If a traffic infringement notice is issued for a vehicle you own or manage, but you were not the person driving at the time of the alleged offence, you can submit an official driver nomination to transfer the penalty and associated demerit points to the actual driver. Under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act, this transfer is completed using Form AARTO 07 within 32 days of receiving the initial Infringement Notice. Once successfully processed by the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), the fine in your name is cancelled and a new notice is re-issued directly to the nominated driver.
What this fine or AARTO notice means
An AARTO Infringement Notice is initially served on the registered owner or title holder of a vehicle—or the designated proxy in the case of a company or fleet vehicle—when a violation is recorded by a camera or issued in absentia.
Nominating a driver is the formal legal mechanism under Section 17(1)(f)(v) of the AARTO Act to notify the issuing authority that another individual was in physical control of the motor vehicle when the incident occurred.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ AARTO DRIVER NOMINATION FLOW │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
Infringement Notice Issued to Owner
│
┌─────────────────┴─────────────────┐
▼ ▼
Submit Form AARTO 07 Fail to Nominate
Within 32 Days Within 32 Days
│ │
▼ ▼
Notice Cancelled for Owner Courtesy Letter Issued
Re-issued to Nominated Driver Owner Retains Liability
Key principles of the nomination process include:
- Legal Responsibility Transfer: Successfully nominating the actual driver removes financial liability and potential demerit points from the registered owner’s driving profile and reassigns them to the driver.
- Not an Admission of Guilt: Filing a nomination is not a dispute of the fine’s validity; it simply identifies the responsible party so that they may exercise their own options (such as paying with a 50% discount or submitting a representation).
- Owner Duty of Care: Vehicle owners are expected to ascertain the full names, residential address, ID number, and driver’s licence details of anyone permitted to drive their vehicle. If you cannot provide verified details, the nomination will be rejected, and liability remains with you.
For broader details on how traffic fines and administrative stages work nationwide, refer back to our main guide on AARTO in South Africa.
How to check the status
Before submitting a nomination, verify the exact status of the notice to confirm that driver nomination is still legally permitted. You can review the nominate driver AARTO requirements and next steps to verify your eligibility before taking action.
Step-by-Step Status Check & Nomination Submission
- Locate Your Notice Number: Locate the 10- or 16-digit Infringement Notice number on the top right corner of the document received via registered mail or delivered electronically.
- Access Official AARTO Portals: Log into the official AARTO portal (
online.aarto.gov.za) or check via the National Traffic Information System natis profile. - Verify Notice Stage: Confirm that the notice is still at Stage 1 (Infringement Notice). If a Courtesy Letter or Enforcement Order has already been generated, the option to nominate a driver is closed by law.
- Complete Form AARTO 07: Fill in the registered owner details (Part C) and the nominated driver details (Part D), including full names, RSA ID/Passport number, driving licence number, and physical address.
- Submit to RTIA: Upload the form on the AARTO website, submit it in person at an official traffic office, or post it via registered mail to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency.
- Obtain Confirmation: Ensure you receive Form AARTO 05b (Acknowledgement of Receipt) or keep a digital reference receipt as proof of your submission.
Payment, representation or nomination options
When an Infringement Notice arrives, the registered owner has distinct legal avenues available during the initial 32-day window:
| Option | Action Required | Outcome for Vehicle Owner |
| 1. Pay the Fine | Pay within 32 days via official channels. | Receive a 50% discount; case closed; demerit points applied to owner. |
| 2. Nominate Driver | Complete Form AARTO 07 with full driver details. | Original notice cancelled; new notice re-issued to nominated driver. |
| 3. Submit Representation | Submit Form AARTO 08 challenging the fine’s validity. | Fine is frozen pending review by a Representations Officer. |
| 4. Elect to Go to Court | Submit Form AARTO 10 to elect court trial. | Matter is referred to the magistrate’s court for prosecution. |
Important Note: Do not attempt to pay a fine if you intend to nominate another driver. Paying the fine closes the infringement case and permanently assigns any associated demerit points to your record.
Deadlines and risks to understand
Timing is critical when handling AARTO driver nominations. Strict statutory deadlines govern every phase of the adjudication process:
- The 32-Day Rule: A driver nomination must be received by the RTIA within 32 days of the actual or presumed service date of the Infringement Notice.
- Loss of Right to Nominate: If you fail to act within 32 days, the RTIA issues a Courtesy Letter. Once a Courtesy Letter is generated, the statutory right to nominate another driver is permanently forfeited under Section 17 of the Act, and the 50% discount is revoked.
- Enforcement Orders: If unaddressed for an additional 32 days, an Enforcement Order is issued. This blocks driving licence renewals, professional driving permits (PrDP), and vehicle licence disc issues on eNaTIS across South Africa.
- False Nominations: Submitting false information or nominating a person without their consent or accurate details is a criminal offence under South African law, subject to prosecution and heavy penalties.
Documents or reference numbers needed
To ensure your Form AARTO 07 nomination is processed without rejection, gather and verify all required documentation prior to submission:
Required Information Checklist
- Infringement Notice Number: The specific reference number printed on the original AARTO 01, 02, or 03 notice.
- Owner/Proxy Details: RSA ID number, full names, physical address, and contact details (or Company/CC Registration Number and Proxy details for juristic entities).
- Nominated Driver Details:
- Full registered names and surname.
- RSA Identity Number or valid Foreign Passport/ID number.
- Physical residential address and postal code.
- Contact telephone number and email address.
- Driving licence card number and code.
- Supporting Attachments: Clear copy of the nominated driver’s ID document or driving licence card.
You can download standard driver nomination document templates and administrative forms directly from our repository or access them via official municipal service desks.
Related fines and AARTO pages
Navigate through our detailed guides to resolve specific traffic administrative tasks or locate municipal service desks:
- AARTO in South Africa — Overview of the AARTO demerit point system, infringement stages, and rights.
- traffic department near me — Find nearest municipal centres for physical form submissions and enquiries.
- traffic department offices — Directory of regional licensing centers and traffic department locations.
- renewal — Guidance on driving licence card renewals and resolving eNaTIS blocking issues.
- official source checks — How to verify traffic information against official state portals.
FAQs
What is the purpose of this Nominate Driver AARTO in South Africa page?
This page provides step-by-step guidance on how vehicle owners and fleet managers can legally transfer an AARTO traffic fine to the actual driver responsible for the violation, ensuring demerit points and financial liability are correctly assigned.
What should users check before acting on nominate driver AARTO information?
Always check that your ticket is currently at the initial Infringement Notice stage and within the 32-day submission window. Confirm the nominated driver’s ID number, physical address, and licence card details before submitting Form AARTO 07.
Which related TrafficDepartment.co.za page should readers use next?
If you have your documents ready, review the detailed completion guide for Form AARTO 07 under our forms section, or find your local processing desk via our traffic department offices directory.
How is this page different from the AARTO in South Africa page?
While our main AARTO in South Africa hub covers the entire national framework, demerit point threshold rules, and overall enforcement stages, this page focuses exclusively on the legal procedure and requirements for transferring a fine to another driver.
Can users complete this nominate driver AARTO task on this page?
No. TrafficDepartment.co.za is an informative public-service guide. To officially submit a driver nomination, users must log into the official RTIA portal (online.aarto.gov.za), submit Form AARTO 07 at a physical traffic office, or send it via registered mail to the Road Traffic Infringement Agency.