Demerit points are added to your licence after certain convictions and stay on your record for two years from the offence date. Novice drivers (G1, G2, M1, M2) face a stricter schedule than fully licensed drivers:
- 2–5 points: a warning letter.
- 6–8 points: a further warning/interview.
- 9 or more points (within a two-year period): a 60-day licence suspension. After the suspension, a novice driver’s point total is reduced to 4.
Separately, breaking a graduated-licensing condition, or being convicted of an offence carrying 4 or more demerit points, can trigger escalating sanctions for novices: a 30-day suspension for a first instance and a 90-day suspension for a second, within a five-year period.
Your driver record (sometimes called a driver’s abstract) lists your convictions, demerit points, and licence status. You can request one through ontario.ca — insurers and some employers may ask for one. Figures above can change; always confirm current thresholds at ontario.ca.