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Method and sources

Every legal value on this site lives in two places: a fine-catalogue file generated by a script from the official text, and a parameter file with fees, deadlines and tax rates, checked on . Pages and calculators only read from these two files; no amount is typed into the text by hand.

The fine catalogue from the official XML

The script scripts/bkat/build-bkat.py reads the Fine Catalogue Ordinance (BKatV) in XML from gesetze-im-internet.de, the federal law portal, as amended: Zuletzt geändert durch Art. 4 V v. 12.8.2026 I Nr. 236. It takes every line of the annex with its number, offence, legal references and standard fine, plus tables 1 (speed), 2 (distance) and 4 (increase for endangering others or damage) of the appendix. Sub-items such as “with endangerment” are joined to their parent offence so they read as one sentence. The result is 534 fixed-amount offences and complete tables, rebuilt with one run whenever the text changes.

Points and probation

Points come from annex 13 of the Driving Licence Ordinance, which lists catalogue numbers explicitly; we copied those lists, and the script stops if a listed number is missing from the catalogue. For probation, each offence carrying points is classed A (serious) or B (less serious) under annex 12, according to the traffic rule broken. Offences without points are not entered in the register and play no role in probation.

Rules the fine calculator applies

  • Tolerance: 3 km/h up to 100 km/h measured, 3 per cent above, rounded in the driver's favour, following the error limits of the national metrology institute PTB. Some measuring methods use other deductions, so the deduction can be switched off.
  • Fees under Section 107 OWiG: five per cent, at least €25, at most €7,500, plus €3.50 for delivery, only for fines above €55.
  • Intent (Section 3(4a) BKatV): fines above €55 doubled, rounded down.
  • Endangerment and damage (Section 3(3) BKatV): increase under table 4 unless the offence already includes it.
  • Persistence (Section 4(2) BKatV): a one-month ban for another 26 km/h within a year.
  • Earlier entries only where the catalogue provides for them (alcohol, cannabis, drugs, hazardous-goods routes), as Section 3(1) BKatV states.

Points, deadlines, limitation

The points calculator follows Section 4 StVG: stages at 4, 6 and 8 points, lowering to 5 or 7 when a stage was skipped, seminar deduction at one to five points. Expiry follows Section 29 StVG (2.5, 5 and 10 years from the decision becoming final, then one more year). Since 1 July 2026 the limitation period is six months under Section 26(3) StVG; interruptions under Section 33 OWiG are not modelled by the deadline tool.

Vehicle tax

The vehicle tax calculator applies Section 9 KraftStG for cars in all three registration periods, plus Section 3d (electric cars), Section 3a (disability), Section 18(4a) (2008/2009 transition) and rounding under Section 11(5). On 11 October 2026 we entered 21 cases into the Federal Finance Ministry calculator: petrol and diesel cars of every period, Euro 1, 2 and 3, electric cars, a motorbike and trailers. All 21 match to the euro and run as tests.

Tests

Before each release, automated tests check the catalogue reading (known numbers with their amounts), every speed band, tailgating, red lights, phones, alcohol, fees, points, expiry, probation, vehicle tax and the cost calculators. A failing test blocks the release.

What the calculators cannot do

  • Predict an authority's or court's departure in an individual case, such as a higher fine instead of a ban (Section 4(4) BKatV).
  • Review measurements or notices; this is not legal advice.
  • Calculate criminal penalties (Section 316 StGB); there is no catalogue for them.
  • Estimate blood alcohol from drinks; there is no official formula.
  • Cover lorries over 3.5 t and seasonal plates for vehicle tax.
  • Know prices set freely by driving schools, inspection organisations or MPU centres; those are input fields.

Sources

Review cycle: at least every 12 months and whenever the rules change. Errors to contact@bussgeldrechnen.de. Last check: .

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Publisher of an independent German traffic-fine and vehicle-tax calculator

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Legal status 2026, checked on