Caught Speeding in Germany

[anonymous-user]

Hello,

I believe I have been caught speeding by a fixed Camera in Germany, came off the AB into a 70 / 50 / 70 road, I did not slow down for the 50 (didn't notice in all honesty) and I think I was doing an indicated 72/3 KM.

Now I was travelling due to work and I am a German resident but a UK citizen.

A UK colleague ran a red light and got a fine + 1 month ban, can I expect the same? A ban is no problem as I don't own a car here at the moment (caught in a hire car), from the googling etc I have carried out it seems:
a - no record on my UK driving license.
b - no impact / need to tell my UK insurance company.

Am I assuming correctly or not? I only have UK insurance to keep my NCB going whilst I live away so I can get something nice when / if I return.

Thanks.

[Sushifiend]

I'm a British citizen and in 2009-10 (15 months total) I was residing in Germany in although not officially a resident. I got flashed by a mobile camera doing 10-15km/h over the posted 50 limit while driving my own, UK-registered car, and nothing happened. No letters in the post at my UK address and nothing at my German address (although I didn't really expect one there).

Things might be quite different for you as your hire car was presumably on German plates, and you were a little over the limit...

[anonymous-user]

Yes, German plates and I have German social security numbers etc.

I have spoken to colleagues and it will be 35 euro fine, but as it was a hire car it will probably be 100 euro (admin fees) and maybe 1 point or 1 month ban, my main concern is the impact on UK insurance.

[Sushifiend]

If you don't get any points on your UK licence, then I don't see why you would be under any obligation to tell your UK insurance company. They certainly would have no way of finding out independently.

[Bodo]

Assume your speedo has an overreading of 3km/h at 70km/h, and the camera tolerance deducted is 5%, then you will have less than 20km/h above the speed limit.

Out of town = €30, no points
16 ... 20 km/h 30 EUR
21 ... 25 km/h 70 EUR 1 point
26 ... 30 km/h 80 EUR 1 point

in town = €35, no points
16 ... 20 km/h 35 EUR
21 ... 25 km/h 80 EUR 1 point
26 ... 30 km/h 100 EUR 1 point

[flemke]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Yes, German plates and I have German social security numbers etc.

I have spoken to colleagues and it will be 35 euro fine, but as it was a hire car it will probably be 100 euro (admin fees) and maybe 1 point or 1 month ban, my main concern is the impact on UK insurance.

It used to be the case in Germany that, if a car was photographed speeding, and even if the photo showed clearly the face of the driver, the car owner was allowed - on no more than one such occasion over the years - simply to say, "I do not know who was driving", and there would be no further action.

Unless this rule was changed this year, it would still apply.

Wrt UK licence, no effect whatsoever.

Edited by flemke on Thursday 13th August 12:22

[anonymous-user]

Excellent, thanks for the informative post Bodo.

Flemke, I will check with colleagues ... But with it being a hire car, in my name / the companies contract, I do not think it is worth the risk!

Thanks.
S.

[flemke]

Trexthedinosaur said:

Excellent, thanks for the informative post Bodo.

Flemke, I will check with colleagues ... But with it being a hire car, in my name / the companies contract, I do not think it is worth the risk!

Thanks.
S.

One question would be - under the terms of the car hire, was anyone but you allowed to drive the car?

[tapereel]

Speeding! In Germany!

Oh no I thought it was the land of limitless driving.

[anonymous-user]

flemke said:

One question would be - under the terms of the car hire, was anyone but you allowed to drive the car?

Yes, company policy (via an on-going contract) so anyone employee can drive the car, but I was on my own.

[flemke]

Trexthedinosaur said:

flemke said:

One question would be - under the terms of the car hire, was anyone but you allowed to drive the car?

Yes, company policy (via an on-going contract) so anyone employee can drive the car, but I was on my own.

Okay, but this gets back to the point I made above: at least until recently, and I believe still, in Germany one is allowed once in one's life to reply to a query about who was driving the vehicle at the time of the recorded alleged offence by saying, "I do not know who was driving," and the matter will go no further.

If the terms of the hire contract had not allowed anyone else to drive the car, you would not have been able to use that get-out.