How Many Demerit Points Does Stunt Driving Carry in Ontario?
A stunt driving conviction under section 172 of the Ontario Highway Traffic Act carries 6 demerit points. This is one of the highest demerit point penalties for any traffic offence in the province.
To put that in perspective, here’s how stunt driving compares to other common traffic offences in Ontario:
- Stunt driving / racing: 6 demerit points
- Careless driving: 6 demerit points
- Following too closely: 4 demerit points
- Speeding 30-49 km/h over: 4 demerit points
- Speeding 16-29 km/h over: 3 demerit points
- Speeding 1-15 km/h over: 0 demerit points
- Disobey sign / signal: 3 demerit points
- Improper passing: 4 demerit points
This is important to understand because if your stunt driving charge is reduced to a lesser offence — say, a speeding ticket for 15 km/h over the limit — you go from 6 demerit points down to zero. That’s one of the key reasons why fighting a stunt driving charge with a legal representative makes such a difference.
What Are Demerit Points and How Do They Work in Ontario?
Demerit points are negative marks that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) adds to your driving record when you’re convicted of certain traffic offences. They are not given at the time of the charge — they are only applied after a conviction or a guilty plea.
This is a crucial distinction. If you fight your stunt driving charge and win — or if your charge is reduced to a lesser offence — the 6 demerit points for stunt driving are never added to your record.
How the Demerit Point System Works
Ontario’s demerit point system is designed to identify and penalize high-risk drivers. Here’s how it works for fully licensed (G licence) drivers:
- 0-5 points: No action from the Ministry
- 6-8 points: You may receive an advisory letter from the Ministry
- 9-14 points: You will receive a warning letter, and you may be required to attend an interview to explain why your licence should not be suspended
- 15+ points: Your licence is automatically suspended for 30 days
For novice drivers (G1 and G2 licence holders), the thresholds are much lower. A G1 driver can face a suspension at just 4 demerit points, and a G2 driver at 8 points. This means a single stunt driving conviction could push a novice driver well past the suspension threshold.
How Long Do Demerit Points Last?
Demerit points stay on your Ontario driving record for 2 years from the date of the offence. After 2 years, the points are automatically removed by the Ministry. However, the conviction itself remains on your driving record for 3 years — and that’s what insurance companies actually look at.
Do Stunt Driving Demerit Points Affect Your Insurance in Ontario?
Here’s the fact that surprises most people: demerit points do not directly affect your car insurance in Ontario. Insurance companies do not see your demerit point total. What they see — and what they care about — is the conviction on your driving record.
This is a critical distinction. Your insurance company doesn’t raise your rates because you have 6 demerit points. They raise your rates because you have a stunt driving conviction on your record, which is one of the most serious traffic offences in Ontario.
The Real Insurance Impact of Stunt Driving
A stunt driving conviction can increase your insurance premiums by 100% to 300% or more. Some insurers will cancel your policy entirely and refuse to renew. You may end up in the high-risk insurance market, where premiums can run $5,000 to $15,000 per year or higher.
This is exactly why getting your charge reduced matters so much. If your stunt driving charge is reduced to a minor speeding ticket — say, 15 km/h over the limit — the insurance impact drops dramatically. A minor speeding ticket may increase your premiums by only 10-20%, compared to the 100-300% increase from a stunt driving conviction.
Why This Makes Fighting Your Charge So Important
When people worry about demerit points, what they’re really worried about is the financial impact. And the financial impact comes almost entirely from the conviction, not the points. By reducing the charge, you reduce the conviction severity — and that’s where the real savings happen. Over three years, the difference between a stunt driving conviction and a minor speeding ticket can easily be $15,000 to $30,000 in insurance costs alone.
Why Are Demerit Points the Least of Your Worries with Stunt Driving?
If you’ve been charged with stunt driving in Ontario, the 6 demerit points are genuinely the smallest part of the problem. Here’s the full picture of what a stunt driving conviction looks like:
The Full Penalty Breakdown
- Fine: Minimum $2,000, up to $10,000
- Licence suspension: Up to 2 years on a first offence, up to 10 years on a second offence
- Vehicle impoundment: 14 days at roadside (this happens immediately, before your case goes to court)
- 30-day roadside licence suspension: Effective immediately at the time of the charge
- Jail time: Up to 6 months (rare on a first offence, but possible)
- Demerit points: 6 points on your driving record
- Insurance increase: 100-300% or more for 3+ years
- Licence reinstatement fee: $281
- Victim fine surcharge: Up to 25% of your fine
When you add it all up, a single stunt driving conviction can cost you $25,000 to $50,000 over three years when you factor in the fine, insurance increases, towing fees, impound fees, licence reinstatement, and lost income from not being able to drive.
The demerit points? They’re a footnote compared to the rest of it.
Can You Get Stunt Driving Demerit Points Reduced or Eliminated in Ontario?
Yes. If your stunt driving charge is reduced to a lesser offence, the demerit points are reduced accordingly — or eliminated entirely. This is one of the most common outcomes when you fight a stunt driving charge with an experienced legal representative.
Here’s how it works: your legal representative negotiates with the Crown prosecutor (the government lawyer handling your case) to reduce the stunt driving charge to a lesser offence. Depending on the circumstances of your case, the reduced charge might be:
- Speeding 1-15 km/h over: 0 demerit points
- Speeding 16-29 km/h over: 3 demerit points
- Disobey sign: 3 demerit points
- Speeding 30-49 km/h over: 4 demerit points
- Complete withdrawal: 0 demerit points, no conviction at all
In Ontario between October 2024 and September 2025, 4,422 out of 11,284 stunt driving charges were withdrawn before trial — that’s 39.2% of all charges. Another 1,029 were withdrawn at trial. In total, nearly half of all stunt driving charges in Ontario ended without a conviction.
Stunt Driving Demerit Points for New and Novice Drivers in Ontario
If you hold a G1 or G2 licence and you’ve been charged with stunt driving, the demerit point situation is even more serious. Ontario has stricter demerit point thresholds for novice drivers.
G1 Licence Holders
G1 drivers face consequences at a much lower point total. At 4 demerit points, your G1 licence can be suspended for 60 days. A single stunt driving conviction (6 points) would automatically trigger this suspension — on top of the separate licence suspension that comes with the stunt driving conviction itself.
G2 Licence Holders
G2 drivers can accumulate up to 8 demerit points before facing suspension. While a single stunt driving conviction (6 points) wouldn’t automatically trigger a demerit-based suspension, it puts you dangerously close to the threshold. Any additional offence — even a minor speeding ticket — could push you over the edge.
Impact on Graduating to a Full G Licence
Having a stunt driving conviction on your record as a novice driver can complicate your path to a full G licence. While it doesn’t technically prevent you from taking your G road test, the licence suspension periods can delay your timeline significantly. Getting the charge reduced is especially important for young and novice drivers.
What Our Clients Say About Fighting Stunt Driving Charges
“Had a stunt and careless and they got it down to just careless with no demerit points, excellent firm and very nice people.”
“They are very professional with their clients. Once you gave your case to them just sit back and relax and watch the actions. Trust me i got court hearing for stunt driving they help me to make it zero penalty and zero demerits”
“Dan and his team are incredible. They reduced a charge carrying a total of 10 demerit points and enormous associated insurance costs to one with only 2 demerit points and a fraction of the original fine. Zero effort on my part, barely even remembered I had a court date. Would 100% recommend, save yourself the headache and worry!”
“Excellent Service. Decided to go with different lawyer after having a previous speeding charge before and it was the right decision! I had a stunt and a 70 over. The guys after 6 months in court got it down to a careless driving and 90 day probation that I could still drive my car to and from work and just a 1000$ over 2 years. This is a better result than I could have dream off.”
“They got my stunt ticket removed. Highly recommend using Nextlaw to fight your ticket.”
“Honestly, calling them the best is an understatement. They got my stunt driving charge reduced all the way down to a $45 speeding ticket. The team really knows what they’re doing and handle everything so smoothly. You can trust them without overthinking it—they genuinely put in the work to get you the best outcome.”
Ontario Stunt Driving Statistics: Charges and Outcomes by Region
The Ontario government publishes data on Provincial Offences Act charges, including stunt driving. Here’s how stunt driving charges were handled across some of Ontario’s busiest courts between October 2024 and September 2025:
| Court Location | Charges Received | Withdrawn Before Trial | Disposed at Trial | Charges Pending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provincial Overview | 11,284 | 4,422 | 1,329 | 7,120 |
| Regional Municipality of York | 1,226 | 142 | 37 | 582 |
| City of Brampton | 1,000 | 475 | 83 | 552 |
| City of Mississauga | 778 | 476 | 108 | 644 |
| City of Toronto | 718 | 373 | 643 | 1,163 |
| City of London | 670 | 43 | 20 | 390 |
| City of Barrie | 660 | 520 | 27 | 438 |
| Regional Municipality of Waterloo | 656 | 573 | 29 | 519 |
| City of Ottawa | 496 | 22 | 43 | 364 |
| Burlington / Oakville / Halton Hills / Milton | 427 | 201 | 11 | 235 |
| Regional Municipality of Durham | 400 | 269 | 30 | 194 |
As you can see, thousands of stunt driving charges are withdrawn every year in Ontario. In cities like Barrie and Waterloo, the majority of stunt driving charges were withdrawn before trial. This is why having an experienced legal representative matters — the numbers show that fighting your charge makes a real difference.
Ontario Courts That Handle Stunt Driving and Demerit Point Cases
Your stunt driving case will be heard at the Provincial Offences Court closest to where you were charged. Here are some of the courts where NextLaw regularly represents clients across Ontario:
Greater Toronto Area
- Toronto — Old City Hall — 60 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
- Brampton — 5 Ray Lawson Boulevard, Brampton, ON
- Mississauga — 950 Burnhamthorpe Road West, Mississauga, ON
- Newmarket (York Region) — 50 Eagle Street West, Newmarket, ON
- Oshawa (Durham Region) — 605 Rossland Road East, Oshawa, ON
- Oakville (Halton Region) — 2201 Regional Road 25, Oakville, ON
Southwestern Ontario
- Hamilton — 50 Main Street East, Hamilton, ON
- London — 824 Dundas Street, London, ON
- Kitchener (Waterloo Region) — 77 Queen Street North, Kitchener, ON
- Guelph — 74 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON
- St. Catharines (Niagara Region) — 59 Church Street, St. Catharines, ON
Central and Northern Ontario
- Barrie — 75 Mulcaster Street, Barrie, ON
- Ottawa — 100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON
- Kingston — 5 Court Street, Kingston, ON
- Sudbury — 155 Elm Street, Sudbury, ON
- Thunder Bay — 277 Camelot Street, Thunder Bay, ON
No matter which Ontario court your case is assigned to, NextLaw can represent you. Contact us to discuss your case.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stunt Driving Demerit Points in Ontario
How many demerit points do you get for stunt driving in Ontario?
A stunt driving conviction in Ontario adds 6 demerit points to your driving record. This is among the highest demerit point penalties under the Highway Traffic Act. However, if your charge is reduced to a lesser offence through legal representation, the demerit points can be significantly lowered or eliminated entirely.
Do demerit points affect your car insurance in Ontario?
Demerit points themselves do not directly affect your car insurance in Ontario. Insurance companies look at the conviction on your driving record, not the demerit points. However, a stunt driving conviction — which carries 6 demerit points — will cause major insurance increases of 100% to 300% or more because of the severity of the conviction itself.
How long do demerit points stay on your record in Ontario?
Demerit points stay on your Ontario driving record for 2 years from the date of the offence. After 2 years, the points are automatically removed. However, the conviction itself stays on your driving record for 3 years, which is what insurance companies use to calculate your premiums.
Can you lose your licence from demerit points in Ontario?
Yes. If you accumulate 15 or more demerit points as a fully licensed (G licence) driver, your licence will be suspended for 30 days. At 9 points, you receive a warning letter from the Ministry. For G1 and G2 drivers, the thresholds are lower — a suspension can occur at just 4 or 8 points respectively.
Can a legal representative help reduce demerit points for stunt driving?
Yes. A legal representative can negotiate to have your stunt driving charge reduced to a lesser offence that carries fewer or zero demerit points. At NextLaw, we regularly get stunt driving charges reduced to minor speeding tickets or other offences with significantly lower demerit point penalties. In many cases, the demerit points are eliminated entirely.
What happens at 9 demerit points in Ontario?
At 9 demerit points, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation sends you a warning letter advising that your licence may be suspended if you accumulate more points. This is not a suspension — it is an official warning. If you reach 15 points, your licence will be suspended for 30 days.
Is stunt driving worse than careless driving for demerit points?
Both stunt driving and careless driving carry 6 demerit points in Ontario. However, stunt driving has much more severe additional penalties including a minimum $2,000 fine, a licence suspension of up to 2 years, and a 14-day vehicle impoundment. Careless driving does not carry mandatory minimum fines or automatic vehicle impoundment, which is why getting a stunt driving charge reduced to careless driving is often considered a favourable outcome.
Get Your Free Consultation About Your Stunt Driving Charge
If you’ve been charged with stunt driving in Ontario and you’re worried about demerit points, insurance increases, or losing your licence, you don’t have to face this alone. Jonathan Cohen and the team at NextLaw have helped thousands of Ontario drivers fight their charges and protect their driving records.
Every case starts with a free consultation where we review your charge, explain your options, and give you a clear picture of what we can do for you. There’s no obligation and no pressure — just honest advice from a legal team that handles these cases every single day.
Book your free consultation with NextLaw today and let us help you fight your stunt driving charge.
Phone: 1-833-639-8529
Online: https://stunt-call.nextlaw.ca
