Overview

• The tightened code has applied nationwide since September 13, 2025, with intensified checks targeting cars, motorcycles and rental vehicles.
• Police say about 14,000 vehicles were inspected and roughly 2,500 violations recorded during the first weekend using drones, fixed cameras and license‑plate scanners.
• Germany’s Foreign Office warns that violations can lead to very high fines, on‑the‑spot seizure of licences or plates and weeks‑long delays for returns, with foreign drivers facing additional processing if they leave the country.
• Speeding fines start at €100 for 20 km/h over the limit, rise to €350–€700 plus a 60‑day suspension for 50+ km/h, and can reach €8,000 with multi‑year bans for extreme cases.
• Other sanctions target phone use, missing helmets or seatbelts and drink‑driving, with zero alcohol for motorcyclists and other groups, while wild camping or parking at beaches or archaeological sites can cost up to €3,000; the 30 km/h residential limit begins January 1, 2026.