New South Wales (NSW) drivers have a chance to earn a valuable reward: the removal of a demerit point from their license. The NSW government's "Demerit Point Return Scheme" incentivizes safe driving, and here's how you can qualify in 2026.
How to Qualify for the Demerit Point Reward:
The scheme is simple: maintain a clean driving record for a specific period, and you could have a demerit point removed. Here's the key requirement:
- Be Offence-Free: You must remain completely offence-free from January 17, 2025, to January 31, 2026. This means no speeding tickets, no mobile phone offenses, no seatbelt violations – any driving offense will disqualify you.
Dylan Gow
Important Change to the Qualifying Period:
The NSW government has made a crucial adjustment to the scheme. Starting in 2026, the qualifying period will end on January 31st. This change emphasizes road safety during the traditionally high-risk holiday period in January.
Who is Eligible?
The scheme is open to eligible:
- Unrestricted License Holders: Drivers with a full, unrestricted NSW driver's license.
- Professional License Holders: Drivers with a professional license (e.g., truck drivers, bus drivers).
- Active Demerit Points.
You must have active demerit points on your license to be eligible. If you have a perfect record (no demerit points), you won't receive an additional benefit, but you're already demonstrating excellent driving habits!
Dylan Anderson
Current Eligibility Status:
As of now, 1,483,926 NSW drivers are currently eligible to have a demerit point removed if they remain offence-free until January 31, 2026.
Why This Matters:
Demerit points can accumulate quickly, leading to license suspension. This scheme provides a tangible incentive to prioritize safe driving, potentially saving drivers from the inconvenience and cost of a suspension. For professional drivers, it could even protect their livelihood.
Recent Success of the Scheme:
The scheme is already proving successful. In its second year, over one million NSW drivers had a demerit point removed for maintaining a clean driving record. Over 420,000 drivers have now benefited for two consecutive years.
Additional Road Safety Measures:
The demerit point scheme is part of a suite of road safety.
Quotes from Officials:
Premier Chris Minns stated: "The number one aim of rewarding drivers with a demerit point removal is safety..."
Minister for Roads John Graham added: "...From 2026, the trial period will now end on January 31. This was a very deliberate decision so that we can place even more emphasis on road safety during the critical summer holiday period.”
Dylan Anderson
