Speeding is one of the most frequently penalised traffic offences in New South Wales.

According to Revenue NSW, the state government received more than $1.1 billion in revenue from fines issues to motorists for speed and red light camera-detected offences between 1 January 2013 and 31 May 2020; $1,134,483,451.00 to be precise.

Speeding fines have been touted as a necessary road safety measure, but many believe some of the cameras are little more than speed traps designed to fill government coffers.

Whatever the case may be, it can be handy

So here's an outline of the current penalties for speeding offences in New South Wales.

Penalties for Speeding Offences

The penalty a driver or rider will face for a speeding offence depends on a number of factors, including:

  • The number of kilometres over the speed limit you were travelling,
  • The type of vehicle you were driving or riding,
  • The type of licence you held,
  • Whether double demerits apply, and
  • Whether the case is dealt with by a penalty notice or in court.

Penalty Notices

The following table of penalty notices for driving or riding at an excessive speed (also known as speeding tickets or speeding fines) is current at 24 June 2020.

Speeding Offences   Fine Demerit Points Double Demerits?
CLASS A MOTOR VEHICLE      
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $121 1 Yes
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (learner or provisional licence) $121 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (other than a learner or provisional licence) $280 3 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (learner or provisional licence) $280 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 20 km/h $481 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Exceed speed over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
CLASS B MOTOR VEHICLE      
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $360 1 Yes
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (learner or provisional licence) $360 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (other than a learner or provisional licence) $481 3 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (learner or provisional licence) $481 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 20 km/h $599 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Exceed speed over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
CLASS C MOTOR VEHICLE      
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $360 1 Yes
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (learner or provisional licence) $360 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (other than a learner or provisional licence) $481 3 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (learner or provisional licence) $481 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 20 km/h $599 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 30 km/h $1,441 5 Yes
Exceed speed over 45 km/h $3,762 6 Yes
HEAVY VEHICLES SPECIAL SPEED LIMIT – 100 KM/H      
CLASS B MOTOR VEHICLE      
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $360 1 Yes
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (learner or provisional licence) $360 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (other than a learner or provisional licence) $481 3 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (learner or provisional licence) $481 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 20 km/h $599 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Exceed speed over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
CLASS C MOTOR VEHICLE      
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $360 1 Yes
Exceed speed 10 km/h and under (learner or provisional licence) $360 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (other than a learner or provisional licence) $481 3 Yes
Exceed speed over 10 km/h (learner or provisional licence) $481 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 20 km/h $599 4 Yes
Exceed speed over 30 km/h $1,441 5 Yes
Exceed speed over 45 km/h $3,762 6 Yes
LEARNER SPECIAL SPEED LIMIT – 90 KM/H      
Learner exceed speed 10 km/h and under $121 4 Yes
Learner exceed speed over 10 km/h $280 4 Yes
Learner exceed speed over 20 km/h $481 4 Yes
Learner exceed speed over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Learner exceed speed over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
PROVISIONAL P1 SPECIAL SPEED LIMIT – 90 KM/H      
Provisional P1 exceed speed 10 km/h and under $121 4 Yes
Provisional P1 exceed speed over 10 km/h $280 4 Yes
Provisional P1 exceed speed over 20 km/h $481 4 Yes
Provisional P1 exceed speed over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Provisional P1 exceed speed over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
PROVISIONAL P2 SPECIAL SPEED LIMIT – 100 KM/H      
Provisional P2 exceed speed 10 km/h and under $121 4 Yes
Provisional P2 exceed speed over 10 km/h $280 4 Yes
Provisional P2 exceed speed over 20 km/h $481 4 Yes
Provisional P2 exceed speed over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Provisional P2 exceed speed over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
PASS SCHOOL BUS AT MORE THAN 40 KM/H      
CLASS A MOTOR VEHICLE      
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $121 1 Yes
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – 10 km/h and under (learner or provisional licence) $121 4 Yes
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – over 10 km/h (other than a learner or provisional licence) $280 3 Yes
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – over 10 km/h (learner or provisional licence) $280 4 Yes
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – over 20 km/h $481 4 Yes
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – over 30 km/h $920 5 Yes
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – over 45 km/h $2,482 6 Yes
CLASS B MOTOR VEHICLE      
Pass school bus at more than 40 km/h – 10 km/h and under (other than a learner or provisional licence) $360 1 Yes

Court Imposed Penalties

The following are some of the maximum fines which can be imposed where the speeding matter comes before a court.

Offence Court Maximum Fine Licence Disqualification
Exceed speed limit by: Light Vehicles Heavy Vehicles  
Not more than 10 km/h $2,200 $2,200
More than 10 km/h but not more than 20 km/h $2,200 $2,200
More than 20 km/h but not more than 30 km/h $2,200 $2,200
More than 30 km/h but not more than 45 km/h $2,200 $2,200 3 months (minimum)
More than 45 km/h $2,200 $3,300 6 months (minimum)

However, it is important to be aware that a fine will not be imposed if the court uses its discretion to order a section 10 dismissal or a condition release order without conviction.

Going to Court for a Speeding Offence?

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.