No. Only if there was an enforcement order issued won’t you be able to renew your licence.

We would NOT recommend that you ignore any AARTO fine, but collect your traffic fine from the post office. The implications of not doing so will lead to the issuing of an enforcement order and ultimately mean that a vehicle license or driver’s license cannot be renewed.

You can visit the AARTO website www.aarto.gov.za and click on the link “Query my fines”. You will be required to enter the unique code they provide you with and you will also need to enter your ID number as well as your license card number. 

• You will then be able to view all the fines issued against your name.

• You can click on the specific fines and view the detail, including prior communication about them to you.

• Once you have the details you can click on the link Make a Representation. This will give you the option to download the dispute form that you can complete with your details and reasons for the dispute.

• You can then submit this to the e-mail address they provide. You should then receive feedback on the dispute within two weeks of submission. Your dispute can also include the fact that you’ve never received notice of the fines previously.

Yes, Traffic fines are enforceable. They are regulated by the Administrative Adjudication of Traffic Offences Act. We recommend that you pay the fine if you are guilty of the infringement or offence.

According to the current AARTO Act, an infringement notice MUST be sent via registered post to the Infringer. A notice that the infringement notice is to be collected at the Post Office may be sent via text but the official means of sending an infringement notice or any other AARTO notice MUST be done via registered post.

This will change when the AARTO Amendment Act comes into effect.

Once you have received an infringement notice, AARTO provides you with five options. You may select one of the following:

• Pay your fine (and receive a 50% discount if you pay it within 32 days).

• Apply to pay in instalments.

• Nominate the driver of the vehicle (if you were not the person operating the vehicle at the time of the infringement).

• Make a representation.

• Elect to be tried in court.

You can do so online by filling out the AARTO 07 form on their website here. You will need to verify yourself before the form will be made available to you.

If you believe that you should never have received an infringement notice in the first place, you can make a representation. This goes to a Representations Officer who will review it and make a decision. If the representation is approved, you will be notified and your infringement notice cancelled. If it is rejected, you will also be notified and provided with reasons for the decision. You have a few options available to you should your representation be rejected:

• You may elect to be tried in court.

• You may apply to pay the total amount owed in instalments.

• If you do not apply to pay in instalments, you are required to pay off the total amount within 32 days.

When the court receives your request via the AARTO authorities, you will receive a summons to appear in court that will detail the address, time and date of your appearance. Once the case has been heard, the court will inform the authorities of the result.

No, AARTO is currently not working on a demerit system. This comes into effect when the AARTO Amendment Act comes into effect; no date has yet been set for this. 

The demerit point system will NOT be used to enforce e-tolls.  According to the proposed AARTO Regulations (which sets out how many demerit points will be awarded for each infringement), the non-payment of e-tolls or the “ignoring of a toll-sign” does not incur any demerit points.

Therefore, you will not incur demerit points for the ignoring of a toll-sign (e-tolls).