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Speeding Fines Victoria: Understanding the Laws and Penalties

Speeding fines Victoria

With speeding fines in Victoria starting at $240 for full licence holders, even travelling just a few kilometres per hour over the limit has the potential to hurt your hip pocket.1 

But the warning from experts is that the cost of speeding is more than just financial. 

“It’s a simple fact that speed kills,” says Marcelo Vidales, head of Road Safety Victoria. “Year on year, speed is a contributor to around 26% of fatalities and a quarter of serious injuries. 

“Travelling to the posted speed limit or the conditions is a simple thing every driver can do to keep themselves and others safe.” 

Speed is a major contributing factor to accidents on Victorian roads, with statistics suggesting excessive or inappropriate speed is a factor in many crashes.2 

According to data from the Victorian Government, more than two-thirds of road fatalities in regional Victoria in 2022 occurred in 100-110km/h zones, demonstrating the role that high speed can play in a crash.3 

Meanwhile, Victoria’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) says driving 5km/h less can lessen the severity of injury and mean the difference between death or a serious injury, or a serious injury and a minor injury.2 

Given the potential consequences, it makes sense that the penalties for speeding can be severe. In Victoria, these can range from fines and demerit points to licence suspension periods.1 And while it’s possible to appeal Victorian speeding fines, you may end up having to go to court.  

How much is a speeding fine in Victoria? 

Each Australian state and territory has its own framework for speeding fines based on the number of kilometres you’re caught driving over the posted speed limit. 

The guide to speeding fines and penalties below is applicable to Victoria only, and may be different to laws and penalties in ​New South Wales, ​Queensland, ​Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. 

Demerit points can also be applied to certain offences, though Victoria is one of the states that doesn’t apply double demerit points at any time of the year. 

Are there different levels of fines for speeding in Victoria? 

In short: yes. Speeding fines in Victoria are grouped into speed brackets – in other words, they increase according to how much a driver has been caught exceeding the speed limit by. If you’re caught driving 25km/h or more above the speed limit or driving at 130km/h or more in Victoria, it’s considered an excessive speeding offence and can result in your licence being suspended or cancelled.4 

Fines for excessive speed offences are more serious than other fines; they have the potential to result not only in a licence suspension or cancellation, but also possibly in a conviction.4 Excessive speeding is classed as a criminal offence, so an offender may also receive a criminal record.5 

There are also different demerit point limits in Victoria, which depend on what type of licence you have. Drivers on a full licence have a limit of 12 demerit points in any three-year period before a licence suspension may occur, while drivers on learner or provisional licences have five points in any 12-month period or 12 points in any three-year period.6 

Below is a breakdown of penalties for full licence holders for some of the different speeding offences in Victoria.

Offence Fine Demerit points/ suspension
Exceed speed limit by less than 10km/h $240 1 point 
Exceed speed limit by 10km/h to 24km/h $385 3 points
Exceed speed limit by 20km/h to 24km/h in 110km/h zone $385 3-month licence suspension
Exceed speed limit by 25km/h to 29km/h $529 3-month licence suspension
Exceed speed limit by 30km/h to 34km/h $625 3-month licence suspension
Exceed speed limit by 35km/h to 39km/h $721 6-month licence suspension
Exceed speed limit by 40km/h to 44km/h $817 6-month licence suspension
Exceed speed limit by 45km/h or more $962 12-month licence suspension

You can find a full list of speeding offences and penalties in Victoria here.1 

Can I appeal speeding fines in Victoria? 

If you’ve received an Infringement Notice or Penalty Reminder Notice, you may be able to apply to have your fine reviewed by the agency that issued your fine. This type of review is called an Internal Review; you can only request one internal review for each infringement.7 

However, it might be worth noting that an Internal Review isn’t available for excessive speeding offences.

You can also choose to dispute your fine in court. If your fine is at Infringement Notice or Penalty Reminder Notice stage, you can apply to have your matter heard in the Magistrates’ Court (or the Children’s Court if you’re under 18 years of age).8 

If your fine has reached Notice of Final Demand stage, you cannot apply to go to court – however, you can request a review.8 

If you want to dispute a fine for an excessive speed offence, you have the option to apply to go to court. In this case, you’ll need to apply to dispute your fine – known as a Notice of Objection – within 28 days of your Infringement Notice issue date, and before your licence is suspended.8 

While penalties for speeding are designed to help keep you safer on the roads, Youi is on hand to help cover your car. You might like to explore our range of car insurance options and consider if they could be right for you.  

Information is relevant as of November 2023 and by its nature will change over time. Check relevant Government websites for updates if this information is important to you. 
 

1 Source: Vic Government – Fine amounts and demerit points 
2 Source: Vic Government – Speed statistics 
3 Information provided by a spokesperson for the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning via email, November 2023. 
4 Source: Vic Government – Excessive speed, drug and alcohol offences 
5 Source: Sher Criminal Lawyers – Is a Traffic Offence a Criminal Conviction in Victoria?, 2021 
6 Source: Vic Government – About demerit points 
7 Source: Vic Government – Request a review 
8 Source: Vic Government – Dispute your fine in court