What if I do nothing?
What happens if I do nothing?
When you get a fine you can, by the due date (or within 21 days of being served if there is no due date):
- pay the fine in full
- make an arrangement to pay by instalments
- elect (choose) to go to court
- nominate another driver, or
- ask for a review
If you do not do anything, Revenue NSW will send you a penalty reminder notice. The penalty reminder notice will give you a further 28 days to take action.
If you still do not do anything, Revenue NSW will send you an overdue fine and will also add enforcement costs of $65.00, or $25.00 if you are under 18 (as at July 2019).
From April 2013, Revenue NSW may send private debt collection companies to visit the homes of some people who have overdue fines.
If you receive a visit from a debt collector, you should get
legal advice.
If you have already paid the fine but want to nominate another driver, you have up to 90 days from the date the penalty notice was served to do this.
Consequences of an overdue fine
Once an overdue fine has been issued, if you do not pay the fine and the extra enforcement costs, Revenue NSW can take further action against you, such as:
- directing Transport for NSW (TfNSW) to suspend your driver's licence and cancel your vehicle registration.
- take money from (garnish) your wages or bank accounts
- getting the sheriff to take (seize) and sell your personal property
- issuing an examination summons
- placing a charge on your land
- giving you a community service order
- notify the authority in the state or territory you live in (who may then take enforcement action against you)
- suspend visitor driving privileges if you hold a licence from another state or territory.
In most cases Revenue NSW will add $65.00 (as at July 2019) to the fine for each of the enforcement steps that it takes.
Before you can apply for a new licence you must pay all your outstanding fines or enter into a payment plan. You may be able to enter into a Work Development Order (WDO) or apply to have the fine written off.
For more information, see
Consequences of an overdue fine.
Responding to an overdue fine
Once you receive an overdue fine, you can:
- pay the fine in full or apply to pay by instalments
- make an application to annul (cancel) the overdue fine so you can challenge the fine in court (fee applies)
- apply for a Work and Development Order, or
- apply for a write off of your fine or fines.
Revenue NSW has said that it may be willing to review your fine even after you have been sent an overdue fine if:
- you did not own the vehicle at the time of the offence and have notified the RMS of the new owner's details
- your identity has been misused and you didn't commit the offence, or
- the fine was for a traffic offence and you can prove your vehicle was not at the location at the time of the offence.
If you want to request a review and you have already received an overdue fine, you should contact Revenue NSW.
A fine will not go away if you try and avoid it. Once an overdue fine has been issued, Revenue NSW can enforce it any time, even if it is for an offence that was committed many years ago.
For more information, see
Responding to an overdue fine.