Germany bans illegal traffic penalty points trading

German legislators have moved to abolish the practice of ‘points trading,’ a legal gray area where individuals paid others to take responsibility for traffic violations. Previously, drivers facing penalty points or driving bans could pay a third party to falsely claim they were behind the wheel during a speeding incident. This practice was difficult to prosecute because the substitute was essentially incriminating themselves, which did not meet the legal criteria for false accusation.

As of July 1, 2026, new regulations have closed this loophole, making the consequences for those involved significantly more severe. The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) in Flensburg continues to manage the driving suitability register, where violations are recorded and can lead to license revocation upon reaching eight points.