Germany introduces €30,000 fine for false driver statements in traffic offenses

Effective 1 July 2026, Germany will impose fines of up to €30,000 on anyone who deliberately misleads traffic authorities about the identity of the driver responsible for a road‑traffic offence. The amendment to the Road Traffic Act (Paragraph 4c) targets the long‑standing “point‑trading” market, where drivers hire “paravans” or online services to claim a different person committed the violation and avoid penalty points. The new rule also holds such intermediary platforms accountable, aiming to prevent the manipulation of the points register that can otherwise lead to licence suspension.

The legislation follows a recommendation by the German Parliament’s traffic law committee in 2024 and expands the period for submitting penalties, removing the previous three‑month statute of limitations. Authorities are now required to verify the true driver’s identity, and any deliberate false statement can result in the maximum monetary sanction.