You are driving on the Third Mainland Bridge, feeling good about life, when a brown-and-red uniform waves you down. Whether it catches you off guard or not, ignorance of the law is not a defence. And in Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) is actively in the business of reminding you of that.
What many drivers do not know is that, beyond the FRSC fines in Nigeria, they also operate a Penalty Points System.
- Accumulate 10–14 points, and you get a warning.
- Hit 15–20 and your licence faces temporary suspension.
- Reach 21 points, and you might lose your licence completely.
Every offence below carries both a fine and a point consequence. 
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The Right FRSC Fines in Nigeria
Pursuant to Section 10(4) and 28(2) of the FRSC Establishment Act 2007 and Regulation 220 of the National Road Traffic Regulations (NRTR 2012), here are 16 road offences and exactly what they will cost you.
1. Caution Sign Violation (CSV) — ₦3,000 | 3 Points | Category 3
Every vehicle must carry a C-caution sign. It is a reflective warning triangle used to alert other road users in the event of a breakdown or emergency stop. If you don’t have yours, that is ₦3,000 gone with no warning.
2. Child Sitting Position Violation — ₦3,000 | Points Apply | Category 2
Children under 12 should not sit in the front seat of any vehicle. This is a safety regulation every driver must keep.
3. Dangerous Driving (DGD) — ₦50,000 | 10 Points | Category 1
The heaviest fine on this list and one of the highest penalty point scores. Dangerous driving is operating a vehicle in a manner that endangers lives. That includes yours and everyone else’s on the road. Your cue to slow down and tone down the recklessness.
4. Driving Under Alcohol or Drug Influence (DUI) — ₦5,000 | 5 Points | Category 2
A ₦5,000 fine is the least of your problems here. DUI is a criminal offence that can result in prosecution, licence withdrawal, and, in the event of an accident, manslaughter charges.
5. Driving with Expired or Without Spare Tyre — ₦2,000 | Points Apply | Category 1
An expired (bald) tyre or the absence of a spare tyre makes your vehicle a liability on the road. This is a separate offence from a worn-out tyre and carries its own fine.
6. Driving with Worn-Out Tyre (TYY) — ₦3,000 | 3 Points | Category 1
Bald or visibly deteriorated tyres are a road hazard. Even if you have a spare, worn-out tyres on your vehicle are a distinct and separate punishable offence.
7. Excessive Smoke Emission (ESE) — ₦5,000 | 5 Points | Category 1
This road offence is smoke emission from your exhaust that is capable of blurring the vision of other road users. If your car smokes like a chimney, it is not roadworthy, and the FRSC will formalise that opinion.
8. Failure to Install Speed Limiting Device — ₦3,000 | Points Apply | Category 1
Speed-limiting devices are mandatory for both commercial and private vehicles in Nigeria under the NRTR 2012. Not having one is a ticketable offence regardless of how fast or slowly you are driving.
9. Fire Extinguisher Violation (FEV) — ₦3,000 | 3 Points | Category 3
Your vehicle must carry a specified fire extinguisher at all times. Note the word “specified” because a generic extinguisher that does not meet FRSC standards may not be sufficient. Check frsc.gov.ng for the approved specification.
10. Overloading (OVL) — ₦10,000 | 10 Points | Category 1
Carrying passengers or goods beyond your vehicle’s certified capacity is dangerous and expensive. At ₦10,000 and 10 penalty points, overloading is one of the most consequential offences on this list.
11. Preaching or Hawking in a Commercial Vehicle (PHV) — ₦50,000 | Points Apply | Category 1
Tied with dangerous driving as the highest fine here. Commercial drivers who allow evangelism, sales, or hawking inside their vehicles are fully liable. The fine applies to the driver, not the preacher or hawker.
12. Seat Belt Violation — ₦2,000 | Points Apply | Category 2
The simplest and cheapest fix on this entire list. A seat belt takes two seconds to fasten. ₦2,000 is what it costs when you decide those two seconds are not worth it.
13. Use of Phone While Driving (UPV) — ₦4,000 | Points Apply | Category 2
That message, call, or Instagram notification can wait. Using a mobile phone while driving is a distraction offence with a ₦4,000 fine. Hands-free does not automatically clear you either. How it is used matters.
14. Broken or Missing Side Mirror — ₦3,000 | Points Apply | Category 1
Your side mirrors are functional safety equipment, not decoration. A bad, broken, or absent mirror affects your field of vision and is a standalone punishable offence.
15. Driving Without or With Shattered Windscreen (VWV) — ₦2,000 | 2 Points | Category 1
A cracked or shattered windscreen (front or back) is an offence. The glass is not just cosmetic. It provides structural support to the vehicle and protects occupants in a crash.
16. Driver’s Licence Violation (DLV) — ₦10,000 | 10 Points | Category 2
An expired licence or no licence at all attracts the same fine and the same point consequence. 10 penalty points for this offence alone puts you dangerously close to a warning threshold.
How to Pay Your FRSC Fines in Nigeria
If you choose to waive your right to a court trial, the payment goes into the Federal Government Revenue Account. You can pay at any commercial bank in Nigeria or online via Remita at remita.net.
- Select “Pay FG Agency,”
- Choose FRSC under MDAs,
- Select “Offences,”
- Complete the mandatory fields, and
- Make payment by bank transfer, ATM, internet banking, or mobile app.
- Take your teller or printout to the FRSC office where the ticket was issued.
Note: Impounded vehicles attract a custody fee of ₦200 per day after the first 24 hours.
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