What fine is a foreigner likely to incur in the event of a road traffic offense in France?
Verified 09 January 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you commit a infringement in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine or a consignment.
In addition, depending on your nationality, you may be prosecuted and punished upon your return to your country.
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You are German, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, Spanish, Estonian, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourg, Monegasque, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Swedish, Swiss, Czech
You have a home or a job in France
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you can be continued upon your return to your country for subsequent offenses :
- Speeding
- Non-use of seat belt
- Red light crossing
- Impaired driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Non-wearing of helmet
- Traffic on a prohibited lane
- Use of a mobile phone (or other communication equipment) while driving
You receive a notice of violation written in the language of your country.
The notice of contravention shall indicate in particular the nature, date and time of the infringement, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.
One call center informs you if necessary on your steps:
Who shall I contact
You have a deposit approved by the administration (e.g. automobile club, touring club)
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you may be continued upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- Non-use of seat belt
- Red light crossing
- Impaired driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Non-wearing of helmet
- Traffic on a prohibited lane
- Use of a mobile phone (or other communication equipment) while driving
You receive a notice of violation written in the language of your country.
The notice of contravention shall indicate, in particular, the nature, date and time of the infringement, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.
One call center informs you if necessary on your steps:
Who shall I contact
You're in a different situation
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine.
If you cannot pay it or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be detained until payment of a consignment.
The public prosecutor shall take a decision within a maximum of 24 hours following the finding of the infringement.
The upright of the recorded sum varies by seriousness of the infringement.
If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded.
The expense are at your expense.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you can be continued upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- Non-use of seat belt
- Red light crossing
- Impaired driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Non-wearing of helmet
- Traffic on a prohibited lane
- Use of a mobile phone (or other communication equipment) while driving
You receive a notice of violation written in the language of your country.
The notice of contravention shall indicate, in particular, the nature, date and time of the infringement, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.
One call center informs you if necessary on your steps:
Who shall I contact
You're from another country
You have a home or a job in France
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to to pay a flat-rate fine.
One call center informs you if necessary on your steps:
Who shall I contact
You have a deposit approved by the administration (e.g. automobile club, touring club)
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to to pay a flat-rate fine.
One call center informs you if necessary on your steps:
Who shall I contact
You're in a different situation
In the event of a traffic offense in France, you may have to to pay a flat-rate fine.
One call center informs you if necessary on your steps:
Who shall I contact
If you cannot pay it or if the offense committed is not punishable by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be withheld until payment of a consignment.
The public prosecutor shall take a decision within a maximum of 24 hours following the finding of the infringement.
The upright of the recorded sum varies by seriousness of the infringement.
If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded.
The expense are at charge vote.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- Directive of 11 March 2015 facilitating the cross-border exchange of information on road safety related traffic offenses (PDF - 516.8 KB)
- Directive 2006/126 of 20 December 2006 on driving licenses
- Highway Code: Articles L121-1 to L121-6Article L121-4
- Order of 19 December 2001 on consignment if the offender has no domicile or employment in France or an authorized guarantor
- What is the risk in the event of a traffic offense?
Simulator
- Pay your fine online at fines.gouv.fr
Online service
- Check your infringement file
Online service
FAQ
- Traffic offensesService-Public.fr
- Driving in France with a foreigners driving licenseService-Public.fr
- FinesService-Public.fr
- Driving abroad: the rules in the European UnionEuropean Consumer Center France
- Flat-rate fine: means of paymentMinistry of the Interior