Penalties for traffic offences in Munich
When you commit minor traffic offences, police officers may levy a fine on the spot. You can pay for the fine in cash or using a credit card. If you refuses to pay the fine, your vehicle will be confiscated and the amount increased significantly if the case is referred to the court.
Main traffic offences and penalties
| Exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 km/h |
€10-€15 |
| Exceeding the speed limit by up to 40 km/h |
€120-€160 |
| Exceeding the speed limit by 40 km/h and above |
€120-€680 |
| Drunk driving (0.5-1.1 ‰) |
€500; repeated violation – from €1000 to €1500 and a driving ban for 3 months |
| Drunk driving (above 1.1 ‰) |
€1500, driving ban for 5 years and up to six months of prison |
| Violation of child restraint requirements |
€40-€50 |
| Failure to fasten seatbelt (driver or passenger seat belt) |
€30 |
| Talking on a mobile phone without a hands free while driving |
€40 |
| Using a radar detector |
€75 |
| Driving with tires that do not match the season |
€40-€80 |
| Crossing a red traffic light or ignoring the traffic controller’s signals |
€90-€360 |
| Parking violations |
€10-€25 |
| Unauthorized entry into a low-emission zone |
€40 |
Speed limits
Below are the common speed limits for all vehicles in Germany
- 50 km/h in built-up areas;
- 30 km/h in special quiet zones (near schools, pedestrian zones, etc.);
- 100 km/h outside built-up areas;
- for expressways, the minimum speed is 60 km/h, there are no maximum speed limits; the recommended maximum speed is 130 km/h;.
In Munich, you can only move in the right lane. Overtaking is permitted only on the left. Overtaking on the right is prohibited.
Parking
Having hired a vehicle in Munich, you cannot park that vehicle anywhere on the street. Parking against the direction of traffic or on a prohibited area incurs a penalty. Some parking lots are only for locals (Anliegerfrei and Anwohnerparken). At the entrance to a parking lot, you will need to take a special coupon or token. Payment is made through a vending machine when leaving the parking lot. To park your vehicle in a paid zone on the street, you need to buy a parking disc (Parkscheibe) at a gas station and place it on the windshield.
Permissible blood alcohol levels
The maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood is 0.3 ‰ for drivers with more than 2 years of driving experience and 0.00 ‰ for drivers with less than 2 years of driving experience or who are under the age of 21. Exceeding these levels incurs severe penalties, which may include a driving ban and imprisonment.
Fuel cost
In Germany, there are many gas stations selling unleaded gasoline (98 and 95) and diesel fuel. Leaded fuel is not sold. There are so many gas stations around. The most popular fuel is E10 containing 10% ethanol, but it is not suitable for all cars. When renting a car in Munich, check with the rental company if the car uses E10. It is allowed to carry fuel in cans.
Average fuel cost in Munich:
| Gasoline 95 |
€1.61 |
| Gasoline 98 |
€1.63 |
| Diesel fuel |
€1.39 |
Toll roads
There are no urban and suburban toll roads. You only pay for entry into the centre of Munich – the low-emission zone (Umweltzone), created in order to reduce air pollution by fine dust. This zone is indicated by road signs and additional signs. Entrance requires a special sticker, which you can buy at technical inspection centres or authorized garages, and stick to the inside of the windshield. The cost ranges from €5 to €15. When renting a car in Munich, keep in mind that this sticker will be valid in all ecological zones across Germany.
Hyundai i10
Volkswagen Polo
Opel Astra
VW Passat
