Vorsicht, es wird vollstreckt!: Bußgelder aus dem Ausland nicht ignorieren

Driving violations committed abroad should not be ignored; failure to address them could result in financial penalties. The ADAC, a consumer organization, warns that fines from EU countries, as well as Switzerland, can be enforced in Germany. This applies to amounts of 70 euros or more; in Austria, the threshold is 25 euros and in Switzerland, it's 80 Swiss francs (approximately 86 euros).

The Federal Office for Justice is responsible for enforcing foreign authorities' claims, but private collection agencies are not allowed to enforce public claims for traffic violations in Germany.

It is advisable to verify the charges and pay as soon as possible if a fine notice arrives in the mailbox. Some countries offer significant discounts if payment is made quickly. For example, Italian authorities provide a 30% discount when payment is made within five days of delivery. Fines for traffic violations can be much higher abroad, such as up to 200 euros in Spain for parking violations.

In Italy, fines start at 175 euros for speeding more than 20 km/h, while in the Netherlands, the threshold is 230 euros and in Norway, it's 750 euros. In Germany, fines start at 100 euros for such violations.

It's worth noting that driving bans are not enforceable in Germany, but currently, only the country where the traffic violation occurred can impose such bans. However, this may change soon as a new EU directive set to enter into force in Germany by November 2028 will make it possible to enforce driving bans and license suspensions throughout the EU for serious offenses like driving under the influence of alcohol.