German Traffic Violations and Fines
Updated May 2017
On May 1, 2014 a new penalty point system for traffic violations was put into place. There were also some changes made in the fines charged for some violations. The charts below indicate the penalties for many, but not all, of the most common traffic violations.
You can download a pdf of the 2017 Bussgeldkatalog (Traffic Fines and Penalties Catalog) in German here.
Here are the specific sections.
Speeding
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| Exceeding Speed Limit | Within/outside city limits | Within/outside city limits | Within/outside city limits |
| Up to 10 km/h | 15/10 | | |
| 11-15 km/h | 25/20 | | |
| 16-20 km/h | 35/30 | | |
| 21-25 km/h | 80/70 | 1 | |
| 26-30 km/h | 100/80 | 1 | |
| 31-40 km/h | 160/120 | 1 | 1 month (within city limits) |
| 41-50 km/h | 200/160 | 2 | 1 month |
| 51-60 km/h | 280/240 | 2 | 2 months/1 month |
| 61-70 km/h | 480/440 | 2 | 3 months/2 months |
| over 70 km/h | 680/600 | 2 | 3 months |
Back to top
Tailgating
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| Going less than 80km/h |
| Inadequate distance from vehicle in front | 25 | | |
| With endangerment | 30 | | |
| With damages | 35 | | |
| Distance in meters going faster than 80 km/h (or 100km/h) |
| Less than 5/10 of half speedometer | 75 | 1 | |
| Less than 4/10 of half speedometer | 100 | 1 | |
| Less than 3/10 of half speedometer | 160 | 1 (2) | 1 month* |
| Less than 2/10 of half speedometer | 240 | 1 (2) | 2 months* |
| Less than 1/10 of half speedometer | 320 | 1 (2) | 3 months* |
| (*) = if speed was more than 100 km/h |
| (Example: At a speed of 100 km/h, the minimum distance to the vehicle in front should be 25 meters - 5/10 of half the speedometer) |
| Distance in meter going faster than 130 km/h |
| Less than 5/10 of half speedometer | 100 | 1 | |
| Less than 4/10 of half speedometer | 180 | 1 | |
| Less than 3/10 of half speedometer | 240 | 2 | 1 month |
| Less than 2/10 of half speedometer | 320 | 2 | 2 months |
| Less than 1/10 of half speedometer | 400 | 2 | 3 months |
Back to top
Turning, intersection, lane change violations
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points |
| Turning or changing lanes without proper signaling | 10 | |
| Turning or changing lanes without proper signaling with endangerment | 30 | |
| Turning or changing lanes without proper signaling with damage | 35 | |
| Failure to yield proper right of way to vehicles while turning or changing lanes | 20 | |
| Failure to yield proper right of way to vehicles while turning or changing lanes with endangerment | 70 | 1 |
| Failure to yield proper right of way to vehicles while turning or changing lanes with damage | 85 | 1 |
| Endangering pedestrians while turning or changing lanes | 70 | 1 |
| Endangering oncoming traffic while turning left | 70 | 1 |
| Entering an intersection or access lane and blocking traffic in stop and go traffic | 20 | |
| Improper turn into private property; illegal/improper backing | 80 | 1 |
Back to top
Autobahn and Highways
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| Turning around/reversing on exit/on ramp | 75 | 1 | |
| Turning around/reversing on shoulder | 130 | 1 | |
| Turning/reversing/driving in wrong direction | 200 | 2 | 1 month |
| Parking on autobahn or highways | 70 | 2 | |
Back to top
Railroad crossing violations
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| Failure to yield to oncoming train | 80 | | |
| Failure to yield to barriers (gates, warning lights, attendant) at railway crossing | 240 | 1 | 1 month |
| Pedestrian/bicycle crossing while gate closed | 350 | 1 | |
| Vehicular crossing while gate closed | 700 | 2 | 3 months |
Back to top
Hit and run
| Violation | Points |
| Leaving the scene of an accident | 3 |
| Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death - also possibility of fine, license suspension and jail depending on circumstances | 3 |
Back to top
Vehicle deficiencies
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points |
| Obstructing license plate visibility | 65 | |
| Use of motor vehicle (except motorbike) or trailer with tires below minimal tread requirements | 60 | 1 |
| Or arranged or allowed by owner | 75 | 1 |
| Use of motor vehicle or trailer in deficient condition | 90 | 1 |
Back to top
Pedestrian Crosswalk
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points |
| Failure to yield to pedestrian, failure to obey posted speed limits, passing in a crosswalk | 80 | 1 |
Back to top
Seatbelt Violations
| Violation | Fine (€) |
| Failure to fasten seatbelt (also in buses) | 30 |
| Single child not correctly secured | 30 |
| More than one child not properly secured | 35 |
| Single child not secured at all | 60 + 1 point |
| More than one child not secured at all | 70 + 1 point |
Back to top
Cell phone ban
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points |
| Use of cell phone while operating a motor vehicle | 60 | 1 |
| Use of cell phone while operating a bicycle | 25 | |
Back to top
Inspection or Emission Control Violations (expired inspection date)
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points |
| 2 to 4 months | 15 | |
| 4 to 8 months | 25 | |
| more than 8 months | 60 | 1 |
Back to top
Red light violations
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| Running a red light | 90 | 1 | |
| With endangerment | 200 | 2 | 1 month |
| With damages | 240 | 2 | 1 month |
| Running an "old" red light (longer than 1 sec.) | 200 | 2 | 1 month |
| With endangerment | 320 | 2 | 1 month |
| With damages | 360 | 2 | 1 month |
Back to top
Illegal, improper or unsafe passing
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| Passing on the right within city limits | 30 | | |
| Passing on the right outside city limits | 100 | 1 | |
| Passing too slowly in relation to the overtaken vehicle | 80 | 1 | |
| Unsafe passing for existing traffic conditions; passing in violation of road signs, outside lane markings with endangerment | 250 | 2 | 1 month |
| With damages | 300 | 2 | 1 month |
| Passing in violation of posted signs | 70 | 1 | |
Back to top
Right of way
| Violation | Fine (€) | Points |
| Approaching priority road at an inappropriate speed | 10 | |
| Hindering vehicle with right of way | 25 | |
| Hindering vehicle with right of way with endangerment | 70 | 1 |
| Failure to stop at a stop sign with endangerment | 70 | 1 |
| Approaching pedestrian crossing (zebra stripes) too fast when a pedestrian is present | 80 | 1 |
Back to top
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs
| Blood alcohol level 0.5 – 1.09 per milliliter/Failing test for drugs | Fine (€) | Points | License Suspension |
| First Offense | 500 | 2 | 1 month |
| Second Offense | 1,000 | 2 | 3 months |
| Third Offense | 1,500 | 2 | 3 months |
| If traffic was endangered (from 0.3 per milliliter) | variable | 3 | Driving privileges revoked immediately, possibility of jail time and/or very heavy fines |
| Blood alcohol level over 1.1 per milliliter | variable | 3 | Driving privileges revoked immediately, possibility of jail time and/or very heavy fines |
Back to top
(Source in German: www.bussgeldkatalog.org)
Click here for download information
Check out the How to Germany Business and Service Directory. There are dozens of categorized listings of products and services for Expats in Germany. It’s fast and easy.