What fines cost where: How traffic offence penalties vary between states
Australian traffic laws vary between states and territories, and so too do the penalties a motorist driving a light vehicle with a full licence will incur for an offence.
For this list, we’ve looked at five of the most common traffic offences – including speeding, drink-driving, mobile phone use, not wearing a seatbelt and running a red light – and how the fines and demerit points (or licence disqualifications) stack up.
How do fines and penalties for speeding vary in Australian states and territories?
Exceeding the posted speed limit is one of the most common traffic law violations, with a 2025 report revealing it was also the most caught-on-camera offence in NSW.
Fines and penalties across Australia are proportional to exactly how much that posted speed limit was exceeded.
Northern Territory drivers score the most lenient penalty for a minor infringement, while NSW drivers pay the largest fine and Victorian drivers see the longest disqualifications for major infringements. While Western Australia does not have an automatic licence suspension for speeding, exceeding the posted speed limit by 45km/h or more could result in a ‘reckless driving’ charge with severe penalties, including licence disqualification.
| Minor infringement | Major infringement | |||
| State | Fine amount | Points lost | Fine amount | Points lost |
| NSW | $149 | 1 | $3054 | 6 – plus licence disqualification (6 months) |
| VIC | $254 | 1 | $1018 | 8 – plus licence disqualification (12 months) |
| QLD | $333 | 1 | $1919 | 8 – plus licence disqualification (6 months) |
| SA | $208 | 2 | $1954 | 9 – plus licence disqualification (6 months) |
| WA | $200 | 2 | $1200 | 7 |
| NT | $150 | 1 | $1000 | 6 – plus licence disqualification (3 months) |
| TAS | $102.50 | 2 | $1178.75 | Licence disqualification (4 months) |
| ACT | $335 | 1 | $1841 | 6 |
How do fines and penalties for drink-driving fines vary between Australian states and territories?
Drink-driving is considered one of the most serious driving offences, with penalties including hefty fines, licence disqualification, and even a jail sentence.
The variance of punishment across Australia is enormous, with only Western Australia not issuing an automatic licence disqualification for a low-range blood alcohol content (BAC) test result.
Victoria’s laws are complicated (different rules apply for those under 26 and those over) and its fines severe, with its low-range BAC penalty about 10 times greater than the Northern Territory’s, and its high-range BAC fine multiples of any other state’s.
Despite a modest fine amount, both South Australia and Tasmania issue the longest licence disqualifications of all the states and territories.
Note: Figures relevant for a first-time offender
| Low-range BAC | High-range BAC | |||
| State | Fine amount | Points lost | Fine amount | Points lost |
| NSW | $704 | Licence disqualification (3 months) | $3300 | Licence disqualification (12 months) |
| VIC | $407.20 | Licence disqualification (6 months) | $30,526.50 | Licence disqualification (15 to 24 months) |
| QLD | $2336 | Licence disqualification (1 to 9 months) | $4673 | Licence disqualification (minimum 6 months) |
| SA | $875 | Licence disqualification (3 months) | $1600 | Licence disqualification (36 months) |
| WA | $1000 | 3 | $1700 | Licence disqualification (10 months) |
| NT | $400 | Licence disqualification (3 months) | $1890 | Licence disqualification (12 months) |
| TAS | $410 | Licence disqualification (3–12 months) | $1025 | Licence disqualification (12–36 months) |
| ACT | $2750 | Licence disqualification (3–6 months) | $8250 | Licence disqualification (9–18 months) |
How do fines and penalties for mobile phone usage vary between Australian states and territories?
Mobile phone operation while driving is a carefully monitored, with the interpretation of safe and allowed usage varying greatly between states.
Despite this, demerit points for the offence do not vary greatly – although in Western Australia, they do depend on exactly how the phone is being used (are you simply touching the phone or are you using it to send a text, for example). This will also determine what fines are meted out in WA and the Northern Territory.
Queenslanders cop the biggest fine for any offence by some margin, and Tasmania’s are lenient by comparison.
On your P-plates or L-plates and not sure when and where you can use a mobile phone? We’ve covered the rules and regulations for each state here.
|
State |
Fine amount |
Points lost |
| NSW | $423 | 5 |
| VIC | $611 | 4 |
| QLD | $1251 | 4 |
| SA | $658 | 3 |
| WA | $500-1000 | 3-4 |
| NT | $500 | 3 |
| TAS | $404 | 3 |
| ACT | $548-674 | 3-4 |
How do fines and penalties for not wearing a seatbelt vary between Australian states and territories?
Failing to wear a seatbelt and improper seatbelt use can greatly increase the chance of serious injury or death for drivers and passengers.
The states and territories are pretty well aligned on how seriously they take this one, but those in Queensland will be paying the most – more than three times the cash for an offence than Victorian, who pay the least.
|
State |
Fine amount |
Points lost |
| NSW | $423 | 3 |
| VIC | $407 | 3 |
| QLD | $1251 | 4 |
| SA | $537 | 3 |
| WA | $550 | 4 |
| NT | $500 | 3 |
| TAS | $410 | 3 |
| ACT | $574 | 3 |
How do fines and penalties for running a red light vary between Australian states and territories?
Running a red light can be the result of a quick decision made poorly, or an attempt to beat the estimated time on the GPS.
Regardless, it’s a dangerous move that can put other road users – both in vehicles and on foot – at risk of serious harm or death.
This is the offence state traffic authorities seem to agree on most, with almost equal demerit points issued across the country.
Tasmanians pay the least and, you guessed it, Queenslanders the most.
|
State |
Fine amount |
Points lost |
| NSW | $544 | 3 |
| VIC | $509 | 3 |
| QLD | $575 | 4 |
| SA | $540 | 3 |
| WA | $300 | 4 |
| NT | $240 | 3 |
| TAS | $159 | 3 |
| ACT | $522 | 3 |
Resources
- nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-11/Speeding_offences.pdf
- qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/demerit/points#speeding
- qld.gov.au/transport/licensing/loss-of-licence/high-speed-driving-suspension
- online.fines.vic.gov.au/Your-options/Fine-amounts-and-demerit-points
- mylicence.sa.gov.au/roadrules/offences-and-penalties
- transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/drivers-licence/driver-rules-penalties-infringements/driving-offences
- andrewwilliamslawyer.com.au/reckless-dangerous-driving.html
- nt.gov.au/driving/driving-offences-and-penalties/traffic-offences-and-penalties#speeding
- classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_act/ta198777/s30a.html
- speedcameras.tas.gov.au/penalties_and_infringements
