What are the penalties for speeding in Germany?

What the Law Says

Germany’s Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) set strict speed limits and tie violations to a graduated penalty system administered by the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and local authorities. Penalties depend on location (in-town vs. rural), vehicle type, and how far over the limit you drove.

The core speed rules are in StVO § 3, which establishes default limits: 50 km/h inside towns, 100 km/h on rural roads for cars (up to 3.5 t), and lower limits for trucks, buses, and vehicles with trailers. Autobahns have no general speed limit—but drivers must still drive safely per § 3(1), meaning excessive speed can still be illegal if it compromises control or safety.

Penalties themselves are not in the StVO but in the Bußgeldkatalog (Schedule of Fines), a federal administrative regulation that standardizes sanctions. Fines increase sharply with excess speed, and repeated or severe violations trigger Flensburg points and possible driving bans.

Statutory Text

(3) Die zulässige Höchstgeschwindigkeit beträgt auch unter günstigsten Umständen innerhalb geschlossener Ortschaften für alle Kraftfahrzeuge 50 km/h...

— StVO § 3 — Road Traffic Regulations

Statutory Text

außerhalb geschlossener Ortschaften für Personenkraftwagen sowie für andere Kraftfahrzeuge mit einer zulässigen Gesamtmasse bis 3,5 t 100 km/h.

— StVO § 3 — Road Traffic Regulations

What to Do

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