First: which letter are you holding?
Two very different documents arrive in similar envelopes, and confusing them is the most expensive mistake here.
| Anhörungsbogen (hearing form) | Bußgeldbescheid (fine notice) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An invitation to comment | A binding decision |
| Deadline to object | none | two weeks |
| Must you reply? | Only your personal details | Objection or pay |
| Costs | none yet | fee and postage on top |
On a hearing form you must give your name, address and date of birth – that is a legal duty. You do not have to say anything about the facts, and § 55 OWiG gives you the right to stay silent about them. Filling in the "what happened" box usually helps the authority prove its case, not yours.
Your deadline
When your objection must arrive
FreeThe date on the yellow envelope or delivery slip, not the date printed on the notice.
Public holidays can push the deadline to the next working day.
Objection must arrive by
…
Enter the date of service.
§ 67 Abs. 1 OWiG
„Der Betroffene kann gegen den Bußgeldbescheid innerhalb von zwei Wochen nach Zustellung schriftlich oder zur Niederschrift bei der Verwaltungsbehörde, die den Bußgeldbescheid erlassen hat, Einspruch einlegen.“
Keep the envelope. German authorities usually serve by formal delivery, and the date written on the yellow envelope is what starts the clock – not the date printed inside.
Your result is ready. The calculator works out the deadline with the public holidays of all 16 states, checks whether prosecution was already time-barred and produces the German objection letter, ready to sign and post.
Open the traffic fine toolHow to lodge the objection
- In writing, signed, by post to the authority named on the notice – not to the police and not to the court.
- Quote the file number (Aktenzeichen) exactly as printed.
- You do not have to give reasons. A plain sentence objecting to the notice is enough and preserves the deadline. Reasons can follow later.
- E-mail is risky. § 67 Abs. 1 OWiG says „schriftlich“, and whether a simple e-mail satisfies that is disputed. Do not rely on it for a deadline you cannot repeat – send paper.
An objection can cost more than the fine
If the case goes to court and you lose, court costs and fees are added. For a small fine that can outweigh the amount in dispute. Objecting to preserve the deadline is cheap; carrying the case through is not automatically worth it.
If you live abroad, or the deadline has passed
Enforcement across borders. A German fine can be enforced in another EU state only from 70 euros including costs, and only through the Federal Office of Justice. Below that threshold there is no cross-border enforcement – which does not make the fine disappear, and it can still meet you on your next visit.
Deadline missed? § 52 OWiG allows restoration of the previous state (Wiedereinsetzung) if you were prevented from meeting the deadline through no fault of your own – illness, a failed delivery, an address the authority had wrong. The application must be made within one week of the obstacle falling away, and the objection itself has to be filed with it. That second part is what most people miss.
There is also a time limit on the authority: an ordinary traffic offence generally becomes time-barred, and since 1 July 2026 the basic period under § 26 Abs. 3 StVG is six months. Interruptions restart it, so this is rarely a quick way out.
Check your deadline, then send the objection
The calculator works out the deadline with the public holidays of all 16 states, checks whether prosecution was already time-barred and produces the German objection letter, ready to sign and post.
Open the traffic fine toolFrequently asked questions
How long do I have to object to a German fine notice?
Two weeks from service, and the objection must arrive within that time (§ 67 Abs. 1 OWiG). If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it moves to the next working day.
Is an Anhörungsbogen the same as a fine notice?
No. A hearing form has no objection deadline and no fee. Give your personal details; you are not obliged to comment on the facts (§ 55 OWiG).
Can I object by e-mail?
Better not. § 67 Abs. 1 OWiG requires written form and whether a simple e-mail satisfies it is disputed. For a deadline you cannot repeat, send a signed letter.
Do I have to give reasons?
No. A plain objection preserves the deadline; reasons can follow.
I live outside Germany. Will the fine be enforced?
Within the EU only from 70 euros including costs, and only via the Federal Office of Justice. Below that there is no cross-border enforcement, but the fine still exists.
Read the law yourself
- § 67 OWiG: objection to the fine notice
- § 55 OWiG: hearing of the person concerned
- § 52 OWiG: restoration of the previous state
- § 26 StVG: limitation period
Alle Fundstellen führen zu gesetze-im-internet.de, dem amtlichen Angebot des Bundesministeriums der Justiz.
Not legal advice. This page explains German law in general terms and does not replace advice on your individual case. We are not lawyers, not a public authority and not an advice service. Every provision we cite is linked so you can read it yourself. Whether an objection is worth pursuing depends on the evidence in your file. We calculate the deadline and produce the letter; we do not assess your chances.