The optical illusion: a €100 fine becomes €128.50 (fees) — and with points and future insurance premiums the real cost doubles. Weigh the full cost when deciding to pay or fight.
A Fine Notice Arrived: the Clock Is Ticking
You have exactly 2 weeks from delivery to object. Errors in these notices are not rare — but first understand what you were charged with.
✓ Verified: 15/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
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Max recommends:
I check every notice on three points: violation date versus delivery, the photo (is that me), the amount versus the catalogue. The third letter showed a different car — dismissed with one letter.
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Lea recommends:
Do not pay on arrival day: payment is read as acceptance, and pushing an objection through afterwards is practically hopeless. The two-week objection period (§ 67 (1) OWiG) runs anyway — spend it checking.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Must I answer the hearing form? ▾
Your details as the vehicle owner yes, a confession no. You may stay silent about who drove — close relatives may too.
The notice arrived 4 months after the violation — still legal? ▾
The limitation period for most traffic violations is 3 months until the first procedural act (the hearing form interrupts it). Arrived later without interruptions — dismissal is realistic.
Notice vs. hearing form (Anhörungsbogen)? ▾
The hearing form asks you to respond (only your personal data is mandatory). The notice is the decision with the objection deadline. Confusing them costs deadlines.
I was not driving — do I still pay? ▾
The fine targets the driver. Name who drove — otherwise you risk a logbook order (Fahrtenbuch) for your car.