You could be disqualified from driving if you accumulate 12 or more demerit points, breach your licence conditions or drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. When returning from disqualification you may have probationary conditions added to your licence.
Offences that may result in licence disqualification
The following offences may result in you being disqualified from driving:
You will lose your licence immediately, if you are caught drink driving (.08 or higher), refusing or failing to comply with a breath test, blood test, drug test or speeding excessively.
A drivers aged 25 years or under whose learner’s permit or provisional licence has been disqualified is required to participate in the driver intervention program.
Drivers who commit a serious drink driving offence must have an alcohol interlock (breath-testing device) fitted to their vehicle for a period of time at the end of their licence disqualifications.
What happens if you are disqualified from driving
If you are disqualified from driving you will receive a notice of disqualification in the mail, except for immediate loss of licence for drink driving or speeding excessively.
The disqualification notice will advise you of the type and period of disqualification. Where the disqualification is due to the accumulation of 12 or more demerit points you may be provided with the option of either being disqualified for the period stated in the notice or electing to be of ‘good behaviour’ (see below) for 12 months.
After you receive a notice of disqualification you must acknowledge receipt of the notice in person and pay a fee. Failure to do this will result in the notice being served on you personally and a higher fee is payable.
If you cannot be served a notice of disqualification personally , you will be prohibited from transacting any business under the Motor Vehicles Act, such as renewing your vehicle registration.
If you are disqualified from driving, your licence will be suspended and in some cases cancelled. If your licence is cancelled you will not receive a refund of the period remaining on the licence.
If your provisional licence or learner’s permit is cancelled, you may have to re-sit the theory and practical driving tests, and pay for a new licence or permit.
A licence may also be suspended as a result of non-payment of outstanding fines.
Good behaviour option
If you choose the ‘good behaviour’ option, you must not accumulate two or more demerit points during the 12-month good behaviour period, otherwise you will be disqualified for twice the original disqualification period.
You must notify the Registrar of Motor Vehicles within 21 days of the date the notice of disqualification was issued if you elect to choose the ‘good behaviour’ option. Failure to apply within this timeframe will result in the disqualification taking effect as specified in the notice.
If you are caught drink driving or speeding excessively, you will lose your driver’s licence on the spot.
Penalties for excessive drink driving
- Immediate loss of licence for six months if you are detected driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between 0.08 and 0.149
- Immediate loss of licence for 12 months if you are detected driving with a BAC of 0.15 or more
- Demerit points and fines also apply to drink driving offences and the Court may also impose greater periods of disqualification.
Loss of licence for second and subsequent offences of between 0.05 and 0.079 also applies.
Penalties for excessive speeding
If you are caught travelling at 45 km/h or more above the speed limit, you will incur the following penalties:
- automatic loss of licence for six months
- six demerit points
- expiation fee.
For more information, telephone 13 10 84 or go to a Service SA customer service centre.
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Driver intervention program - Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure