Professional driver demerit points

Are you a professional driver? 

A professional driver is:

• a motor vehicle driver who transports goods, within NSW or interstate
• a bus, taxi or hire car driver who is authorised to drive under the Passenger Transport Act 1990.

To be a professional driver you must be paid to drive for over 20 hours a week. Driving in a voluntary capacity or driving to and from your workplace is not considered to be professional driving. 

You do not qualify as a professional driver if:

• driving a motor vehicle is not essential to your main work activities, for example:
  • tradesperson
  • vehicle repairer
  • salesperson
  • carer
  • tow truck operator
  • food vendor
• your main work activity is driving machinery, for example:
  • grader
  • road roller
  • bull dozer 
• you do not transport goods
• you transport people but not for the purpose of transport under the Passenger Transport Act 1990
• you hold an interstate licence. 

Am I eligible to apply?

To apply you must have:

• held a current unrestricted NSW driver licence for the past 6 months
• accumulated exactly 13 demerit points
• received a Notice of Suspension and the suspension period has not started yet, or
• had your licence renewal refused for accumulating exactly 13 demerit points.

How to apply

If you've received a Notice of Suspension, you may want to apply for professional driver status. You'll need to apply before your suspension period begins. To apply, you'll need to visit a service centre. You cannot apply online.

When you go to the service centre, you’ll need to:

• bring your Notice of Suspension with you
• complete a Professional Driver Declaration form (available at the service centre).

To fill in the Professional Driver Declaration form you’ll need the following information:

• the company/business name of your employer (your own if self-employed)
• the name of the taxi operator(s) and taxi network(s) you drive for
• the title of the job you are employed to do (e.g. truck driver or bus driver)
• the number of hours per week you are paid to drive
• confirmation that you were a professional driver at the time of your last demerit point offence
• your contact telephone number.

If you are a bus, taxi or hire car driver,  you will also need to provide:

• a current Driver Authority issued under the Passenger Transport Act 1990
• the number and expiry date of your Driver Authority.

Assessment of your application

Transport for NSW may check the information you provide on the Professional Driver Declaration form. This means that your employer can be contacted about what you are employed to do, the hours you work, and be asked to verify that you are paid for that work. 

If you are a bus, taxi or hire car driver, Transport for NSW may check if your Driver Authority is current and valid.

What happens if your application is successful?

• Your Notice of Suspension will be withdrawn and your licence will not be suspended.
• Your licence renewal refusal will be withdrawn and your licence will be renewed.
• The 13 demerit points you have accrued, and any related offences, will remain on your driving record.

What happens if your application is unsuccessful?

• You will not receive the additional demerit point.
• You will not be able to keep driving.
• You can apply for a Good Behaviour Period (if you apply before your suspension begins).

What happens if I accumulate more demerit points?

• Any demerit points you accumulate over 13 will result in your licence being automatically suspended.
• You'll be issued with a new Notice of Suspension or your licence will not be renewed.

False or misleading information

Providing false or misleading information is a criminal offence. There are severe penalties, even imprisonment, if you are convicted. If you provide false or misleading information to Transport for NSW, your licence may be suspended and you may be prosecuted by the police.