | 3 | None |
20–30 km/h | $542 | 4 | None |
30–45 km/h | $1,036 | 5 | 3 months |
More than 45 km/h | $2,794 | 6 | 6 months |
School Zone Speeding Penalties: Speeding fines in a school zone are significantly higher than standard speeding penalties. School zones operate during designated hours around schools, typically with a 40 km/h speed limit.
Court Penalties for Speeding: If you are convicted of a speeding offence by a court, the maximum penalties are higher than those on a penalty notice. Heavy vehicles and Class B or C motor vehicles face even higher maximum penalties.
The demerit points scheme in New South Wales works alongside speeding fines to discourage repeat traffic offences. Each time you commit a speeding offence and pay the fine or are convicted, demerit points are added to your driving record.
Full (unrestricted) licence is 13 points, Provisional P2 licence is 7 points, Provisional P1 licence is 4 points, and a Learner permit is 4 points.
If you reach or exceed your demerit point threshold within a three-year period, your licence will be suspended. Demerit points remain active on your record for three years from the date of the offence.
During gazetted public holiday periods and long weekends, double demerit points apply to all speeding offences, as well as seatbelt, mobile phone, and motorcycle helmet offences. For example, this means a speeding offence that would normally attract 3 demerit points will attract 6 during double demerit periods.
If you receive a speeding fine, you have several options:
Pay the Fine: If you pay the fine by the due date, the demerit points will be added to your driving record. Payment is typically due within 21–28 days. You can also request a payment plan through Revenue NSW if you cannot pay in full.
Request a Review: You can request a review of your speeding fine through Revenue NSW if you believe:
Elect to Go to Court: You can elect to have your speeding matter heard in the Local Court if you believe you have a valid defence or are seeking a non-conviction order. It’s important to remember that once you elect to go to court, you cannot reverse that decision. The court may impose higher penalties than the original fine, so it is important to seek legal advice before electing.
If you have your licence suspended for a speeding offence, you may be able to appeal to the Local Court within 28 days of receiving the Notice of Suspension or the date of the on-the-spot suspension.
To succeed in an appeal against an immediate police suspension, you must demonstrate “exceptional circumstances.” The court considers factors such as:
For appeals against Transport for NSW suspensions, the court has broader discretion, which often leads to a more successful outcome for Appellants.
The court can:
If you are about to be suspended for reaching your demerit point limit and you hold an unrestricted licence, you may be able to elect a 12-month Good Behaviour Period instead of serving the suspension.
During this period, you can continue driving, but if you commit any traffic offence that carries 2 or more demerit points, your licence will be suspended for double the original suspension period.
If you breach a Good Behaviour Licence, you may elect to take the offence to court and seek to either be found not guilty or receive a non-conviction order. If either of these outcomes is achieved, then you may continue on your Good Behaviour License.
Speeding is detected on NSW roads through several methods, including Fixed, Mobile and Point-to-Point.
Fixed speed cameras are permanently installed at high-risk locations; they operate continuously and capture images showing the vehicle’s number plate, colour, make, and speed.
Mobile speed cameras are deployed in both marked and unmarked vehicles at various locations and can detect speeding from stationary or moving positions. Unlike fixed cameras, mobile speed cameras move regularly, making them unpredictable.
Point-to-point cameras measure your average speed between two fixed locations, commonly used on highways and in tunnels. If your average speed exceeds the limit, you will receive an infringement notice.
NSW Police use handheld radar and laser devices to detect speeding during roadside operations. If caught by police, you may receive an on-the-spot penalty notice or, for more serious speeding offences, an immediate licence suspension.
Yes. If you exceed the speed limit by more than 30 km/h, your licence may be suspended regardless of your prior driving record. For learner and P1 licence holders, any speeding offence will result in suspension due to the 4-point minimum penalty.
Demerit points remain active on your driving record for three years from the date of the offence. After three years, they no longer count towards your demerit point threshold, but they remain on your record permanently.
The demerit points for your speeding offence will be doubled. For example, a 10–20 km/h speeding offence that normally carries 3 demerit points will attract 6 demerit points during double demerit periods.
The demerit points for your speeding offence will be doubled. For example, a 10–20 km/h speeding offence that normally carries 3 demerit points will attract 6 demerit points during double demerit periods.
Yes. You can seek a review internally or, elect to have the matter heard in court if you believe the camera was faulty, the signage was inadequate, or you have another valid defence. You can also request calibration and testing records for the camera.
Licence suspension is administrative—imposed by Transport for NSW or police. You do not need to reapply for your licence after the suspension period ends so long as your license remains current at the end of the suspension period. Licence disqualification is imposed by a court, and you must reapply for a new licence after the disqualification period ends.
Speak to our criminal and traffic lawyers now for expert legal advice and representation.
Speak to our criminal and traffic lawyers now for expert legal advice and representation.
Defending charges of drink driving and drug driving, including licence disqualification.
Representation for negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm or death.
Fighting demerit point losses, licence suspensions, and fines for speeding charges.
Danegerous driving occasioning death or grievous bodily harm, including serious criminal charges.
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