Licence Suspension Orders

What are the possible impacts of a Licence Suspension Order?

If you've been given a Licence Suspension Order (so you're under 'fines suspension'):

• Your licence is suspended and it is an offence to drive a motor vehicle. If you keep driving, you are likely to get further fines, be disqualified from driving, and eventually risk going to prison.
• If you are a P-plater, your licence is suspended, you cannot drive and the period of the suspension does not count towards getting a full licence.
• Any learners permit is suspended and you cannot drive.
• You cannot apply for an Extraordinary Driver's Licence.
• If you are served with an Excessive Demerit Points Notice, you may not be eligible to elect the Double or Nothing option unless the fines suspension is removed before the end of the election period.
• The period of any new demerit point suspension will not start to run until your fines suspension is removed.

If you do not have a driver's licence, but own a vehicle that is licenced, the Fines Enforcement Registry could instead suspend the vehicle's licence (registration), so it cannot be legally used on the road.

How can I have the Licence Suspension Order removed?

If the order is because of an unpaid infringement it may be removed if you do any one of the following:

• pay the infringement
• apply for a time to pay order
• give a notice to the Fines Enforcement Registrar that you live in a remote area
• request that the Registrar cancel the order on medical, employment or family/personal responsibility grounds
• apply to the Registrar to have the order cancelled for good reason
• elect to dispute the infringement in court, or
• apply to the court to have the order set aside (cancelled).

The Registrar must cancel an order for an unpaid infringement if the full amount is recovered under an enforcement warrant.

If the order is because of an unpaid fine it may be removed if you do any one of the following:

• pay the fine
• apply for a time to pay order
• give a notice to the Fines Enforcement Registrar that you live in a remote area
• request that the Registrar cancel the order on medical, employment or family/personal responsibility grounds
• apply to the Registrar to have the order cancelled for good reason
• apply to the court to have the order set aside (cancelled)
• apply for a re-hearing of the offence if the fine was imposed in your absence,
• get leave to appeal the fine or the decision that led to the fine.

The Registrar must cancel an order for an unpaid fine if:

• the full amount is recovered under an enforcement warrant, or
• a work and development permit (WDP) or fine expiation order is issued, or
• an order to attend for work and development is served, or
• an application for a warrant of commitment (WOC) inquiry is made.

There is detailed information about all these options in the Legal Aid WA Infosheet - Licence suspension orders.

When can I drive again? 

You can drive again when you are no longer subject to a Licence Suspension Order or any other order that affects your licence by removing your authority to drive. Be sure to check the status of your licence before you drive.

You can check whether you are subject to a Licence Suspension Order for unpaid fines or infringements on the WA government Licence Suspension Check webpage.

You can check if you are under court imposed licence disqualification or demerit point suspension on the Department of Transport website.

You should allow at least two working days for the information on these websites to be updated. 

What if I’ve been charged with driving under suspension, but didn’t know my licence had been suspended?

You can:

• apply to court to have the Licence Suspension Order set aside (cancelled)
• apply for a re-hearing of the charge if your licence was suspended for failing to pay a fine imposed in your absence 
• try to rely on a defence of honest and reasonable mistake of fact.

Other Legal Aid WA resources

• Infosheet - Licence suspension orders
• Infosheet - Traffic - Part 1: How to deal with your traffic offence
• Infosheet - Traffic - Part 2: Common offences and penalties

Reviewed: 24 August 2026