New traffic fines in Germany: how much for caravans and motorhomes?

9 November, 2021 | Update: 28/06/2022

Since November 9 2021, Germany’s traffic fines are a lot more expensive. Speeding fines in particular are much more hefty. To avoid unpleasant surprises when travelling with your caravan or motorhome, here is an overview of the new amounts.

Compared to other countries in Europe, getting a speeding fine in Germany was, until now, not such a huge deal. The fines are much stiffer in France, Spain, and especially in Italy and the Netherlands. A law to change the traffic fines had already been passed in 2020, but it was invalidated due to a formal error. After about a year, the federal and state governments in Germany have now agreed on higher fines for speeding, illegal parking, and for not forming a so-called “Rettungsgasse” (emergency vehicle lane) during a traffic jam.

What fines do you get in Germany for:

• Cars/motorhomes weighing up to 3.5 tonnes
• Cars with trailers/caravans
• Motorhomes weighing more than 3.5 tonnes
• Speeding in other countries
• Ignoring the emergency vehicle lane during traffic jams
• Illegal parking

Fines for cars and motorhomes weighing up to 3.5 tonnes

For cars and motorhomes weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, fines for speeding are doubled. A speeding ticket can be a real buzzkill during your camping holiday, so pay close attention to the speed limits if you are camping in Germany or are passing through Germany on the way to your campsite. In the future, the following fines will be imposed for speeding:

Overtreding	Old	New	Points	Driving ban
In a built-up area
up to 10 km/h	€ 15	€ 30
11-15 km/h	€ 25	€ 50
16-20 km/h	€ 35	€ 70
21-25 km/h	€ 80	€ 115	1
26-30 km/h	€ 100	€ 180	1	1 Month*
31-40 km/h	€ 160	€ 260	2	1 Month
41-50 km/h	€ 200	€ 400	2	1 Month
51-60 km/h	€ 280	€ 560	2	2 Months
61-70 km/h	€ 480	€ 700	2	3 Months
from 70 km/h	€ 680	€ 800	2	3 Months
Outside built-up areas
up to 10 km/h	€ 10	€ 20
11-15 km/h	€ 20	€ 40
16-20 km/h	€ 30	€ 60
21-25 km/h	€ 70	€ 100	1
26-30 km/h	€ 80	€ 150	1	1 Month*
31-40 km/h	€ 120	€ 200	1	1 Month*
41-50 km/h	€ 160	€ 320	2	1 Month
51-60 km/h	€ 240	€ 480	2	1 Month
61-70 km/h	€ 440	€ 600	2	2 Months
from 70 km/h	€ 600	€ 700	2	3 Months

*If the speeding violation occurs twice within a year.
Source: bussgeldkatalog.org
(in German)

Fines for cars with trailers/caravans

In future, the following fines will apply to speeding with a trailer or caravan, both in cities and outside them:

Violation	Old	New	Points	Driving ban
In a built-up area
up to 10 km/h	€ 20	€ 40
11-15 km/h	€ 30	€ 60
16-20 km/h	€ 80	€ 160	1
21-25 km/h	€ 95	€ 175	1
26-30 km/h	€ 140	€ 235	2	1 Month
31-40 km/h	€ 200	€ 340	2	1 Months
41-50 km/h	€ 280	€ 560	2	2 Months
51-60 km/h	€ 480	€ 700	2	3 Months
from 60 km/h	€ 680	€ 800	2	3 Months
Outside built-up areas
up to 10 km/h	€ 15	€ 30
11-15 km/h	€ 25	€ 50
16-20 km/h	€ 70	€ 140	1
21-25 km/h	€ 80	€ 150	1
26-30 km/h	€ 95	€ 175	1
31-40 km/h	€ 160	€ 255	2	1 Month
41-50 km/h	€ 240	€ 480	2	1 Month
51-60 km/h	€ 440	€ 600	2	2 Months
from 60 km/h	€ 600	€ 700	2	3 Months

Source: bussgeld-info.de (in German)

Fines for motorhomes weighing more than 3.5 tonnes

Germany sees motorhomes weighing more than 3.5 tonnes as trucks. This means you need a truck driving licence to drive these kinds of motorhomes. The fines for these motorhomes differ from those for off-road cars. In the future, the following fines will apply for speeding with a heavy campervan:

Violation	Old	New	Points	Driving ban
In a built-up area
up to 10 km/h	€ 20	€ 40
11-15 km/h	€ 30	€ 60
16-20 km/h	€ 80	€ 160	1
21-25 km/h	€ 95	€ 175	1
26-30 km/h	€ 140	€ 235	2	1 Month
31-40 km/h	€ 200	€ 340	2	1 Month
41-50 km/h	€ 280	€ 560	2	2 Months
51-60 km/h	€ 480	€ 700	2	3 Months
from 60 km/h	€ 680	€ 800	2	3 Months
Outside built-up areas
up to 10 km/h	€ 15	€ 30
11-15 km/h	€ 25	€ 50
16-20 km/h	€ 70	€140	1
21-25 km/h	€ 80	€ 150	1
26-30 km/h	€ 95	€ 175	1
31-40 km/h	€ 160	€ 255	2	1 Month
41-50 km/h	€ 240	€ 480	2	1 Month
51-60 km/h	€ 440	€ 600	2	2 Months
from 60 km/h	€ 600	€ 700	2	3 Months

Source: bussgeldkatalog.org (in German)

Attention: If your motorhome is classified as a truck in Germany and you do not drive at a walking pace when turning right in built-up areas, the fine will be 70 euros.

What about speeding tickets in other countries?

On Eurocampings.co.uk you will find not only more than 9700 campsites inspected by ACSI, you will also find information about various holiday destinations. If you are heading to France, for example, you can read useful tips for excursions on our website, and see how fast you can drive on which roads with your car, caravan or motorhome. A great help if you want to avoid a fine. You will also find important information about traffic regulations, speed limits, tolls and much more for your next camping destination. All our ACSI Guides include a handy overview of the traffic rules in each country, plus other important information.

Speed limits on motorways for caravans and motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes and fines from 20 km/h

	Auto met caravan	Camper	Boetes vanaf 20 km/u
The Netherlands	90 km/h	100 km/h	from € 172
Italy	80 km/h	100 km/h	from € 175
Spain	80 km/h	120 km/h	from € 100
France	130 km/h	130 km/h	from € 135
Belgium	120 km/h	120 km/h	from € 100
Austria	100 km/h	130 km/h	from € 30
Croatia	90 km/h	130 km/h	from € 68

Fines for ignoring the emergency vehicle lane

German law stipulates that when there is a traffic jam on motorways and rural roads with at least two lanes, the traffic must form a lane for emergency vehicles. Traffic in the left lane should drive as far left as possible in their lane, and traffic in the right lane should drive as far right as possible in their lane. If an emergency vehicle has passed, do not close the lane, but leave it open so other emergency vehicles can follow.

Those who do not form an emergency lane, those who use it, obstruct emergency services, endanger others, or cause an accident as a result of these actions can expect to be fined 240 to 320 euros, receive two penalty points and be banned from driving for a month.

Stiffer fines for illegal parking

With the new list of fines, illegal parking will also be punished more severely.

• When parking in a zone where parking or stopping is prohibited, the previous fine of 15 euros is increased to a maximum of 55 euros.
• Illegal parking in parking areas for electric cars will cost 55 euros.
• The fine for parking illegally in parking spaces for the severely disabled has also been raised to 55 euros
• Parking in fire department driveways is punishable by a 100 euro fine.

The new list of fines is also designed to better protect pedestrians and cyclists:

• The fines for parking on foot and bicycle paths, and for stopping and parking next to an already parked car, are increased from 35 euros to a maximum of 110 euros.
• Those who drive their cars on pavements or bike paths can be fined up to 100 euros.

So many countries, so many rules. We are always happy to provide you with useful and reliable information. We also recommend our articles on winter tyres in Germany, and motorhome regulations in France.