Demerit points explained

Demerit points are added to a driver's licence for traffic offences. They stay on the balance for three years. Every state and territory lets drivers check their own balance for free, and every WithProof seller declares theirs on the ad.

What it tells you: the owner's current demerit point balance — points earned for driving offences in the last three years. What it doesn't: anything before that, fines that carry no points, or how the car was treated. Treat it as one more thing to weigh, not a verdict.

At inspection, ask the seller to show you their current balance in their state's app — the links are on our homepage. The declared number is a snapshot on the date it was declared; the live balance is what counts.