New Queensland Road Rules from July 2025: What Drivers Should Know

From July 1, 2025, drivers across Queensland will see several new changes to road rules, fines, and enforcement practices. Some of these updates are designed to improve road safety. Others aim to ease cost-of-living pressures. Either way, if you drive — or even just ride — in Queensland, it is worth knowing what is changing.

Let us start with mobile phone use. It is not just discouraged anymore — it is expensive. The fine has jumped to $1,050, along with five demerit points. That includes being stopped at traffic lights. Repeat offenders within 12 months could face doubled penalties and even license suspension. In a world glued to phones, this one will hurt.

Speeding fines are up too. If you go 10 to 20 kilometers over the limit, expect a $520 fine and three demerit points. Run a red light? That will be $950. These are not small amounts, and they are designed to sting — perhaps enough to make people think twice.

Seatbelt rules have also become stricter. Forgetting to buckle up will now cost $700 and six demerit points. Improper child restraints? That is $1,000 and six points. These will be enforced more frequently with random checks, especially around school zones and rideshare vehicles.

Now for some relief: registration discounts. Light vehicle, dealer plate, and caravan owners will continue to receive a 20% discount on their next registration renewal. In today’s economy, that counts.

You will also start seeing more AI-powered cameras. These will monitor speeding, mobile phone use, and seatbelt compliance — across both cities and regional areas. The idea is to improve enforcement, not necessarily to increase revenue, though some might question that.

One small but curious change: parking in a “no stopping” zone no longer attracts demerit points. But the fine still applies — $64, or $362 in a school zone. It seems like a compromise between punishment and leniency.

Finally, new toll road legislation is raising eyebrows. The requirement to publicly disclose toll pricing criteria has been removed. While the government says there are no current plans for new tolls, the change leaves room for future adjustments. That part might deserve a closer look.

These updates cover everything from safety to enforcement to savings. Whether you agree with all of them or not, they are now part of the rulebook. So next time you hit the road, take a moment to remember — the rules have changed.

Please note: The information in this post is based on the latest available updates at the time of writing. Rules, fines, and policies may have changed since publication. Please refer to official Queensland Government websites for the most current information.

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