Fines for motorists in 2026

Flensburg points: how it works

A fine is money, points are licence points. Points accumulate in the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt register in Flensburg, and the consequences happen in stages:

• 1 to 3 points — nothing is happening, but the clock is ticking.
• 4–5 points — Admonition, a warning letter with an offer to attend a seminar.
• 6–7 points — Warning, an official warning. It’s no longer possible to deduct a point with a seminar at this stage.
• 8 points — your driving licence is being revoked. You can reapply for your documents no sooner than in six months.

When do the points expire

Each record is cleared according to its own schedule, rather than all at once: the offence on 1 point — 2.5 years, on 2 points — 5 years, on 3 points – 10 years. The countdown starts from the date the decision enters into force.

How to deduct a point and how to check the balance

fitness to drive seminar removes one point, but only while you have 1 to 5 points and no more often once every five years. At 6 points this opportunity is already gone — so it makes sense to go to the seminar in advance, rather than when you’re in a tight spot.

You can find out your balance free: online using an electronic identity card with eID function or via a written request with identity verification. There is no need to order any paid “score checks” from intermediaries.

An email has arrived: what should I do

Usually, two different documents arrive, and they should not be confused.

Anhörungsbogen — notice of intended prosecution / questionnaire for the accused

This is not yet a fine, but an invitation to explain. Personal data must be provided, but you are not obliged to speak to the substance of the charge — the law explicitly reserves the right to remain silent. An admission in a questionnaire often closes off the possibility of arguing further, so if the situation is unclear, consultation first, then response.

fixed penalty notice

To the objection (Objection) is given two weeks from the date of delivery. The deadline is strict: miss it and the penalty comes into force. Collection fees are added to the fine amount: from €25 for production and surrounding areas 3,50 € for the recorded delivery.

Regarding the limitation period

From 1 July 2026, the statute of limitations for road traffic violations is six months, there used to be three. And this period is interrupted as soon as the agency schedules the dispatch of the questionnaire. That is, the “I’ll wait and it will expire on its own” tactic hardly works.

Contesting a fine at your own expense rarely pays off: a traffic lawyer costs more than most fines. Therefore, contesting only makes sense when points and a driving ban are at stake — and that is where it comes in handy legal protection insurance: it covers the lawyer and court fees. You need to arrange it in advance; it is too late retrospectively.

Fine from another EU country

A postcard from Italy or Croatia six months after a holiday is a common occurrence. Enforcement within the EU works: from €70 a fine from another EU country is enforced in Germany, with the threshold being calculated together with fees and reminders. Austria Germany has a separate, older treaty and the threshold is lower — 25 €.

A fine from abroad below the threshold will not be enforced in Germany, but it may be brought up the next time you enter the same country.

What else to read

• Motor insurance in Germany — what each policy covers and what the price depends on.
• Legal protection insurance - who pays for the solicitor in a fine dispute.
• Exchange of driving licence — timescales and procedure.
• Vehicle registration — documents for the Zulassungsstelle.

Sources: ADAC Flensburg points system and proceedings regarding a violation. Amounts and deadlines were verified in August 2026; fines are set by the Bußgeldkatalog-Verordnung, and a court may rule otherwise. This material is for informational purposes only.