South Africa Releases Official AARTO Fee Schedule

New regulations detail costs for motorists to check demerit points status under the national road traffic system.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Automotive — General

South Africa Releases Official AARTO Fee Schedule

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Do you believe it is fair for the government to charge a fee to check demerit points?

The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system, which launched its second phase on 1 July, has formalised its fee schedule for demerit point enquiries. These regulations, published on 30 June, set standardised costs for drivers seeking to monitor their traffic offence status.

Why it matters

This administrative framework aims to encourage the timely payment of fines and reduce judicial caseloads while using license suspension as a deterrent against habitual reckless driving. The system is designed to streamline traffic law enforcement and ensure consistent reporting across municipalities.

A once-off demerit points enquiry costs R60, while six-month and twelve-month access plans are priced at R120 and R240 respectively. Authorities are mandated to provide an electronic response to Form AARTO 27 requests via Form AARTO 28 within five days.

The players

Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences

This body manages the adjudication of road traffic offences and the implementation of the national demerit point system in South Africa.

The details

Drivers must formally apply for a status update using Form AARTO 27 to receive the mandatory electronic response from traffic authorities. Currently operational in 62 municipalities, the system establishes a nationwide procedure for managing driver conduct before the planned 2027 expansion to 151 additional regions.

30 June: AARTO fee schedule regulations published in the Government Gazette.
1 July: Phase two of the AARTO system launched.
2 September: Transport Minister described the system rollout sequence.
2027: National implementation in 151 outstanding municipalities.

Roadmap

The introduction of this fee structure marks a critical step in the nationalisation of the AARTO Act and its associated demerit point framework. This transition replaces fragmented municipal traffic management with a unified national system designed to modernise road safety enforcement.

Motorists can now access their demerit status for a fee, provided they submit the required documentation through the proper administrative channels. Drivers should anticipate a five-day turnaround time for these official responses as the system continues its phased expansion across the country.

The takeaway

Drivers should ensure they are using the correct official forms to avoid processing delays when checking their demerit status. Understanding these set costs allows motorists to budget for regular compliance checks as the national system expands its reach.