AARTO is the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act. The AARTO Act moves traffic fines out of the criminal courts into an administrative process with fixed deadlines, a 50% discount for paying early, and options to nominate a driver or make representations online. It is administered by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), which states that it is the only entity legally authorised to administer and process fines under the AARTO Act. Because AARTO in South Africa is being rolled out in phases, whether it applies depends on where the fine was issued.
Last checked: 19 September 2026. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an independent guide, not a government website. We do not book appointments, take payments or issue documents. Confirm fees, hours and requirements with the official source before you act: AARTO Online, RTIA and SAnews, 1 July 2026.
How traffic fines and AARTO fit together
AARTO ran in Johannesburg and Tshwane for years. Its national rollout was deferred from December 2025 to 1 July 2026, when a second phase began in 62 more municipalities (SAnews, 1 July 2026). Later phases have been reported, but treat those dates as planned until confirmed. Where AARTO does not yet apply, fines are still handled under the Criminal Procedure Act. See traffic fines, the 2026 rollout and CPA vs AARTO.
What an AARTO infringement notice means
An AARTO infringement notice is the first notice you receive for a traffic offence under AARTO. The AARTO infringement notice meaning is often misread: it is not a court summons and it does not give you a criminal record. It opens a 32-day window in which you can pay at a discount, nominate the driver if it was not you, make a representation, or apply to pay in instalments.
If your notice refers to the Criminal Procedure Act or gives a court date, it is not an AARTO notice. See the AARTO infringement notice explained.
How to check an infringement or fine
Check AARTO infringements on AARTO Online (online.aarto.gov.za) using your ID number and driving licence details. See checking AARTO fine status.
AARTO login: the official AARTO website
The official AARTO website for checking, paying and disputing is AARTO Online. AARTO registration means creating a profile there; the AARTO login then shows the infringements recorded against your name. The RTMC’s AARTO Mobile App on Google Play also lets you create a profile and query infringements.
You will often see the agency’s address written as www.aarto.gov.za, but the login itself sits at online.aarto.gov.za. Look-alike domains are common, so type the address yourself rather than following a link in a message. See using AARTO Online.
Payment options
- Pay within 32 days of the notice to keep the 50% discount. See early payment discount.
- Apply to pay in instalments. See AARTO instalments.
- Pay through AARTO Online or the payment channels printed on your notice.
We do not publish AARTO banking details. Fake payment messages circulate widely, so use only the details on your own notice or shown on AARTO Online after you log in.
Representations and disputes
- If you were not the driver, nominate the driver within the deadline. See nominate a driver.
- If you believe the infringement is wrong, submit a representation on the AARTO representation form. See AARTO representations.
- If a representation is rejected, the amended Act provides for an appeal. See AARTO appeals.
Forms, including representation and review applications, are listed in AARTO forms.
Demerit-point information
The AARTO demerit point system provides for each infringement to carry points, with too many leading to suspension. It was not part of the July 2026 rollout and no start date has been set, so no demerit points are being recorded against drivers yet. See demerit points.
Deadlines and enforcement steps
- Infringement notice: 32 days to pay, nominate or make a representation. See the 32-day deadline.
- Courtesy letter: sent if you do nothing. The discount is lost and a fee is added. See courtesy letter.
- AARTO enforcement order: issued if the courtesy letter is ignored. It blocks licence, disc and permit transactions. See enforcement order.
- Revocation: an enforcement order can be revoked in some circumstances. See revoking an enforcement order.
AARTO compared with the older fine system
- Process: AARTO is administrative. Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) fines go through the criminal courts.
- Discount: AARTO gives 50% off within 32 days. CPA fines have no fixed national discount, though reductions can be requested.
- Ignoring it: AARTO leads to an enforcement order that blocks transactions. CPA leads to a summons and possibly a warrant.
- Points: AARTO provides for demerit points, not yet in force. CPA fines carry no points.
Where to get official help
Use AARTO Online or the RTIA contact details printed on your notice. There are no separate AARTO offices for the public to visit; for a counter, go to the issuing authority. Find it through traffic department near me or the office directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is AARTO in South Africa?
The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences Act, which handles traffic fines through an administrative process run by the RTIA instead of the courts.
What is an AARTO infringement notice?
The first notice issued for an infringement under AARTO. It is administrative, not criminal, and starts the 32-day window to pay, nominate or contest.
Does AARTO apply to my municipality?
It applies where the notice was issued under AARTO. Since 1 July 2026 that includes Johannesburg, Tshwane and 62 more municipalities.
What happens if I ignore an AARTO notice?
It moves to a courtesy letter and then an enforcement order, which blocks licence, disc and permit transactions until resolved.
Can AARTO notices be sent by SMS or email?
The amended Act allows electronic service. Verify any notice on AARTO Online before paying.
Does paying an AARTO fine mean I admit guilt?
Paying ends the matter for that infringement. If you believe the notice is wrong, make a representation before paying.
Is this the RTIA or AARTO website?
No. TrafficDepartment.co.za is independent and cannot check, pay or dispute infringements.