Queensland Speeding Fines 2026: The Full Bracket Table ($345–$1,986) With a Worked Example for Each Speed Band
A Queensland speeding fine in 2026 runs from $345 (less than 11 km/h over) up to $1,986 (more than 40 km/h over), plus 1 to 8 demerit points. Cross 40 km/h over the limit and you also cop an automatic six-month licence suspension on top of the fine. Below is the full bracket table with the exact 2026 dollar figure, the penalty units behind it, and a step-by-step worked example for every single band.
The full 2026 Queensland speeding bracket table
Queensland groups speeding into five bands based on how far over the limit you were clocked. Each band has a fixed fine (the on-the-spot infringement amount) and a fixed number of demerit points. These are the current figures published by the Queensland Government, effective from 1 July 2026.
| How far over the limit | Penalty units | Fine (2026) | Demerit points | Extra consequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than 11 km/h over | 2 | $345 | 1 | — |
| 11–20 km/h over | 3 | $518 | 3 | — |
| 21–30 km/h over | 4.5 | $777 | 4 | — |
| 31–40 km/h over | 7.5 | $1,295 | 6 | — |
| More than 40 km/h over | 11.5 | $1,986 | 8 | Automatic 6-month licence suspension |
Source: Queensland Government — Demerit points schedule (qld.gov.au) and the high-speed suspension rules at qld.gov.au/transport/licensing. One quirk worth noting: Queensland's first band runs to "less than 11 km/h" over — one km/h wider than most other states, which start at 10 km/h over.
How penalty units turn into dollars
Queensland doesn't write a dollar figure into the road rules. Instead it writes a number of penalty units, and each financial year the Government sets what one unit is worth. On 1 July 2026 the value rose from $166.90 (2025–26) to $172.70 — a 3.5% indexation increase applied under the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992. When that unit value is applied to an infringement notice, the total is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar.
So the maths behind each band is simply penalty units × $172.70, rounded down:
| Band | Calculation | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 11 km/h | 2 × $172.70 = $345.40 | $345 |
| 11–20 km/h | 3 × $172.70 = $518.10 | $518 |
| 21–30 km/h | 4.5 × $172.70 = $777.15 | $777 |
| 31–40 km/h | 7.5 × $172.70 = $1,295.25 | $1,295 |
| More than 40 km/h | 11.5 × $172.70 = $1,986.05 | $1,986 |
Penalty-unit value confirmed via the Queensland Law Society's Proctor and dlgwv.qld.gov.au.
A worked example for every speed band
Here's what each band actually looks like for a real driver on a full (open) Queensland licence. The open licence has a 12-point limit over any rolling 3-year period — keep an eye on how fast the higher bands eat into that.
• Band: less than 11 km/h over (2 penalty units)
• Fine: $345
• Demerit points: 1 (she now has 1 of her 12)
• Licence: no suspension — a minor result, but still $345 and a point on her record for three years.
• Band: 11–20 km/h over (3 penalty units)
• Fine: $518
• Demerit points: 3 (now 3 of 12)
• Licence: no suspension — but three points is a quarter of an open licence's whole allowance from a single ticket.
• Band: 21–30 km/h over (4.5 penalty units)
• Fine: $777
• Demerit points: 4 (now 4 of 12)
• Licence: no automatic suspension — but a second offence of this size within 12 months triggers double demerits (see below), which would put her within striking distance of a points suspension.
• Band: 31–40 km/h over (7.5 penalty units)
• Fine: $1,295
• Demerit points: 6 (now 6 of 12 — half his allowance gone in one hit)
• Licence: no automatic suspension yet, but he's one comparable offence away from a demerit-point suspension.
• Band: more than 40 km/h over (11.5 penalty units)
• Fine: $1,986
• Demerit points: 8 (now 8 of 12)
• Licence: automatic 6-month suspension — separate from the demerit points, and it applies even if this is his first-ever offence. This is the band where a fine becomes a "can't drive to work" problem.
More than 40 km/h over: the automatic 6-month suspension explained
The top band is different in kind, not just in dollars. Under Queensland's high-speed offence rules, exceeding the limit by more than 40 km/h triggers an automatic six-month licence suspension — the qld.gov.au page states plainly: "From the date stated in this notice your Queensland licence is suspended for 6 months."
Three things drivers routinely get wrong about it:
- It stacks. The suspension is on top of the $1,986 fine and the 8 demerit points — not instead of them.
- It applies to first offenders. You don't need prior history; a single 40-plus reading is enough.
- It's a fixed six months. The only relief is applying to a Magistrates Court for a special hardship order, which is granted only in limited circumstances (for example, losing your licence would deprive you of your livelihood). It is not automatic and there's no guarantee.
Take it far enough and it stops being a Transport-and-Main-Roads infringement altogether: extreme high-range speeding can be dealt with in court, where the maximum penalties — and the disqualification periods — are higher than the on-the-spot figures above. If you're in that territory, get legal advice rather than relying on a table.
School zones and roadworks: the limit drops, the stakes rise
The bracket table above is keyed to how far over the posted limit you were — so the danger in a school zone or roadworks isn't a different table, it's a much lower posted limit that pushes you into a higher band far more easily.
School zones
Queensland school zones drop the limit to 40 km/h during signed school-zone times — typically 7:00am–9:00am and 2:00pm–4:00pm on school days, though some schools post different hours on the sign (always read the sign). Do 70 through a 40 zone and you're 30 km/h over — a $777, 4-point result — for a speed that would be legal on the same street an hour later. Queensland enforcement guides also report that school-zone speeding fines are treated more severely (widely cited as doubled), and dedicated school-zone cameras are being expanded across the state. The exact amount is printed on your infringement notice — treat any school-zone reading as a heightened-penalty offence and confirm the figure on the notice itself. Limit and hours per TMR — Speed limits in school zones.
Roadworks
Roadwork sites use temporary reduced limits (often 40 km/h, sometimes lower when workers are present). The standard speeding bands apply, but — as with school zones — the lower temporary limit makes a high band easy to hit, and Queensland is rolling out roadworks speed cameras alongside the school-zone program. The safe rule: whatever the temporary sign says is the limit, and your band is measured against it, not the road's normal limit.
- Five bands, five fines: $345 · $518 · $777 · $1,295 · $1,986 (2026), carrying 1 · 3 · 4 · 6 · 8 demerit points.
- It's penalty units under the hood: one unit = $172.70 from 1 July 2026, so every fine rose ~3.5% this year.
- 40+ km/h over is a cliff edge: $1,986 fine, 8 points, and an automatic 6-month suspension — even for first offenders.
- Watch double demerits: a second speeding offence within 12 months doubles the points on the second one.
- School zones and roadworks: same bands, but a 40 km/h limit pushes you into a higher (and more heavily enforced) band fast.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a speeding fine in QLD in 2026?
Between $345 and $1,986 depending on how far over the limit you were: $345 for less than 11 km/h over, $518 for 11–20, $777 for 21–30, $1,295 for 31–40, and $1,986 for more than 40 km/h over. These are the infringement amounts published by qld.gov.au, effective from 1 July 2026.
How many demerit points do you get for speeding in Queensland?
1 point for less than 11 km/h over, 3 points for 11–20, 4 points for 21–30, 6 points for 31–40, and 8 points for more than 40 km/h over. An open (full) licence is suspended once you reach 12 points in any 3-year period.
What happens if I go more than 40 km/h over the limit in QLD?
You receive a $1,986 fine, 8 demerit points, and an automatic six-month licence suspension — the suspension applies on top of the fine and points, and even to first offenders. Extreme cases can go to court with higher penalties. The only relief from the suspension is a special hardship order from a Magistrates Court, which is granted only in limited circumstances.
Are speeding fines higher in school zones in Queensland?
School zones drop the limit to 40 km/h during signed hours (typically 7–9am and 2–4pm on school days), so you reach a higher penalty band much faster. Queensland enforcement guides also report school-zone speeding is penalised more heavily (commonly cited as doubled). The exact amount is shown on the infringement notice — treat any school-zone reading as a heightened-penalty offence and confirm the figure on the notice.
What is the penalty unit value in Queensland for 2026?
From 1 July 2026 one penalty unit is worth $172.70, up from $166.90 in 2025–26 — a 3.5% indexation increase. Speeding fines are set in penalty units (for example, more than 40 km/h over is 11.5 units), so every fine rose by about 3.5% this financial year.
Does Queensland have double demerit points?
Yes — but not for public holidays like some states. Queensland doubles the demerit points on a second speeding offence committed within 12 months of an earlier one. The doubled points apply to the second offence, which can be enough on its own to breach a 12-point open-licence limit.
Don't get caught out by a bracket you didn't know about
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