What fine is a foreigner likely to incur in the event of a road traffic offense in France?
Verified 26 February 2025 - 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 may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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 prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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 the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be held back 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 amount of money recorded varies according to the seriousness of the offense. If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded. The costs are at your expense.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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 pay a flat-rate fine.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
If you cannot pay the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be held back 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 amount of money recorded varies according to the seriousness of the offense. If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded. The costs are at your expense.
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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 may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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 prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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 the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be held back 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 amount of money recorded varies according to the seriousness of the offense. If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded. The costs are at your expense.
If you were not immediately arrested in France, you may be prosecuted upon your return to your country for the following offenses:
- Speeding
- A red light passed.
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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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 pay a flat-rate fine.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about 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.
A call center will inform you if necessary about your steps:
Who shall I contact
If you cannot pay the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle may be held back 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 amount of money recorded varies according to the seriousness of the offense. If you do not pay the deposit, your vehicle may be impounded. The costs are at your expense.
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