Does a speeding ticket go on your record in Ontario?
Yes, once you are convicted. Paying the ticket counts as a guilty plea and a conviction, so the speeding conviction and any demerit points for it are added to your record.
The ticket itself is only a charge. A charge carries no points and does not appear on your driving record.
You are handed the ticket
It is a charge. Nothing is on your record yet and no points are added.
You choose what to do with it
Most tickets give you options: pay the fine, meet with the prosecutor, or ask for a trial.
A conviction is entered
By your payment, by a finding of guilt in court, or without a hearing if you let the deadline pass.
Your record is updated
The speeding conviction is listed, and any demerit points are recorded as of the offence date, not the day you paid.
A lawyer or paralegal can advise on fighting a ticket. Once it is decided, your 3-year driver record shows exactly what it did.
How many demerit points is a speeding ticket in Ontario?
Between 0 and 6, set by how far over the limit you were: none at 1 to 15 km/h over, 3 at 16 to 29, 4 at 30 to 49 and 6 at 50 or more.
| Km/h over the limit | Demerit points | Court fine rate, per km/h over | What else is at stake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 | 0 | $3 | Fine only, but still a conviction on your record |
| 16 to 29 | 3 | $3 up to 19 over, $4.50 from 20 to 29 over | A novice driver (G1, G2, M1, M2) gets a warning letter from this one ticket |
| 30 to 49 | 4 | $7 | Novice drivers: at least a 30-day suspension instead, with the points recorded as zero. Stunt driving from 40 over where the limit is under 80 km/h |
| 50 or more | 6 | $9.75 | The court can suspend your licence, and police can charge stunt driving on any road |
The court rate climbs faster than the speed: $3 per km/h over at the low end and $9.75 at 50 or more over, more than three times as much for every km/h.
At 50 km/h or more over, the court can also suspend your licence on conviction: for up to 30 days, up to 60 days for a second conviction within five years, and up to a year for a third or later conviction within five years. When the sentence includes a suspension, the 6 demerit points are not recorded. The suspension is the penalty instead.
Once the ticket is decided, your Ontario driving record shows the conviction and your current point total. Every other offence and its value is in the Ontario demerit points chart.
At what speed does speeding become stunt driving in Ontario?
At 40 km/h or more over where the limit is under 80 km/h, 50 km/h or more over where the limit is 80 km/h or more, and at 150 km/h on any road. At those speeds police can charge stunt driving instead of speeding.
| Posted limit | Stunt driving at | Rule that applies |
|---|---|---|
| 40 km/h | 80 km/h or faster | 40+ over |
| 50 km/h | 90 km/h or faster | 40+ over |
| 60 km/h | 100 km/h or faster | 40+ over |
| 70 km/h | 110 km/h or faster | 40+ over |
| 80 km/h | 130 km/h or faster | 50+ over |
| 90 km/h | 140 km/h or faster | 50+ over |
| 100 km/h | 150 km/h or faster | 50 over = 150 km/h |
| 110 km/h | 150 km/h or faster | 150 km/h rule, at 40 over |
A stunt charge is a different offence from speeding, under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. It means a 30-day roadside licence suspension and a 14-day vehicle impoundment before any court date, and a first conviction brings a suspension of at least 1 year and, on a full licence, 6 demerit points.
The stunt driving guide covers the fines and the longer suspensions for repeat convictions. A stunt conviction and the suspension that comes with it both show on your 3-year driver record.
How many speeding tickets before your licence is suspended?
On a full licence, 15 demerit points within two years brings a 30-day suspension, which is five tickets at 16 to 29 km/h over. On a G1, G2, M1 or M2, 9 points brings a 60-day suspension, which is three of those tickets.
- 6 to 8 pointsWarning letter
- 9 to 14 pointsSecond warning, and you may be called to an interview
- 15 or more30-day suspension, then points reduced to 7
In speeding terms, on a full licence: two tickets at 16 to 29 km/h over (6 points) bring the first letter, three (9 points) the second, and five (15 points) a suspension. A second demerit suspension, for an offence within two years after the first one ended, lasts six months.
Tickets from outside Ontario can count toward these totals. A speeding conviction in another province or territory, New York or Michigan adds points as if it had happened here. New drivers can read what a novice record shows in drivers abstracts for G1 and G2 drivers.
Do photo radar tickets go on your record in Ontario?
No. Speed camera tickets went to the vehicle’s owner, carried no demerit points and never affected anyone’s driving record. Ontario stopped issuing them in November 2025.
Speeding ticket from an officer
- Charged to you, the driver
- Demerit points by km/h over: 0, 3, 4 or 6
- Listed on your record once you are convicted
- Left unpaid, it can lead to a licence suspension
Speed camera (photo radar) ticket
- Charged to the registered owner, whoever was driving
- No demerit points, ever
- Not on anyone’s driving record
- Left unpaid, it can lead to collections, late fees and a plate that will not renew
Camera tickets for violations before the cameras were switched off are still valid and still have to be paid or disputed, even if one reaches you late. Red light camera tickets follow the same owner-not-driver rule. The guide to camera, parking and 407 tickets covers both kinds of camera ticket in detail.
Not sure whether a ticket came from an officer or a camera? Your Ontario driving abstract settles it: only an officer’s ticket that ended in a conviction will be listed.
How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record in Ontario?
The demerit points count for two years from the offence date. Your 3-year driver record lists convictions from the past three years, so the conviction can still be there after the points are gone.
- 2 yearsDemerit points countFrom the offence date, not the day you paid
- 3 yearsOf convictions on the driver recordThe standard uncertified 3-year record
- 3 yearsOf convictions on an insurance applicationThe standard Ontario form asks for all of them
Points are dated to the day you were stopped, not the day the ticket was resolved. If it took six months to resolve, a quarter of their two years was gone before they reached your record.
Your record can list a speeding conviction even when your point total no longer includes it, and that is what an employer or insurer will see. The guide on how long convictions stay on your record walks through both clocks.
Order your driving abstract online to see whether an older speeding conviction is still listed and what your point total is today. It arrives instantly by email.
Will a speeding ticket raise your insurance in Ontario?
It can. Insurers set your premium partly on your driving record, speeding convictions included, and the standard Ontario application asks for every conviction from the last three years.
Ontario’s insurance regulator lists speeding tickets and other driving convictions as part of the driving record your insurer prices, and puts the rule plainly: the better your record, the lower your premium. Premiums for the same driver can differ from one insurer to the next.
Many convictions or at-fault accidents can push you into high-risk pricing. A high-risk driver can be turned down by an individual insurer and end up with the Facility Association, the insurer of last resort, which costs a lot more. Ontario warns that a stunt, careless or aggressive driving conviction brings a substantial increase or can leave you uninsurable.
Your Ontario drivers abstract covers the same three years, so read it before you ask for a quote and make sure your answers match it. More on that in drivers abstracts for insurance.
How do you check if a speeding ticket is on your record?
Read your 3-year driver record. It lists the conviction and its date, your current demerit point total, your licence status and any suspension, which together show exactly what the ticket did.
What your record shows after a speeding ticket
- The speeding conviction and the date of conviction
- Your current demerit point total
- Your licence status: licensed, unlicensed or suspended
- Suspensions and reinstatements from the past 3 years, such as a court suspension at 50 km/h or more over
- An active fine suspension if the fine went unpaid
What it does not show
- A ticket you are still disputing, because it is a charge, not a conviction
- A ticket that was withdrawn or dismissed
- Speed camera and red light camera tickets
- Your home address
Time it right. A record issued before the conviction is entered will not show it, so for an accurate picture, order once your ticket has been dealt with.
It is also how you check your points before a second ticket is decided. Get your driving record online for $39.99; the PDF arrives in your inbox instantly after payment, with no account and no subscription.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 km/h over the limit worth any demerit points in Ontario?
No. Speeding 1 to 15 km/h over the limit carries no demerit points. It is still a conviction with a fine, though, and it is listed on your 3-year driver record like any other conviction.
Does a speeding ticket in a friend's car or a rental go on my record?
Yes, if an officer stopped you. A speeding ticket from an officer is charged to the driver, not the vehicle's owner, so the conviction and any points are yours. Camera tickets were the opposite: they went to the owner and carried no points.
What happens if I just ignore a speeding ticket?
You can be convicted anyway. If you do not choose an option by the deadline on the ticket, a conviction can be entered without a hearing and the set fine imposed. Leave that fine unpaid and a court can order your licence suspended until it is paid.
Do I get more demerit points for speeding in a construction zone?
The points follow the same km/h bands as anywhere else. What changes is the fine, which doubles in a designated construction zone when a worker is present.
What happens if a G2 driver gets a speeding ticket?
The conviction goes on a G2 record the same way, but the limits are much lower: one ticket at 16 to 29 km/h over brings a warning letter, and 30 km/h or more over means a suspension of at least 30 days.
I had speeding points before I moved to Ontario. What happens to them?
Points you arrive with are capped once you are licensed here: on a full licence, 8 or more are reduced to 7, and on a novice licence, 5 or more are reduced to 4.
Can I keep a speeding ticket off my record by fighting it?
Only a conviction is recorded, so a charge that ends without one adds nothing. Whether to dispute a ticket is a question for a lawyer or paralegal, who can look at the facts of your charge.
Can an employer see my speeding ticket?
Yes, if it ended in a conviction within the past three years. Anyone with your licence number can order your 3-year driver record, which lists convictions and their dates, so check yours first for $39.99.
Sources: Demerit points and point thresholds: Ontario Regulation 339/94 (Demerit Point System). Speeding fines and court suspensions: Highway Traffic Act, section 128. Stunt driving: Highway Traffic Act, section 172, and Ontario Regulation 455/07. Paying or not responding to a ticket, and fine default: Provincial Offences Act. The end of automated speed enforcement: Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025. Insurance: the standard Ontario auto insurance application and consumer guidance from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario; premium changes vary by insurer.