Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

Do demerit points affect your car insurance?

It depends on the insurer and if they ask about demerit points or not.

Alexandra Koster's headshot
Peta Taylor's headshot

By

Alexandra Koster

&

Peta Taylor

Updated

Start comparing

Our insurance experts got quotes from 5 popular car insurance providers. Of that, 3 didn't ask about demerit points at all leaving the premium unaffected. The remaining 2 that did ask about demerit points showed that price can vary by as much as $800 for those with a clean driving record versus those without.

Why do demerit points affect your insurance?

Demerit points matter because insurers base your policy cost on a range of factors, including things like age, gender and driving history. The more likely you are to get into an accident based on past behaviour, the less willing they are to insure you as the chances of you claiming are higher. Since demerit points are earned by doing dangerous things like speeding or texting and driving, insurers use them as just another piece of the puzzle when determining how well you actually drive, which affects the cost of what they'll offer you.

How long do they affect your insurance?

Generally, demerit points last for three years from the date of the offence. In some cases, offences from more than three years ago may still apply because it can take time for the relevant state government to be informed of the offence (for example, if a court case is involved). Once expired, offences should be dropped from your driving record and therefore no longer affect any premiums. It's important to always make sure your driving record is up-to-date and correct before applying for auto insurance to avoid incorrect charges.

Finder survey: How many Australians have accrued demerit points for a driving offence?

Response
Yes50.89%
No47.51%
I have never driven before1.59%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023

How to check demerit points

If you're worried about your own driving record and how many demerit points you may already have, you should be able to find out online.

Why you can trust Finder's car insurance experts

freeYou pay nothing. Finder is free to use. And you pay the same as going direct. No markups, no hidden fees.
expert adviceYou save time. We spend 100s of hours researching car insurance so you can sort the gold from the junk faster.
independentYou can trust us. We say it like it is. We aren't owned by an insurer and our opinions are our own.
Alexandra Koster's headshot
Publisher

Alexandra Koster is Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs. See full bio

Peta Taylor's headshot
Co-written by

Associate publisher

Peta Taylor is an associate publisher at Finder, specialising in car insurance. She's been analysing product disclosure statements and publishing articles for car insurance for over a year. Peta has a Bachelor of Communications and Media Studies with a Major in Marketing from the University of Wollongong and a Cert IV in Media Journalism. Peta is part of Finder's car insurance awards team and works alongside editorial and insights experts to bring drivers the best in car insurance products every year. See full bio

More guides on Finder

Ask a Question

You are about to post a question on finder.com.au:

  • Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
  • finder.com.au is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
  • We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
  • Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked

Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our Terms Of Service and Finder Group Privacy & Cookies Policy.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Go to site