Do demerit points come off if I just pay the fine?

No. Demerit points attach to the offence, not to whether you've paid. Paying settles the dollar amount but the points are still recorded. The way to keep points off for the current offence is to have it replaced with a caution.

Will a caution really mean zero demerit points?

A caution is issued in lieu of a fine, so when it's granted there's no penalty notice to carry points - none are recorded for that offence. It's discretionary, though, so it isn't guaranteed; you have to request it and make the case.

Who qualifies for the caution?

Broadly: a clean record over roughly the last 10 years, a lower-range offence, and nothing involving drink, drug, or dangerous driving. High-range speeding is generally excluded. A clean driving record makes the request much stronger.

Can a caution remove points I already have on my licence?

No - it doesn't wipe points from past offences. The caution path is about the current offence only. Points already incurred stay until they expire in the normal course; honest answer, no magic eraser.

Demerit points in NSW: how a caution keeps points off your licence

Published 2026-06-26 · 5 min read

TL;DR

Demerit points attach to the offence, not just the dollar amount - so paying isn't the only thing at stake. If Revenue NSW issues a caution instead of a fine, no demerit points are recorded. You can request that caution in a free s24A internal review and sign and lodge it yourself via Service NSW.

If your fine looks like this:

A lower-range NSW infringement that carries demerit points - speed (not high-range), mobile phone, seatbelt, a minor red-light or stop offence - where you've held a clean record over roughly the last 10 years and it isn't drink, drug, or dangerous driving. That's the profile where the caution path is worth a shot.

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Step-by-step

Understand what's actually at risk
Demerit points are tied to the offence itself, so they land on your licence whether you pay or not. The way to avoid demerit points on the current offence is to have the fine swapped for a caution - because a caution records no points.
Get your free Service NSW driving record
Log in to Service NSW, then Driver licence, then Driving record, and download the PDF. It's free, and it's the single best piece of evidence that your record has been clean over the qualifying ~10-year window.
Lodge a free s24A internal review
Go to Service NSW and choose 'Request a review for a fine'. This requests the free internal review under the Fines Act 1996, and lodging it generally pauses enforcement while Revenue NSW reconsiders. You sign and lodge the request yourself.
Explicitly ask for the caution
In the review, ask directly for a caution to be issued in lieu of the fine under the Internal Review Guidelines, and attach your driving record. Spell out the clean ~10-year history and that the offence isn't excluded - the caution is discretionary, so you have to ask for it.
Wait for the decision
Revenue NSW writes back. If a caution is granted, the fine is withdrawn and no demerit points are recorded against your licence for that offence.

Primary sources

Common questions

Do demerit points come off if I just pay the fine?: No. Demerit points attach to the offence, not to whether you've paid. Paying settles the dollar amount but the points are still recorded. The way to keep points off for the current offence is to have it replaced with a caution.
Will a caution really mean zero demerit points?: A caution is issued in lieu of a fine, so when it's granted there's no penalty notice to carry points - none are recorded for that offence. It's discretionary, though, so it isn't guaranteed; you have to request it and make the case.
Who qualifies for the caution?: Broadly: a clean record over roughly the last 10 years, a lower-range offence, and nothing involving drink, drug, or dangerous driving. High-range speeding is generally excluded. A clean driving record makes the request much stronger.
Can a caution remove points I already have on my licence?: No - it doesn't wipe points from past offences. The caution path is about the current offence only. Points already incurred stay until they expire in the normal course; honest answer, no magic eraser.

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