November 8, 2024
Report; Speeding fines across Europe
Driving above the speed limit is dangerous, but worryingly common. According to data from the European Road Safety Observatory, 40-50% of drivers sometimes drive faster than the speed limit, with 10-20% driving more than 10 km/h above the limit. Speed is the leading cause of between 10 and 15% of crashes. So it makes sense that countries would want to reduce speeding, sometimes by introducing laws that punish speeding offenses with fines, points on the driver’s license, or even prison time.
At DiscoverCars.com, we have conducted new research into which countries have the highest fines for speeding drivers. We decided to compare the typical fine for speeding by 14 km/h above a 50 km/h speed limit, as this is a common speed limit in urban areas around the world.
We also investigated which countries had the highest maximum fine - as well as comparing this to the average monthly take-home pay there.
At DiscoverCars.com, we have conducted new research into which countries have the highest fines for speeding drivers. We decided to compare the typical fine for speeding by 14 km/h above a 50 km/h speed limit, as this is a common speed limit in urban areas around the world.
We also investigated which countries had the highest maximum fine - as well as comparing this to the average monthly take-home pay there.
The Rankings
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Norway
Norway has the highest typical fine for going 14 km/h over a 50 km/h speed limit, with drivers being charged €476.
This country also charges 10% of a speeding driver’s annual salary as a fine - based on the average Norwegian salary, this would work out at €5,557. This gives Norway the third-highest overall fine for speeding outside of an urban area, based on our research.
In serious speeding cases, the driver’s license can be suspended for up to 36 months, and in some cases, drivers have even been imprisoned. Drivers who speed 46 km/h or more above the speed limit may be sentenced to 18 days in jail.
This country also charges 10% of a speeding driver’s annual salary as a fine - based on the average Norwegian salary, this would work out at €5,557. This gives Norway the third-highest overall fine for speeding outside of an urban area, based on our research.
In serious speeding cases, the driver’s license can be suspended for up to 36 months, and in some cases, drivers have even been imprisoned. Drivers who speed 46 km/h or more above the speed limit may be sentenced to 18 days in jail.
Switzerland
For a comparatively minor speeding offense, going 14 km/h over a 50 km/h speed limit, the fine would be €266, putting this country in second place in our ranking.
Switzerland also uses a ‘day fine’ system where a fine may be based on your income. Day fines are used when the driver commits a serious speeding offense, going 50 km/h over the speed limit. The minimum drivers can be fined using this system is €60 but it can go much higher.
A day fine will be based on the driver’s monthly net income, and they might be fined as many as 180 day fines at once depending on the severity of their speeding. For a driver with an average monthly salary of €5,796, the maximum fine they receive using this system would be a massive €34,373! But it’s likely that a speeding offense serious enough to warrant the maximum number of day fines would be punished with jail time instead.
Drivers who exceed a speed limit of 30 km/h by driving 40 km/h or faster in Switzerland might be imprisoned for at least a year.
Switzerland also uses a ‘day fine’ system where a fine may be based on your income. Day fines are used when the driver commits a serious speeding offense, going 50 km/h over the speed limit. The minimum drivers can be fined using this system is €60 but it can go much higher.
A day fine will be based on the driver’s monthly net income, and they might be fined as many as 180 day fines at once depending on the severity of their speeding. For a driver with an average monthly salary of €5,796, the maximum fine they receive using this system would be a massive €34,373! But it’s likely that a speeding offense serious enough to warrant the maximum number of day fines would be punished with jail time instead.
Drivers who exceed a speed limit of 30 km/h by driving 40 km/h or faster in Switzerland might be imprisoned for at least a year.
Sweden
In Sweden, the speeding fine for driving at 14 km/h over a 50 km/h speed limit is $207, less than half of what drivers in the country’s Nordic neighbor of Norway would be charged.
The maximum fine for speeding outside of an urban area is €351, which would be 13% of the average monthly salary in Sweden, of €2,731.
Drivers who exceed a 30 km/h speed limit by more than 20 km/h might have their license revoked, as well as those who exceed any speed limit by more than 30 km/h.
The maximum fine for speeding outside of an urban area is €351, which would be 13% of the average monthly salary in Sweden, of €2,731.
Drivers who exceed a 30 km/h speed limit by more than 20 km/h might have their license revoked, as well as those who exceed any speed limit by more than 30 km/h.
Denmark
Next up, the fine for speeding at 64 km/h in a 50 km/h zone in Denmark is €201, very similar to the fine in Sweden and only just behind it by a few euros.
The highest fine drivers can get for speeding outside of an urban area is €1,073. Only drivers who are going 220 km/h or faster would be hit with a fine this high, under the ‘vanvidskørsel’ or ‘crazy driving’ law. This fine works out to 38% of the average monthly salary in Denmark. Drivers who go 100 km/h over a 100 km/h speed limit, or 200 km/h in any zone, can have their car confiscated and sold at auction.
The highest fine drivers can get for speeding outside of an urban area is €1,073. Only drivers who are going 220 km/h or faster would be hit with a fine this high, under the ‘vanvidskørsel’ or ‘crazy driving’ law. This fine works out to 38% of the average monthly salary in Denmark. Drivers who go 100 km/h over a 100 km/h speed limit, or 200 km/h in any zone, can have their car confiscated and sold at auction.
Finland
In fifth place, it’s Finland, where a driver exceeding a 50 km/h speed limit by 14 km/h can expect to pay €170, or an ‘ordinary fine’. Drivers who are caught speeding in Finland are also sometimes charged a ‘day fine’, like in Switzerland, which is calculated based on their income. However, drivers only pay a day fine if they are caught speeding more than 20 km/h over the speed limit. Here’s how it works.
A day fine is half of the driver’s daily disposable income minus deductions. Up to 120 day fines can be charged at once. However, if the day fine works out as less than €115, speeding drivers will have to pay that as a minimum.
We have worked out a fine of $5,073 - that’s 120 day fines based on the average Finnish monthly take-home pay, minus the allowance. The average Finnish monthly take-home pay is $2,600, meaning that a driver here who was charged the maximum fine would have to spend 195% of their monthly salary to pay the fine.
Drivers from other countries would also have to pay a day fine.
A day fine is half of the driver’s daily disposable income minus deductions. Up to 120 day fines can be charged at once. However, if the day fine works out as less than €115, speeding drivers will have to pay that as a minimum.
We have worked out a fine of $5,073 - that’s 120 day fines based on the average Finnish monthly take-home pay, minus the allowance. The average Finnish monthly take-home pay is $2,600, meaning that a driver here who was charged the maximum fine would have to spend 195% of their monthly salary to pay the fine.
Drivers from other countries would also have to pay a day fine.
The rest of the top ten
In sixth place, the Netherlands fines drivers €146 for exceeding a 50 km/h speed limit by 14 km/h.
Italy is next, where the same driving offense would see drivers pay €143.
In Slovenia, the fine for breaking the speed limit in this way would be €125.
Hungary took ninth place with a fine of €123.
Finally, the United Kingdom would fine drivers €120 for driving at 64 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
When we looked at the maximum speeding fine for driving over the limit outside of urban areas, we got a slightly different set of results. Some countries that didn’t appear in our list of highest fines for speeding 14 km/h over a 59 km/h limit have very high maximum fines.
Switzerland has the highest overall fine because of its ‘day fine’ system, as we discussed earlier in this piece.
Austria has a very high maximum fine of $7,500, which is only used in extreme speeding cases, such as when a driver is caught speed racing. If a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 90 km/h outside an urban area - or 80 km/h in an urban area - the car might be seized on the spot and even auctioned off later. However, if the car is a rental vehicle, it will be temporarily impounded rather than sold.
Norway and Finland both also appeared in the list of countries with the highest fine for speeding by 14 km/h - they appear here, too, with maximum fines of €5,557 and €4,690 respectively.
In fifth place, Belgium has a maximum fine of €4,000 for speeding outside of an urban area, for going more than 40 km/h over the speed limit. If drivers are caught speeding by more than 30 km/h over the speed limit, their license can be revoked for up to 5 years. Non-residents of Belgium can be given an on-the-spot penalty for speeding of up to $934.
Italy, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Latvia and Croatia make up the rest of the top ten.
Italy is next, where the same driving offense would see drivers pay €143.
In Slovenia, the fine for breaking the speed limit in this way would be €125.
Hungary took ninth place with a fine of €123.
Finally, the United Kingdom would fine drivers €120 for driving at 64 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
When we looked at the maximum speeding fine for driving over the limit outside of urban areas, we got a slightly different set of results. Some countries that didn’t appear in our list of highest fines for speeding 14 km/h over a 59 km/h limit have very high maximum fines.
Switzerland has the highest overall fine because of its ‘day fine’ system, as we discussed earlier in this piece.
Austria has a very high maximum fine of $7,500, which is only used in extreme speeding cases, such as when a driver is caught speed racing. If a driver is caught exceeding the speed limit by more than 90 km/h outside an urban area - or 80 km/h in an urban area - the car might be seized on the spot and even auctioned off later. However, if the car is a rental vehicle, it will be temporarily impounded rather than sold.
Norway and Finland both also appeared in the list of countries with the highest fine for speeding by 14 km/h - they appear here, too, with maximum fines of €5,557 and €4,690 respectively.
In fifth place, Belgium has a maximum fine of €4,000 for speeding outside of an urban area, for going more than 40 km/h over the speed limit. If drivers are caught speeding by more than 30 km/h over the speed limit, their license can be revoked for up to 5 years. Non-residents of Belgium can be given an on-the-spot penalty for speeding of up to $934.
Italy, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Latvia and Croatia make up the rest of the top ten.
Tips for drivers who receive a speeding ticket abroad
Drivers who are caught speeding in another country in Europe, which they are not residents of, are still liable to pay the fine. An official body called Eucaris (the European Car and Driving Licence Information System) handles international penalties. This organization streamlines the information-sharing process, meaning that if you are caught speeding, that fine will still make its way to you.
However, whether you can collect points on your license depends on local laws. In most countries, points on your license cannot follow you home. But if you were caught speeding on multiple occasions in a country you don’t live in, you might accrue points meaning that you are no longer allowed to drive in that country.
If you receive a speeding ticket while driving a rental car in another country, make sure that you pay it as soon as possible. Leaving it could mean that the amount of money you will be charged increases. If the car is back at the rental company and you are back at home, it’s likely that the fine will come to you through the rental company, who may also add an additional administrative charge of their own.
However, whether you can collect points on your license depends on local laws. In most countries, points on your license cannot follow you home. But if you were caught speeding on multiple occasions in a country you don’t live in, you might accrue points meaning that you are no longer allowed to drive in that country.
If you receive a speeding ticket while driving a rental car in another country, make sure that you pay it as soon as possible. Leaving it could mean that the amount of money you will be charged increases. If the car is back at the rental company and you are back at home, it’s likely that the fine will come to you through the rental company, who may also add an additional administrative charge of their own.
Methodology
Using sources such as https://speedingeurope.com/, newspapers and official information from the country’s governments, we have listed typical fines as well as the maximum fine drivers can be charged for speeding in each country. The top ten was created by ranking the countries by which locations charge the highest maximum penalty. The maximum fine for each country does not include additional fines for late payment or repeat offenses.
The average salary in each country was researched using sources such as https://www.timechamp.io/ and https://www.timedoctor.com/. Information about Swiss and Finnish day fines was sourced from the official websites of the Swiss Conference of Public Prosecutors and the Police of Finland.
The average salary in each country was researched using sources such as https://www.timechamp.io/ and https://www.timedoctor.com/. Information about Swiss and Finnish day fines was sourced from the official websites of the Swiss Conference of Public Prosecutors and the Police of Finland.
Top Related Locations
Here are some places where you should watch your speed when you travel! We've also included the closest airports.
- Rome, Italy (Fiumicino Airport): Exploring the ancient city is exciting—just take it slow and enjoy the ride.
- Milan, Italy (Malpensa Airport): Milan’s mix of modern and historic streets is best appreciated with a steady pace.
- Venice, Italy (Marco Polo Airport): Heading to Venice? The scenic drive is lovely, so relax and keep it smooth.
- Florence, Italy (Florence Airport): The roads to Florence are as picturesque as the city itself—take your time and enjoy the Tuscan countryside on the way in.
- Palermo, Sicily (Palermo Airport): Sicily’s coastal roads are beautiful and winding—take it easy to fully enjoy the Mediterranean views.
- Cagliari, Sardinia (Cagliari Elmas Airport): Sardinia’s landscapes are breathtaking, so keep a relaxed pace and savor the island scenery.
- Ljubljana, Slovenia (Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport): The journey to Ljubljana is beautiful—let the scenery set the pace for you.
- Helsinki, Finland (Helsinki-Vantaa Airport): The Finnish roads are clear and well-kept; a calm drive lets you soak it all in.
- Oslo, Norway (Oslo Gardermoen Airport): The drive through Norway’s natural beauty is unforgettable—let the landscapes lead your pace.
- Tromsø, Norway (Tromsø Airport): The drive to Tromsø is stunning, with Arctic landscapes all around—take it slow and soak in the unique scenery.
- Stockholm, Sweden (Stockholm Arlanda Airport): Stockholm’s smooth highways make for an enjoyable drive, especially at a relaxed speed.
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (Schiphol Airport): Amsterdam’s unique roads are easy to navigate at a relaxed pace—enjoy the city vibes.
- London, United Kingdom (Heathrow Airport): London’s landmarks are around every corner, so keeping a smooth pace lets you take it all in.
- Manchester, United Kingdom (Manchester Airport): The drive into Manchester is straightforward, so keep it easy and enjoy the approach.
- Glasgow, United Kingdom (Glasgow Airport): Glasgow’s lively streets are best explored at a steady pace, letting you soak in the vibrant atmosphere.
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom (Edinburgh Airport): The drive into Edinburgh is full of charm, with historic sights around—take it easy to enjoy the city's character.
- Budapest, Hungary (Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport): Budapest’s roads are lively, so a steady drive lets you soak up the city’s character.
- Copenhagen, Denmark (Copenhagen Airport): Copenhagen’s charming streets are best explored at a relaxed, mindful pace.
- Zurich, Switzerland (Zurich Airport): Zurich’s efficient roads make for a smooth drive—keeping a steady pace helps you appreciate the Swiss scenery.
- Geneva, Switzerland (Geneva Airport): Driving towards Geneva is peaceful, with incredible mountain views best enjoyed calmly.
Aleksandrs Buraks
Head of Growth at DiscoverCars.com
Aleksandrs has over 10 years of experience in marketing with a focus on creating stellar content that provides topical insights using data. Having taken five road trips across Europe and one in the U.S., he is passionate about traveling by car. His favorite countries to visit are Denmark and Thailand. You can find him on Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter.
