Is it illegal to drive a car without a horn?

Driving without a horn may seem like you're doing community service, but you need it to keep your car roadworthy.

Technically yes, as not having a working horn is a safety hazard, but of course there is very little chance that the police passing you on the road would have reason to suspect that you are driving without a working horn. But that doesn't mean you should take the risk and hit the road without being able to give others a quick warning that could save you from an accident.

Read every state's tips for driving without a horn, but remember that no matter what the law says, your horn isn't just for you to horn drivers every Sunday - it's a tool that can mean the difference between a near miss and a crash if you use it right!

There is no clear legislation in New South Wales prohibiting driving without a horn, but there are offenses for driving a vehicle that does not meet technical standards. And given that NSW Roads & Maritimes Services takes horns/signaling devices seriously enough to fine you $330 for using them unnecessarily (according to NSW's RMS fact sheet on disadvantages), you might assume that not having a horn at all could give you trouble.

Similarly, according to the Australian Capital Territory Government's traffic violation document, using the horn unnecessarily is also an offense in the ACT, as is driving without a working horn, which can cost you $193.

In Queensland, under the state government demerit points schedule, you risk a $126 fine and one demerit point if you drive without a horn.

And in Victoria, according to VicRoads information on fines and penalties, if you take a vehicle on the road that does not meet the standards of technical condition, you can be fined $ 396.

Things get a little more specific at Apple Isle, as Tasmanian Transport's traffic violation list states you can be fined $119.25 for driving in violation of vehicle standards for horns, alarms, or warning devices - and we can only suggest that this would include the presence of a working horn.

The South Australian Government states in their Passenger Car Standards Fact Sheet that having a horn in good working order is a roadworthiness standard, so it is safe to say that if you are stopped without a working horn, your car will be considered defective, and you will be fined accordingly.

We were unable to find any information on driving without a horn on the Western Australian Road Authority website, but if you would like to know more you can call the WA Demerit Point hotline on 1300 720 111.

Similarly, the Northern Territory traffic and fines information page is limited and does not apply to driving without a horn. But in all states, you must drive with your horn for your own safety and the safety of others, and to avoid voiding your insurance coverage in the event of an accident.

You should always refer to your specific insurance contract for insurance advice, but in general you should also be aware of the fact that driving without a horn can definitely affect your insurance. Although you can be sure that the police passing you on the road will not know if your horn is working or not, if you have an accident and then the mechanic reports that your horn was faulty before the accident, you could have your insurance contract canceled on the grounds that you were driving a defective vehicle when you had an accident.

It is very unlikely that the police passing you on the road will suspect that you were driving without a working horn. But that doesn't mean you should take the risk and hit the road without being able to give others a quick warning that could save you from an accident.

This article is not intended as legal advice. You should check with your local road authorities to make sure the information written here is appropriate for your situation before driving this way.