If you have recently received a traffic conviction, been involved in a collision, or are simply unsure about the status of your driving record, checking your demerit points can tell you where you stand. Ontario records demerit points after a driver is convicted of certain driving offenses, and accumulating too many can lead to warnings, interviews, or a license suspension.
You can check your current demerit point total through your Ontario driving record. If a traffic offense or collision has also created questions about liability, insurance, or injuries, speaking with a car accident lawyer in Mississauga may help you determine how the situation could affect your legal rights.
How Do You Check Your Demerit Points in Ontario?
The most direct way to see your current demerit point total is to order a 3-year driver record from the Ontario government.
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation states that the 3-year driver record includes your demerit point total, along with active fine suspensions and Highway Traffic Act and Criminal Code convictions, suspensions, and reinstatements from the previous three years.
You can order an uncertified 3-year driver record online and receive the PDF by email. You will need your driver’s license number or registrant identification number and a valid Visa or Mastercard for payment. The current cost is $12 for an uncertified record and $18 for a certified record.
Your 3-year driver record includes:
- Your driver identification information
- License class and status
- Your current demerit point total
- Active fine suspensions
- Relevant convictions
- License suspensions and reinstatements from the applicable period
If you only need to know how many demerit points are currently recorded, the 3-year driver record is generally the relevant document.
How Does Ontario’s Demerit Point System Work?
Ontario does not begin every driver with a set number of points and then deduct them. Instead, drivers start with zero and gain demerit points when convicted of certain driving offenses.
The points remain on your record for two years from the date of the offense.
The number of points depends on the offense.
For example, under Ontario’s current system:
- 7 points: Failing to remain at the scene of a collision
- 6 points: Careless driving, racing, or certain serious speeding offenses
- 4 points: Following too closely or speeding 30 to 49 km/h over the limit
- 3 points: Failing to yield, disobeying a stop sign or traffic light, or failing to report a collision
- 2 points: Failing to signal, improper turns, or failing to share the road
These are examples rather than a complete list. The specific number of points depends on the offense for which you are convicted.
How Long Do Demerit Points Stay on Your Record?
Demerit points stay on your Ontario driving record for two years from the date of the offense. This means the relevant date is generally the date the offense occurred, rather than the date you received your conviction.
It is also possible for certain out-of-province offenses to affect an Ontario driver’s record. Ontario states that demerit points can be added for driving-law violations committed in other Canadian provinces and territories, as well as New York and Michigan.
How Many Points Lead to a License Suspension?
The consequences depend on whether you are a fully licensed driver or a novice driver.
For a fully licensed Ontario driver:
| Demerit points | Potential consequence |
| 0–5 | No demerit-point warning |
| 6–8 | Warning letter |
| 9–14 | Second warning letter |
| 15+ | 30-day license suspension |
Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation confirms that a fully licensed driver who reaches 15 or more points can have their license suspended for 30 days. Novice drivers face stricter thresholds. Drivers with G1, G2, M1, or M2 licenses can face a 60-day suspension after accumulating nine or more points.
The consequences can extend beyond the immediate suspension. If you rely on driving for work, a suspension may interfere with your ability to perform your job.
Do Demerit Points Automatically Increase Your Insurance Rates?
Demerit points are part of Ontario’s government-administered driving record. Insurance companies may also consider convictions and other information when assessing risk and determining premiums.
A conviction can therefore have insurance consequences even when you are not approaching the threshold for a driver’s license suspension.
If your concern involves a collision, it is also important to distinguish between receiving demerit points for a traffic offense and being found responsible for a collision. These are separate issues that can involve different processes.
What If Your Demerit Points Came From a Car Accident?
Not every accident results in demerit points.
Demerit points are generally connected to convictions for specific driving offenses, rather than being automatically assigned simply because a collision occurred. Ontario’s official rules provide demerit points for particular offenses, including failing to remain at the scene and failing to report a collision.
For example, if a collision results in a conviction for careless driving, six demerit points can be recorded. If a driver is convicted of failing to remain at the scene of a collision, seven points can apply. The circumstances of the collision, the evidence, and the specific offense involved therefore matter.
Can You Remove Demerit Points From Your Record?
Demerit points are not something you simply request to have erased because you disagree with them. They are recorded as part of the consequences of applicable convictions. Points generally remain for two years from the offense date.
If you believe a conviction itself was issued incorrectly or you are facing a traffic charge, the appropriate legal process depends on the circumstances. A lawyer can advise you about the available options rather than treating the demerit-point total as an isolated issue.
It is also important to remember that a warning letter does not mean the points have been removed. The MTO’s warning system is designed to alert drivers as they approach the suspension threshold.
What Should You Do If You Have Accumulated Several Points?
Start by obtaining your current driving record rather than relying on memory.
Then review:
- The offenses listed on your record
- The date of each offense
- Your current demerit point total
- Any outstanding suspensions
- The status of your license
- Any recent convictions that may not yet appear on older documents
If you are close to the suspension threshold, the consequences of another conviction can be significant. You may want to obtain legal advice before resolving a new traffic charge, particularly if the charge arose from a serious collision.
If an accident resulted in injuries, property damage, or a dispute about who was responsible, a car accident lawyer in Mississauga can also examine the collision separately from the demerit-point issue.
What If You Are Already Facing a Suspension?
Take any MTO warning or suspension notice seriously. A fully licensed driver who reaches 15 or more demerit points can face a 30-day suspension. Ontario also states that failing to surrender a license when required can lead to a longer loss of driving privileges.
If driving is essential for your employment, family responsibilities, or other obligations, address the issue promptly. Depending on the circumstances, there may be legal options concerning the underlying conviction or other aspects of the matter. Do not continue driving if your license has been suspended simply because you have not yet received or surrendered the physical card.
Simply put, checking your demerit points in Ontario is relatively straightforward: order your 3-year driver record through the provincial government and review the demerit point total listed on it. The current online price is $12 for an uncertified record and $18 for a certified record.
If your points are connected to a serious traffic offense or collision, do not look at the number in isolation. The underlying conviction, insurance implications, injuries, and potential liability may all require separate consideration. In those circumstances, getting advice from a car accident lawyer in Mississauga may help you determine what steps are available based on the specific facts.