Punkte in Flensburg
You may have heard German people talking about “Punkte in Flensburg” (points in Flensburg) and wondered what and where on earth Flensburg is.
The northern city is the home of the Federal Motor Transport Authority and of the nationwide database of motoring infractions.Â
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The current points system is used for driving violations which endanger road safety which, relative to the severity of the offence, are punishable with 1, 2 or 3 points. Once you get to 8 you can say TschĂĽss to your driving license.
However, points for individual violations expire automatically, regardless of new entries, with different expiry periods depending on the seriousness of the violation:
- 1 point lasts 2.5 years
- 2 points lasts 5 years
- 3 points lasts 10 years
Speeding
Germany is known for having speed-limit free Autobahns, but, with thousands of Blitzer (speed cameras) throughout the country, speeding is still taken seriously as a driving offence.
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Not every German road will be clearly signposted with the speed limit, and there are certain rules which drivers are expected to know. On LandstraĂźe (country roads), for example, the speed limit is 100km/h for cars and 80km/h for lorries and cars with trailers under 7.5 tonnes.
If you are exiting the Autobahn or coming to the end of a country road and see a yellow Ortseingangschild (town name sign), make sure you slow down to 50km/h, the general speed limit within built up areas.
If you are entering a 30km/h zone, make sure to be cautious at every junction, as you are obliged to follow the Rechts vor Links (right before left) rule and give way to traffic - including bicycles - coming from the right.
The level of fine you will have to pay for a speeding offence is dependent on how far over the speed limit you were driving and whether you were within or outside a built-up area. In general, you will not get a point on your license unless you have gone 21km/h over the speed limit. For a full breakdown of speeding fines, see here.
In Germany you can also be fined for driving too slowly. If you drive so slowly without good reason that you are hindering the smooth flow of traffic, you may be subject to a €20 fine.
Using a phone while driving
Using a mobile phone while driving is treated as a serious safety offence in Germany. If you hold a phone in your hand while the engine is running – even briefly to check a message or change music – you can be fined and receive a point on your licence.
This applies even when stopped at traffic lights or in slow‑moving traffic.
Hands‑free use is permitted, but only if the device can be operated without picking it up. Penalties increase significantly if using a phone leads to a dangerous situation or an accident.
Drinking
Like most other European countries, the blood alcohol content limit in Germany is 0.5g/l, which is roughly equivalent to one glass of wine or one beer, depending on the person.
If you are caught driving over the limit you can expect a hefty fine of at least €500 plus fees and a driving ban starting at one month. The fine, length of ban and number of points increase with higher blood alcohol levels or with repetition of the offence.
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Drunkenness is not only punishable behind the wheel; if you are caught riding your bike in a heavily intoxicated state (over 1,6g/l) you can get up to 3 points on your driving license, a fine and be forced to undertake a medical-psychological assessment (MPU).
Parking
Once you have arrived at your destination you may think you are out of the danger zone of incurring fines or points. But you still need to be careful, as parking or stopping in a prohibited way can be a costly business. Â
In big cities, paid or restricted parking zones are common and should always be signposted. But if you don’t know what the signs mean, you can be in trouble, as ignorance is not an excuse. For a helpful explanation of all of the parking signs to look out for, see here.
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Most stopping or parking fines are between €30 and €55 (although they can rise to around €130) and include common offences such as stopping in restricted spaces, in the zweite Reihe (second row) and up to five meters before or after a junction.
However, if you park in such a way that you are blocking an entrance or exit, your car can be abgeschleppt (towed away) which can often cost in the hundreds of euros, depending on the municipality and circumstances.
A full list of parking infractions and their related costs can be found here.
Rechtsfahrgebot
The Rechtsfahrgebot is a special rule which states that traffic should keep as far to the right as possible, in order to maintain the steady flow of traffic and to help avoid accidents.
The right-hand drive requirement generally also applies to three- or multi-lane motorways and motorists may only deviate from this if the traffic density justifies it, meaning you can drive through the middle lane continuously if there are vehicles on the right of it every now and then.
But in some cases unjustified continuous driving in the left or middle lane can land you an €80 fine and 1 point in Flensburg.
Special Rules for beginners
If you pass your driving test in Germany, the first two years act as Probezeit (probation period), during which punishments are harsher and you can be at risk of being sent back to driving school, having the probation period extended or losing your license.
The Probezeit rule was introduced in 1986 as a way to help combat the high number of accidents involving younger drivers. Â
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