Photo: Canley, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In Tasmania, a learner or provisional driver who collects 4 or more demerit points in 12 months is suspended for at least 3 months. A full licence holder gets 12 points over 3 years. Novice drivers also face extra penalties: P1 restart offences, disqualification for driving unaccompanied, and case management after a suspension. This page explains how it all works.
Demerit point limits in Tasmania
| Licence | Points | Suspension or ineligibility | Points stay active for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learner or provisional (P1 and P2) | 4 to 15 | 3 months | 12 months |
| Learner or provisional (P1 and P2) | 16 to 19 | 4 months | 12 months |
| Learner or provisional (P1 and P2) | 20 or more | 5 months | 12 months |
| Full licence | 12 to 15 | 3 months | 3 years |
| Full licence | 16 to 19 | 4 months | 3 years |
| Full licence | 20 or more | 5 months | 3 years |
Unlicensed drivers fall under the same bands as learners: 4 or more points in 12 months makes you ineligible for a licence. Points count from the offence date, not the date you were convicted or paid.
How demerit points work
- Everyone starts at zero.
- Certain offences carry demerit points. The number is printed on your Traffic Infringement Notice. You can look up offences on the Tasmania Police infringement look-up site.
- If you reach your limit you are suspended, or if unlicensed you can’t get a licence, for the period in the table.
- A suspension ends and your licence comes back automatically. A cancelled licence must be applied for again, and conditions may be added.
To check your total, call Service Tasmania on 1300 13 55 13. The total only shows recorded points, not unpaid fines or matters still before the court. If you think points were given in error, contact Traffic Liaison Services at Tasmania Police on 6173 2963.
The Period of Good Behaviour option, which lets you keep driving instead of serving a demerit suspension, is for full licence holders only. Learners and P platers serve the suspension.
Penalties that only apply to novices
Learner condition breaches
| Breach | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Driving without an appropriate supervisor | Three-month disqualification and a fine |
| Exceeding the 90 km/h learner speed cap | Demerit points and a fine |
| Not displaying L plates | Demerit points and a fine |
| Driving with any alcohol | Court. The minimum penalty is losing your licence and a fine |
P1 restart offences
These restart your 12-month P1 period:
- not wearing a seatbelt
- using a mobile phone while driving, including hands-free
- speeding by 10 km/h or more
- not displaying P plates
- carrying more than one peer passenger without an exemption.
Driving without a licence
Up to 20 penalty units for a first offence and up to 40 for a later offence.
Disqualification and what follows
Offences that can lead to disqualification include a first offence with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.1, an unaccompanied learner infringement and speeding by 38 km/h or more, as well as court orders. After a disqualification you may have to start again as a non-novice learner.
When you return after disqualification, suspension or ineligibility, you are assessed for novice case management. A case manager can require:
- education courses or drug and alcohol counselling
- medical reviews and monitoring of your driving
- licence conditions, a longer L, P1 or P2 period, passenger restrictions or a night-time curfew
- extra logbook hours before the P1 assessment.
The hidden cost: losing the safer driver reward
Any demerit points recorded during P1 or P2 mean no free three-year licence when you go full. See getting your full licence and the safer driver reward.
What the Road Rules handbook says about enforcement
Chapter 20 of the Tasmanian Road Rules handbook explains that an offence can lead to a traffic infringement notice or a court summons. Penalties include fines, demerit points, suspension or cancellation, and a conviction or sentence. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is an offence on public roads and on private property. Learners and P platers must have no alcohol at all, and Tasmania Police can stop and test any driver they suspect, arrest without a warrant and impound the vehicle. More on testing: zero alcohol for learners and P platers.
Common questions
How many demerit points can a P plater have in Tasmania?
Fewer than 4 within any 12 months. At 4 you are suspended for 3 months.
How many demerit points do learners get in Tasmania?
The same as P platers: 4 or more in 12 months means a suspension.
Does Tasmania have double demerits?
The Transport Services demerit points page does not mention double demerits. For how each state handles them, see double demerit points in Australia.
Can a P plater apply for a good behaviour period?
No. The Period of Good Behaviour is only for full licence holders.
Does speeding by 5 km/h restart my P1?
The restart offence is speeding by 10 km/h or more. Smaller speeding offences still carry a fine and demerit points.
Do interstate offences count?
The Tasmanian demerit page does not say. Check with Service Tasmania. For interstate driving, see driving interstate on L or P plates.
Back to learning to drive in Tasmania. Related: Tasmanian P1 and P2 rules.
Sources
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Demerit points” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Novice penalties and case management” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Transport Services Tasmania, “Disqualifications, suspensions and cancellations” (transport.tas.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth, “Progressing to your full licence” (platesplus.tas.gov.au)
- Department of State Growth, “Tasmanian Road Rules” handbook, Version 2.1, section 20 (transport.tas.gov.au)