Germany Issues €100,000 Fines for Ignoring Red Sticker Vehicle Notices

In Germany, police affix a round red sticker, known as the “Roter Punkt,” to vehicles that are abandoned, not road‑worthy, or lack valid registration on public roads. The sticker includes a deadline for the owner to remove the vehicle.

If the deadline passes, authorities may tow the vehicle, store it, and eventually auction or scrap it. The owner is charged a handling fee, towing and storage costs, and a fine that can reach up to €10,000 for illegal parking. When the vehicle’s resale value does not cover these expenses, the total bill can climb to €100,000.

The rule applies to cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters and even scrap bicycles. The City of Nuremberg and Berlin’s District of Lichtenberg have issued warnings and detailed the procedural steps for owners to retrieve their vehicles within the stipulated period.