Most expensive fines for drivers across Australia

Australian roads have some of the harshest penalties in the world. But how much exactly are the fines for speeding and other driving infringements, and how do they differ across Australia? The car insurance comparison service, iSelect, has collated the costs of different penalties for speeding, running red lights, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving uninsured among other offences across all states and territories to reveal where had the highest fines and loss of demerit points in Australia.  

Australian roads reported 1,332 road deaths over 12 months from Nov 2024, a 3% year-on-year increase. Some of these accidents could have been avoided with safer driving, which is why these penalties and fees are essential to keeping Australian roads a safer place for

New South Wales 

New South Wales residents face some of the most expensive speeding fines. NSW has the highest fine in the country for speeding over 45km/h, at $3,054 and six demerit points, which is more than $1,000 higher than any other state. Failing to stop at a red traffic light would result in a $562 fine and three demerit points, while driving an unregistered vehicle in NSW attracts a fine of $844.  

It’s illegal to drive with a dog in your lap or unrestrained in the car; police can issue a fine of up to $2,200. Further, if a dog is injured under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, it could result in penalties up to $27,500. It’s also illegal to have any body part, such as an arm or hand, out a window and would result in a fine of $349 and three demerit points. And finally, an uninsured car in NSW would result in a $818 fine.  

Queensland 

NSW might have the highest fine for speeding, but Queensland had the highest cost of fines overall for other driving offences. Notably, driving with an unrestrained dog has a maximum penalty fine of $8,625. QLD had the highest fine for using a mobile phone while driving, and for not wearing or wearing a seatbelt or wearing incorrectly, both resulting in penalties of $1,251 and four demerit points.  

QLD also had the highest fine for failing to stop for a red traffic light or arrow at $667 and three demerit points. Lastly, an uninsured car in QLD would incur a penalty of $10,676, showing that drivers should be vigilant to avoid hefty bills.  

Victoria  

Victoria has hefty speeding fines costing between $560-$1,018 paired with a three-to-12-month license suspension if caught driving more than 25km/h over the limit. Another hefty fine for driving an unregistered vehicle would set back owners $1,018, while failing to obey a red traffic light will incur a fine of $509 and three demerit points in Victoria.  

If drivers use a mobile phone while driving, they would face a fine of $611 and receive four demerit points. You also cannot smoke in a car if there is someone under the age of 18 in the vehicle – fines for this offence vary from $322.38 on the spot to $805.95 if it goes to court. Finally, in Victoria, an uninsured vehicle could face a fine of $826.  

South Australia  

South Australians have high fines for speeding offences, with drivers who exceed the limit by 20km/h or more facing fines between $955 and $1,954 and five to nine demerit points, depending on how much they are over the limit. Failing to stop at a red traffic light and using a mobile phone while driving both result in a fine of $573 and three demerit points.  

Failing to wear a seat belt, or wearing it incorrectly, would result in a $448 fine and three demerit points, however, this fine increases if more than one person fails to wear a seat belt; it would incur a fine of $530 and five demerit points. Furthermore, in South Australia, an unregistered vehicle could result in a maximum fine of $7,500, with a further maximum fine of $10,000 if the vehicle is also uninsured.  

Australian Capital Territory  

Residents in the Australian Capital Territory face fines of $700 and four demerit points for drivers who exceeded the speed limit by 30-45km/h, and those who exceed 45km/h over the limit would incur a fine of $1,841 and six demerit points. The fine for using a mobile phone while driving is $674 and four demerit points, and if caught holding a mobile phone while driving, it would result in a fine of $548 and three demerit points. Unregistered vehicles in the ACT would face a fine of $700 and a further $1,009 if the car is uninsured as well. 

Tasmania 

Tasmania shares high costs for speeding offences with other states, with drivers found to have exceeded the speed limit by 30km/h or more facing a fine between $615 and $1,178.75 as well as five to six demerit points. Those fined for exceeding the speed limit by 38km/h and over would incur a three to four-month licence suspension as well.  

Not wearing a seatbelt, or incorrectly wearing one, would result in a fine of $410 and three demerit points, while using a mobile phone while driving would incur a fine of $404 with three demerit points. Those found smoking in a car with someone under the age of 18 could face an on-the-spot fine of $120, and if it goes to court, it could be up to $2,400. Lastly, an uninsured car in Tasmania would result in a fine of $3,440.  

Western Australia 

Western Australians face speeding fines of $800-$1,000 and six to seven demerit points if drivers exceed the speed limit by more than 29km/h. Using a mobile phone while driving is a fine of $1,000; those caught holding or touching their mobile phone while driving would face a fine of $500 and three demerit points. For those who don’t wear a seatbelt or wear it incorrectly, they would face a fine of $550 and four demerit points.  

Failing to stop at a red traffic light would result in a $300 fine and three demerit points, while drivers caught smoking in a car with a passenger under 18 years of age would face an on-the-spot fine of $200 and a maximum penalty of $1,000 if it goes to court.  

There are no specific road rules about unrestrained dogs, and they can sit in the passenger seat, but cannot be in the driver’s lap. However, under the Animal Welfare Act, transporting a dog that risks injury could be considered cruelty with a maximum penalty of $50,000 and potentially up to five years imprisonment. Uninsured vehicles in WA would receive a maximum penalty of $8,000.  

Northern Territory  

The Northern Territory has the cheapest fines in Australia for most speeding and driving offences. Still, it should not be overlooked, as it is significant for obeying road rules. Drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by 30km/h or more would receive a fine between $600 to $1,000 paired with four to six demerit points. Driving an unregistered vehicle for more than a month would result in a fine of $800. If the car remained unregistered and uninsured for 12 months or more, it would result in a $1,500 fine.  

Using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt, or wearing it incorrectly, would each result in a fine of $500 and three demerit points. Smoking in a car with someone under the age of 18 would result in an on-the-spot fine of $289, and the magistrates can charge up to $2,980. An unrestrained dog in a car would be a minimum fine of $100, and a maximum would be two years of imprisonment.