Truck speed limit in Germany: 80 km/h on the Autobahn and the fines
Truck speed limit in Germany: 80 km/h on the Autobahn for vehicles over 3.5 t, with fines from 30 EUR to 700 EUR plus a 3-month ban.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Trucks over 3.5 t are limited to 80 km/h on the German Autobahn under StVO § 18 Abs. 5 . Speeding fines on the Autobahn start at 30 EUR for up to 10 km/h over and reach 700 EUR plus a 3-month driving ban above 60 km/h over.
What is the truck speed limit on German roads?
The limit depends on road type and weight. In built-up areas, all motor vehicles are limited to 50 km/h. Outside built-up areas, vehicles over 3.5 t and up to 7.5 t may drive 80 km/h, while vehicles over 7.5 t and most motor vehicles with a trailer are limited to 60 km/h. These figures come from StVO § 3 Abs. 3 , text as amended on 2026-01-30.
Many pages wrongly apply that 60 km/h figure to the Autobahn. The StVO excludes the Autobahn, roads with a central reservation and roads with at least two marked lanes per direction from the rural limits. On the Autobahn and on dual-carriageway Kraftfahrstraßen (motor roads), trucks over 3.5 t may drive 80 km/h. Only tractors with two trailers, and buses with a trailer or standing passengers, are held to 60 km/h there.
A truck could not go much faster. EU rules require N2 and N3 vehicles to carry a limiter set to 90 km/h. Our guide explains why trucks are limited to 90 km/h in the EU . You can check the limits by road type on the free Germany speed limit page , and the HGV speed limits by country guide covers the rest of Europe.
How much is the fine for a truck speeding in Germany?
Fines follow BKatV Tabelle 1 Buchstabe a , the table for trucks. The BKatV was last amended on 2026-08-12, and that change left the speeding rows untouched. The Autobahn counts as outside built-up areas, so the table uses that column.
| Over the limit | Fine and sanction |
|---|---|
| up to 10 km/h | 30 EUR |
| 21 to 25 km/h | 150 EUR, 1 point |
| 31 to 40 km/h | 255 EUR, 2 points, 1-month driving ban |
| over 60 km/h | 700 EUR, 2 points, 3-month driving ban |
Outside built-up areas, points start at 16 km/h over: 1 point up to 30 km/h over and 2 points from 31 km/h. The ban starts at 1 month in the 31 to 40 km/h band, rises to 2 months at 51 to 60 km/h and reaches 3 months above 60 km/h. Driving up to 15 km/h over for more than 5 minutes costs 140 EUR and 1 point.
Frequently asked questions
How fast can a truck drive on the Autobahn in Germany?
A truck over 3.5 t may drive at most 80 km/h on the Autobahn, as set by StVO § 18 Abs. 5. The same limit applies on dual-carriageway motor roads outside towns.
Is the 80 km/h limit the same for all trucks over 3.5 t?
Yes. On the Autobahn the 80 km/h limit applies to every truck over 3.5 t, whatever its weight above that line. The 60 km/h figure for vehicles over 7.5 t applies only on rural roads without a central reservation or two marked lanes per direction.
How much is a speeding fine for a truck in Germany?
On the Autobahn the fine runs from 30 EUR for up to 10 km/h over to 700 EUR above 60 km/h over. A driving ban of 1 to 3 months applies from 31 km/h over. Built-up areas carry higher fines and earlier bans.
Do foreign trucks pay the speeding fine on the spot?
Not automatically. A driver without residence in Germany can be ordered to post a security deposit for the expected fine and costs under StPO § 132, which applies to fine proceedings through OWiG § 46. The law requires only an appropriate security.
Look up the 80 km/h Autobahn limit and other road types on the free Germany truck speed limit page before you plan your next trip.
