Driver Nomination is a formal legal process under Section 17(1)(f)(v) of the AARTO Act. It allows the registered owner or company fleet operator to declare that they were not in control of the vehicle at the exact time and place an infringement occurred.

By submitting an official Form AARTO 07 (Nomination of Driver or Person in Control), you request that the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA) cancel the original fine in your name and re-issue a brand new Infringement Notice directly to the actual driver.

Under AARTO, you should never simply pay a fine incurred by someone else. Doing so carries serious financial and legal consequences:

1. Paying a Fine is an Admission of Guilt: If a company or a private vehicle owner pays an AARTO fine, they are legally admitting guilt for the offence.
2. The Danger of Future Demerit Points (Phase 4): Although the demerit system isn’t live right now, once Phase 4 is implemented, paying a fine automatically applies demerit points to the license of the person who paid it. If a company pays it without nominating the driver, the points will be attached directly to the vehicle’s operator card, running the risk of grounding an entire corporate fleet.
3. Salary Deduction Pitfalls: Legally, an employer cannot arbitrarily deduct a traffic fine amount from an employee’s salary if the company proxy paid the fine, because the company took legal responsibility for the ticket. Properly nominating the driver transfers the legal liability entirely to the employee, making it their legal problem to pay or dispute.

Timing is everything under the new AARTO framework.

• The Strict 32-Day Deadline: You have exactly 32 days from the date the Infringement Notice was served to submit a nomination.
• The “Point of No Return”: The option to nominate another driver is only available during Step 1 (the Infringement Notice stage). The moment the fine remains unaddressed and progresses to Step 2 (where a Courtesy Letter is issued), the legal option to redirect the fine to another driver is completely revoked. At that stage, the registered owner remains permanently liable for the penalty and fees.

The RTIA allows you to submit your completed AARTO 07 form through three main channels:

• Online (Fastest): Directly upload the details on the official AARTO portal (www.aarto.gov.za) after verifying your identity profiles.
• Via Email: Scan and email the completed documents directly to nominations@rtia.co.za.
• Via Registered Mail: Send physical copies to: The Road Traffic Infringement Agency, Private Bag X112, Halfway House, 1685.

To successfully redirect a fine, the registered owner or company proxy must follow a strict administrative process to ensure the nomination isn’t rejected by the RTIA.

• Step 1: Obtain the Correct Form
  Download the official AARTO 07 Form directly from our resources section below or via the official state traffic portals.
• Step 2: Collect the Driver’s True Particulars
  Under AARTO regulations, you cannot nominate an “anonymous” or vague individual. You must legally obtain and fill in the driver’s full names, RSA ID or passport number, gender, physical/postal address, cellphone number, and email address.
• Step 3: Attach Supporting Documentation
  You must attach clear copies of the nominated driver’s ID or driver’s license card to the application. If you do not have their consent or copy of credentials, you remain liable for the fine.
• Step 4: Sign Before a Commissioner of Oaths
  The physical AARTO 07 form includes an affirmation section (Part E and F). The registered owner or authorized company representative must sign the form in front of a Commissioner of Oaths (e.g., at your local SAPS police station) to certify under oath that the nomination is truthful.
• Step 5: Submit and Await Form AARTO 09
  Submit the form via one of the approved channels and keep a copy for your records. The RTIA will process the application and issue an AARTO 07a (or AARTO 09) notification. If successful, your fine is cancelled, and a new notice is generated for the guilty driver.