German Traffic Fines and Points: Speeding, Tailgating, Bans

Germany's fines catalogue for cars: what speeding and tailgating cost, when points and driving bans apply, and when points expire.

Car & Mobility1 linked calculatorsReading time: 7 min.

What speeding or following too closely costs in Germany is set out in the fines catalogue (BKatV). Whether points are added to the driver fitness register in Flensburg is governed by the Driving Licence Ordinance. Here are both tables for cars and what the points mean.

Key takeaways

  • Up to 20 km/h over the limit, cars get a warning fine or a fine, but no point.
  • From 21 km/h, one point is added; in built-up areas from 31 km/h, two points and a one-month driving ban.
  • For following distance, the catalogue uses half the speedometer reading: below 5/10 of it at more than 80 km/h gets expensive.
  • At 4 to 5 points there is a reminder, at 6 to 7 a warning, and at 8 points the licence is revoked.
  • One point expires after two and a half years, two points after five years.

Speeding: fine, points, driving ban

Standard rates for cars under table 1 letter c of the fines catalogue (no. 11.3), points under Annex 13 of the Driving Licence Ordinance. What counts is the excess speed stated in the notice.

Over the limitin built-up areasoutside built-up areas
up to 10 km/h€30€20
11–15 km/h€50€40
16–20 km/h€70€60
21–25 km/h€115 · 1 point€100 · 1 point
26–30 km/h€180 · 1 point€150 · 1 point
31–40 km/h€260 · 2 points · 1 month driving ban€200 · 1 point
41–50 km/h€400 · 2 points · 1 month driving ban€320 · 2 points · 1 month driving ban
51–60 km/h€560 · 2 points · 2 months driving ban€480 · 2 points · 1 month driving ban
61–70 km/h€700 · 2 points · 3 months driving ban€600 · 2 points · 2 months driving ban
over 70 km/h€800 · 2 points · 3 months driving ban€700 · 2 points · 3 months driving ban

Twice 26 km/h over the limit

Anyone who, within a year of a final fine for at least 26 km/h over the limit, again drives at least 26 km/h too fast must as a rule expect a one-month driving ban, even where the table does not list one (Section 4(2) BKatV).

Tailgating

The German road traffic regulations require a distance that lets you stop even if the vehicle in front brakes suddenly (Section 4(1) StVO). The fines catalogue uses half the speedometer reading in metres: at 120 km/h that is 60 m. Fines apply above 80 km/h if the distance is below 5/10 of it.

Distance less thanover 80 km/hover 100 km/hover 130 km/h
5/10 of half the speedometer reading€75 · 1 point€75 · 1 point€100 · 1 point
4/10 of half the speedometer reading€100 · 1 point€100 · 1 point€180 · 1 point
3/10 of half the speedometer reading€160 · 1 point€160 · 2 points · 1 month driving ban€240 · 2 points · 1 month driving ban
2/10 of half the speedometer reading€240 · 1 point€240 · 2 points · 2 months driving ban€320 · 2 points · 2 months driving ban
1/10 of half the speedometer reading€320 · 1 point€320 · 2 points · 3 months driving ban€400 · 2 points · 3 months driving ban

Example: at 120 km/h, half the speedometer reading is 60 m, and 3/10 of that is 18 m. Anyone following closer pays €160 under no. 12.6.3 and gets two points and a one-month driving ban.

Calculate stopping and braking distance

How far a car travels at a given speed before coming to a stop – including reaction distance.

Calculate now

What the points mean

Offences are rated in the driver fitness register with one, two or three points (Section 4(2) StVG): one point for offences that impair road safety, two for particularly serious administrative offences and criminal offences, three for criminal offences with revocation of the licence. Depending on the total, the licensing authority acts (Section 4(5) StVG):

  • 4 or 5 points: written reminder
  • 6 or 7 points: written warning
  • 8 points or more: the driving licence is revoked.

Reducing points with a seminar

Anyone who voluntarily attends a driver fitness seminar and submits the certificate within two weeks has 1 point deducted if they have 1 to 5 points – at most once every 5 years (Section 4(7) StVG).

When points are deleted

  • Administrative offences with one point: after 2.5 years
  • Administrative offences with two points and criminal offences without revocation: after 5 years
  • Criminal offences with revocation of the licence: after 10 years

The periods apply to each entry in the register (Section 29(1) StVG).

Frequently asked questions

When do I get a point in Flensburg?
In a car from 21 km/h over the limit, inside and outside built-up areas. For following distance, already at less than 5/10 of half the speedometer reading above 80 km/h.
When is there a driving ban?
In built-up areas from 31 km/h over the limit, outside built-up areas from 41 km/h – at least one month in each case. In addition, a ban applies for repeated offences of at least 26 km/h within a year.
What happens at 8 points?
The driving licence is revoked, because the holder is then considered unfit to drive motor vehicles (Section 4(5) no. 3 StVG).
How long do points stay on record?
One point for an administrative offence two and a half years, two points five years, criminal offences with revocation of the licence ten years (Section 29(1) StVG).

Sources

Every figure in this article comes from these primary sources or from the linked calculators, which are based on the same sources.

  1. BKatV table 1 – speeding (accessed September 30, 2026)
  2. BKatV table 2 – following distance (accessed September 30, 2026)
  3. Section 4 StVO – following distance (accessed September 30, 2026)
  4. Section 4 BKatV – standard driving ban (accessed September 30, 2026)
  5. FeV Annex 13 – how offences are rated in points (accessed September 30, 2026)
  6. Section 4 StVG – driver fitness points system (accessed September 30, 2026)
  7. Section 29 StVG – deletion of entries (accessed September 30, 2026)
Onur Cirakoglu — Full-Stack Developer & Founder of HEADON.pro
Onur CirakogluSources verified

Full-Stack Developer & Founder of HEADON.pro

Full-stack developer and founder of HEADON.pro. Developer of Rechnerzentrale.