The rules of the road in Ontario are in place for a reason — to keep drivers safe and out of harm's way while operating a vehicle on the road.

And, like any rule, breaking the rules of the road comes with consequences. One of the common consequences of breaking the rules of the road is obtaining demerit points.

Many drivers have been misinformed or have misconceptions about various aspects of the demerit point system and how it works. That's why we wanted to clarify the rules regarding demerit points in Ontario.

Continue reading to learn more about demerit points Ontario.

Demerit points Ontario — How do they work?

One of the most common myths about demerit points in Ontario is that drivers "lose" points when they receive a ticket. However, it's actually the opposite; drivers gain points when they break the rules of the road.

The number of demerit points you receive in Ontario is influenced by the type and severity of the event you've been convicted of (more on that shortly). If a driver in Ontario receives too many demerit points, they can lose their license!

Drivers in Ontario should note that they can receive demerit points in the following locations:

• Other Canadian provinces and territories
• The state of Michigan
• The state of New York

Additionally, in many cases, demerit points even follow you when you move to another province! With this in mind, it's easy to see why drivers need to respect the rules of the road at all times, not just while driving in Ontario.

How many demerit points do you have in Ontario as a fully-licenced driver?

If you've passed Ontario's graduated licence system (i.e. you have your G-class driver's licence), you can receive a maximum of 14 demerit points before facing any consequences. After receiving 15 (or more) demerit points, you can lose your licence for a 30-day period.

Additionally, if you choose to ignore the consequences and do not surrender your driver's licence, you can lose your licence for a two-year period.

How are demerit points applied in Ontario?

As mentioned earlier, how many demerit points Ontario drivers gain depends on the type and severity of the event you are convicted of:

Two demerit points — Improper turning, the improper opening of a car door, driving under the speed limit, ignoring traffic signs, not wearing a seatbelt, not lowering headlights or high beams for oncoming drivers, turning without signalling, driving with an infant who is not secured safely, etc.

Three demerit points — Using a wireless hand-held device (cellphone, tablet, etc.), surpassing the set speed limit by 19-29 kilometres per hour, ignoring traffic lights and stop signs, improper or overly aggressive passing, travelling in the wrong direction on a one-way road, abusing the passenger requirements in high-occupancy lanes, etc.

Four demerit points — Failing to stop at a crosswalk, following a vehicle too closely (i.e. tailgating) and surpassing the set speed limit by 30-49 kilometres per hour.

Five demerit points — Not safely stopping at an unprotected train crossing area (for bus drivers).

Six demerit points — Racing, not stopping for a school bus, going over the set speed limit by 50 kilometres (or more) per hour , going over the set speed limit by 40 kilometres (or more) per hour in a zone with a set speed limit lower than 80 kilometres per hour, and careless driving.

Seven demerit points — Ignoring authorities when they ask you to stop, fleeing the scene of a collision or auto-related accident.

Can you remove demerit points in Ontario?

Demerit points are automatically removed from your driver's licence after a two-year period. 

Driver's can delay or fight demerit points by going to court; however, once the points are applied, you cannot remove them before the set timeframe elapses.

So, if you've been wondering how to remove demerit points Ontario, you'll need to wait until the two years are done.

Can drivers check their demerit points in Ontario?

Yes, drivers can check their demerit points. Thankfully, if you don't know how to check demerit points Ontario has made it relatively straightforward.

To check your demerit points in Ontario, drivers can visit a nearby ServiceOntario or go online. Drivers can also receive a copy of their 3-year driver record via mail or fax.

In Ontario, it currently costs $12 for an uncertified driving record, $18 for a certified driving record and $48/$54 for a complete driving record (depending on whether the record is certified or not).

Do demerit points affect insurance rates in Ontario?

In a sense, yes, but technically, no, demerit points do not directly influence your insurance rates. 

Your insurance provider definitely wants to know about any driving laws that you have broken; however, they're less concerned with the number of demerit points you've received and more focused on the type/severity of your conviction. This is due to the fact that convictions directly influence your car insurance rates.

Because of this, it's common for drivers that have lots of demerit points to pay more for car insurance in Ontario (when compared to drivers with a similar level of coverage in the same location).

So, even though demerit points don't directly influence how much you pay for car insurance, they aren't something that you want on your driving record if you want to maintain your low insurance rates.

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Ontario has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country, which makes it exceedingly difficult for policyholders to find quality coverage that meets their needs and works with their financial limitations.

That's where your Surex insurance advisor steps in!

At Surex, we work with a number of Ontario's top-rated car insurance carriers, like Intact, in order to make it easier for drivers to find high-quality coverage without contacting a long list of insurance companies.

Contact your Surex insurance advisor today to start comparing quotes in ten minutes or less! While you're chatting with your advisor, don't forget to ask about the various benefits of bundling your policies. Many Canadian insurance companies offer generous deals to policyholders that bundle multiple policies (car, home, condo, renter's, motorcycle, etc.), which can be as high as 25%!