Germany's driver fitness register (Fahreignungsregister) at the Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA) in Flensburg stores final decisions on traffic offences that affect road safety. Each entry carries one, two or three penalty points. Anyone who reaches eight points is deemed unfit to drive and loses their licence.
A single point rarely causes alarm. It becomes critical when points build up, for example for professional drivers and commuters. Aleksander Sigal, a specialist lawyer for traffic law (Fachanwalt für Verkehrsrecht) in Berlin, checks your point total, expiry dates and the licensing authority's measures – and advises in English.
Which offences bring points
Points are only given for offences listed as safety-relevant in the Driving Licence Regulations. Regulatory offences are also only recorded if the fine is at least €60 or a driving ban has been imposed. Most parking offences therefore bring no points.
- 1 point: regulatory offences that impair road safety
- 2 points: particularly serious regulatory offences, usually those with a standard driving ban, and criminal offences without withdrawal of the licence
- 3 points: criminal offences where the licence was withdrawn or a ban on reapplying was imposed
| Offence | Fine | Points | Driving ban |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16–20 km/h over the limit in town | €70 | – | – |
| 21–25 km/h over the limit in town | €115 | 1 | – |
| 31–40 km/h over the limit in town | €260 | 2 | 1 month |
| Red light, under 1 second | €90 | 1 | – |
| Red light, over 1 second | €200 | 2 | 1 month |
| Mobile phone at the wheel | €100 | 1 | – |
| Tailgating above 80 km/h, gap under 5/10 of half the speed | €75 | 1 | – |
| 0.5 per mille alcohol, first offence | €500 | 2 | 1 month |
The first row shows that not every fine over €60 means a point. Details are on our pages on speeding, red light offences, phone use while driving and tailgating.
Reminder, warning, withdrawal: the measures
The licensing authority responds in stages (section 4(5) of the Road Traffic Act, StVG):
| Points | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1–3 | recorded, no measure |
| 4–5 | written reminder (Ermahnung) pointing to the voluntary driver fitness seminar |
| 6–7 | written warning (Verwarnung); seminar possible but no point reduction |
| 8 or more | withdrawal of the driving licence |
The stages may not be skipped. If someone reaches 8 points without having been warned, the authority may not withdraw the licence yet. It must first issue the warning, and the total drops to 7. If the reminder was missing, the total drops to 5 accordingly.
After a withdrawal for 8 points, a new licence can be issued six months later at the earliest, usually only with a positive medical-psychological assessment (MPU). More on the consequences under driving bans and licence withdrawal.
The offence-date principle: which total counts
Points arise with the offence but are only entered once the decision is final. For each measure, what matters is the point total on the date of the last offence that triggers the measure (Tattagprinzip) – not the date on which the authority learns of it.
So an old point about to expire still counts if you commit a new offence before it expires, even if the new decision becomes final months later. Dragging out proceedings until old points have been deleted therefore usually does not help.
Expiry periods and the extra year
| Entry | Points | Expiry period |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory offence with 1 point | 1 | 2 years and 6 months |
| Regulatory offence with 2 points | 2 | 5 years |
| Criminal offence without withdrawal | 2 | 5 years |
| Criminal offence with withdrawal or ban | 3 | 10 years |
The period starts on the day the decision becomes final. Each entry expires on its own; new offences do not extend old ones. After the expiry period the entry stays on file for one more year (Überliegefrist). During that year it can only be taken into account if a new offence was committed before the expiry date. After that it is deleted.
Example: a fine notice with one point becomes final on 1 March 2026. The entry expires on 1 September 2028 and is deleted on 1 September 2029. Special rules apply to new drivers; see probationary licence in Germany.
Checking your points with the KBA
The KBA provides this free of charge:
- Online: with the online ID function of a German ID card, an electronic residence permit (elektronischer Aufenthaltstitel) or the eID card for EU citizens. You receive the extract as a PDF.
- In writing: with a signed application and a copy of your ID card or passport to the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, 24932 Flensburg.
- In person: at the KBA in Flensburg.
The extract only shows final decisions; pending cases can still affect your total from the offence date.
Reducing points with a driver fitness seminar
There is only one way to actively lower your total: the voluntary driver fitness seminar (Fahreignungsseminar). It consists of a traffic education part with a licensed driving instructor and a traffic psychology part.
- Reduction: 1 point
- Condition: 1 to 5 points when the attendance certificate is issued
- Only once every five years
- Submit the certificate to the licensing authority within two weeks of the seminar ending
From 6 points the seminar no longer reduces your total, so do not wait too long. Having someone else “take over” an offence for money is not a legal option: since 1 July 2026, section 4c StVG expressly bans such point trading, with fines of up to €30,000.
Why appealing even one point can make sense
- Thresholds: one point can make the difference between a reminder and a warning, or between 7 and 8 points.
- Long effect: the point counts for two and a half years plus the extra year.
- Probation: for new drivers, a single serious offence can trigger a remedial course and an extended probationary period.
- Repeat speeding: after a final decision for 26 km/h or more over the limit, doing so again within a year can lead to a driving ban.
- Logbook order: even a one-point offence can justify ordering the keeper to keep a logbook.
With legal expenses insurance the cost risk is usually manageable; see fees and legal insurance. More topics are covered in our overview of traffic fines in Germany. Mr Sigal also advises in German and Russian.
This article gives a general overview of German law (as of October 2026) and does not replace advice on your individual case.