AARTO Demerit System: What Store Owners & Vehicle Proxies Need to Know Before December 2025

Big Changes Are Coming: What Is AARTO?

The AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) system is being rolled out across South Africa, with 69 municipalities implementing the full AARTO structure by December 1, 2025.
If your business owns vehicles—or if you’re listed as a proxy for any business vehicles—this directly affects you.

The goal? A system that not only issues fines but adds demerit points to driving licences, eventually leading to licence suspension or cancellation for repeat offenders.

Key Dates
1 December 2025 – AARTO rollout begins in 69 municipalities
1 April 2026 – Expansion to the rest of the country
1 September 2026 – Demerit points officially start getting allocated

What Is a Proxy – and Why Does It Matter?

If you’re a store owner or manage a fleet of delivery vehicles, you’re likely registered as a proxy on your vehicle licence. This means:

All traffic fines and AARTO notifications go to you, not the driver.
You are legally responsible for responding to notices—even if you weren’t the driver.
IMPORTANT: Under the AARTO system, if you don’t nominate the correct driver, the demerit points and fines could be held against you or your business.

What Happens If You Ignore a Fine?

You will receive an Infringement Notice.
If you don’t respond within 32 days, you get a Courtesy Letter (with additional fees).
No response? You’ll receive an Enforcement Order and your vehicle licence can’t be renewed.
Eventually, you or your drivers could lose your driving licences due to excessive demerit points.

Action Steps for Business Owners & Proxies

Step 1: Understand the Points System

Each type of offence adds 1–6 points to a licence:

Minor speeding = 1–2 points
Ignoring stop signs or red lights = 2–4 points
Serious offences like drunk driving = 6 points
Drivers lose their licence after 15 points. If it happens 3 times, they must retake the licence from scratch.

Step 2: Register or Update Your Proxy Details

Visit AARTO

Make sure your details as the proxy are:

Accurate
Linked to all your company vehicles
Able to receive notices electronically

Step 3: Nominate the Actual Driver (Within 32 Days)

If a fine is received:

Do not ignore it
Nominate the actual driver who was in control of the vehicle
Submit supporting documents
If done in time, the demerit points and fine will be allocated to them, not you.

Failing to nominate means:

You (as proxy) could be fined 3x the standard fine
You risk your business being flagged for non-compliance
Your vehicle licence renewal could be blocked

Step 4: Educate Your Staff and Drivers

Let drivers know they’re responsible for how they drive
Keep a logbook or tracking system of who drove what vehicle, when
Consider using telematics/GPS logs to support nominations

Example Scenario

Let’s say one of your delivery drivers is caught speeding. The fine is R500 and 3 demerit points.
If you ignore the notice or fail to nominate the correct driver:

You (the proxy) may be charged R1,500
You may receive the demerit points
If this keeps happening, your business vehicles may get blocked from licence renewals

Your Responsibility as a Proxy, task and deadline:

Respond to AARTO notices, Within 32 days
Nominate actual driver (with proof). Within 32 days
Pay fine (if valid and no driver nominated), Before Enforcement Order is issued
Keep vehicle logbook and proof, Ongoing

Helpful Links

AARTO Website
AARTO Online Services
Demerit Point Info

Final Tip

Do not delay. AARTO will impact vehicle licence renewals, driver licences, and your bottom line. Start preparing before December 2025.

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