Fleet Owners Warned to Settle Fines or Risk Downtime as AARTO Kicks In

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Trucking companies and fleet operators are being urged to prepare for major changes as the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act officially comes into effect on 1 December 2025. The new regulations are expected to significantly alter how traffic fines are managed and enforced across South Africa.

Under the new system, fines will no longer be linked to individual drivers or fleet managers. Instead, they will be associated directly with each company’s official Business Registration Number (BRN) on the national ENatis system. This means that if a fine remains unpaid, the entire business could face restrictions, not only the driver responsible for the offence.

Barry Berman, Chief Executive Officer of Fines SA, explained that this marks a substantial shift for the transport and logistics industry. “Every fine is now linked to a company’s BRN. If these fines are not paid on time, it can block renewals, transfers, and vehicle registrations. For large fleets, that poses a serious logistical risk,” he said.

In 2023, South African motorists owed over R3.16 billion in unpaid traffic fines, with fewer than 20% being settled. Fleet operators account for a significant portion of these penalties, and the new AARTO system will make non-compliance much harder to overlook. “Every unpaid fine will be visible under a company’s BRN, and unresolved penalties can prevent trucks from operating legally,” Berman added.

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For trucking businesses, this development carries serious implications. Companies are advised to:

• Audit their fleet fines on ENatis and ensure all outstanding penalties are settled before 1 December.
• Implement verified internal systems to monitor and pay fines promptly.
• Prepare for driver accountability once the demerit system becomes active, as demerit points will then be assigned to individual drivers.

Until the demerit system is in effect, companies remain fully responsible for all fines issued to their vehicles. Failure to comply could result in delays, grounded trucks, and financial losses.

Berman urged fleet owners to use Transport Month as a reminder to take action. “Businesses cannot afford to ignore this. The AARTO rollout is not just an administrative update, it is a business risk. Companies should ensure their systems are in order before December to avoid unnecessary downtime,” he said.