Fleet Managers and Businesses at risk under AARTO
Fines SA urges fleet operators to prepare this Transport Month
As South Africa marks Transport Month this October, Fines SA is calling on businesses, fleet operators, and logistics managers to prioritise road safety and compliance ahead of the AARTO (Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences) rollout on 1 December 2025.
Transport Month’s national campaign, themed “Sustainable Transport, Safer Roads, and Smarter Mobility,” comes at a pivotal time for the fleet industry. Under AARTO, traffic fines for business vehicles will no longer be tied to the company proxy’s personal ID, instead, they will be linked directly to the organisation’s Business Registration Number (BRN) on the ENatis system.
This shift means that companies, not individual managers, will bear legal responsibility for paying fines issued to their fleet vehicles. Failure to settle these fines will result in the company’s BRN being blocked on ENatis, effectively halting vehicle renewals, new registrations, and other essential fleet operations.
Barry Berman, CEO of Fines SA, says Transport Month is a crucial reminder that compliance is both a safety and a business-continuity issue. “AARTO changes how accountability works for fleets,” explains Berman. “Every company will have its own BRN, and all traffic fines are tied to that number. If those fines aren’t paid on time, the business itself – not just an individual – is affected. Vehicles can’t be renewed or transferred until the outstanding fines are cleared. For large operations, that’s a potential logistical nightmare.”
Fleet and logistics operations represent a major portion of South Africa’s total traffic fines. In 2023, motorists across major jurisdictions owed more than R3.16 billion in outstanding fines, with municipalities reporting that fewer than 20% were ever finalised or paid. This low compliance rate combined with AARTO’s national tracking system will make non-payment virtually impossible to ignore.
“Under AARTO, there’s no hiding behind paperwork or missed notices,” says Berman. “Every fine becomes traceable under a company’s BRN, and unresolved penalties can block an entire fleet from operating legally. Businesses must start auditing their fines and implementing verified payment systems now.”
Once the AARTO demerit system officially launches, companies will also be required to nominate the driver responsible for each offence, transferring the demerit points to that individual’s ID number. Until then, however, all fines remain linked to the company’s BRN, meaning the business must pay first and then recover costs from the driver internally.
“For now, the company carries the legal burden,” Berman adds. “If a driver incurs a fine, the business must pay it to stay compliant, and then recover the funds from that driver. Once demerits are active, driver accountability will become clearer, but payment responsibility will always start with the company.”
As South Africa’s leading Smart Traffic Fine Platform, Fines SA provides a single, verified dashboard that allows businesses to manage fines across 250+ municipalities, monitor compliance, and make secure payments through trusted partners such as PayFast, Mobicred, SnapScan, Zapper, and Apple Pay.
Through its digital platform, Fines SA helps companies:
- Consolidate fines for all vehicles in one place
- Verify and pay securely through official, fraud-protected channels
- Access settlement discounts of up to 50%
- Receive real-time notifications and reporting
- Contest incorrect fines or demerits with legal support
Trusted by over 50,000 fleet clients and 1.5 million motorists, Fines SA’s platform offers national visibility, secure transactions, and peace of mind.
“Be signed up, verified, and in control before demerits add up,” Berman urges. “Transport Month is the perfect moment to get your systems in order, ensure your BRN is compliant, and protect your business from operational disruptions.”
Fleet operators can use the Fines SA portal at FinesSA.co.za or download the Fines SA app on iOS, Android and Huawei to verify fines and check their compliance status in preparation for AARTO.
For more information on Fines SA, visit the website.
