What fine does a foreigner risk in the event of a traffic offense in France?

Verified 01 January 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

If you commit a infringement in France, you may have to pay a flat-rate fine or a logging. In addition, depending on your nationality, you may be prosecuted and punished upon your return to your country.

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You are Czech, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, German, Estonian, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgish, Monegasque, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Swiss

The rules differ depending on your situation:

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
  • Crossing a red light.

You receive a notice of contravention written in the language of your country. The notice of contravention shall indicate, inter alia, the nature, date and time of the offense, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the challenge procedure.

If necessary, a call center will inform you about your procedures:

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
  • Crossing a red light.

You receive a notice of contravention written in the language of your country. The notice of contravention shall indicate, inter alia, the nature, date and time of the offense, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging the offense.

If necessary, a call center will inform you about your procedures:

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 can be withheld until payment of a logging. The public prosecutor take a decision within 24 hours of the finding of the infringement. The amount of the deposit varies depending on 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
  • Crossing a red light.

You receive a notice of contravention written in the language of your country. The notice of contravention shall indicate, inter alia, the nature, date and time of the offense, the amount of the fine, the means of payment and the procedure for challenging it.

If necessary, a call center will inform you about your procedures:

You're from another country

The rules differ depending on your situation:

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 necessary, a call center will inform you about your procedures:

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 necessary, a call center will inform you about your procedures:

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 necessary, a call center will inform you about your procedures:

If you cannot pay the fine or if the offense committed is not punished by a lump sum fine, your vehicle can be withheld until payment of a logging. The public prosecutor take a decision within 24 hours of the finding of the infringement. The amount of the deposit varies depending on 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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