One of the most common questions we get is some version of: “If I just pay this ticket, when does it come off?” The answer is more complicated than most people expect, because there isn't one record — there are two, running on different clocks.
Two clocks, not one
When you're convicted of a traffic offence in Alberta, two things happen:
- Demerit points are added to your driving record.
- The conviction itself is recorded on your abstract.
These two things age out at different rates — and they affect different parts of your life.
The demerit clock
Demerit points generally stay on your driving record for two years from the date of conviction. After that, the points are removed. But here's the part most drivers miss: those two years run from the conviction date, not the date you got the ticket. If you fight a charge for six months and lose, the two-year clock starts then — not the day you were pulled over.
While they're on your record, demerits add up. The thresholds depend on what kind of licence you hold:
- GDL drivers face a suspension at 8 demerits.
- Fully licensed drivers face a suspension at 15 demerits.
- Warning letters typically go out earlier — well before the suspension threshold.
The conviction clock
The conviction itself sits on your driving abstract for three years. This is the record insurance companies look at — and it's the one that quietly does the most financial damage.
Even after the demerits come off at year two, the conviction is still visible on your abstract for another full year. As far as your insurer is concerned, the offence happened recently enough to matter.
Why the gap between the two clocks matters
Here's the practical effect: a conviction can keep costing you in insurance premiums for a year after you stop carrying the demerits. Most drivers expect their rates to drop as soon as the points fall off, and they're surprised when the next renewal still reflects the conviction.
It's also why “just pay it — the points come off in two years” is bad math. The points are only one part of the picture.
What this means before you decide what to do with a ticket
Before you pay a ticket, it's worth thinking about both clocks. A conviction that adds 3 demerits and a major-conviction label on your insurance is a very different decision from one that's a single minor with no insurance impact.
If you're not sure where a particular charge falls, send us the ticket. We'll tell you what's at stake on both records before you commit to anything.