European Countries with the Strictest Driving Penalties
Denmark tops the list as the European country with the strictest driving penalties, scoring 83.81 out of 100 on the strictness scale.
Norway and Spain follow closely, with strictness scores of 82.46 and 75.00, respectively.
Five European countries enforce a zero-tolerance policy for drunk driving with a 0.00% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit.
Our new study has revealed that Denmark has the strictest driving penalties in Europe.
Vignetteswitzerland.com analyzed data from official government sources and national transportation authorities to compare driving penalties across Europe, including fines for speeding, seatbelt violations, red light infractions, vignette requirements, drunk driving, and blood alcohol content (BAC) limits.
Table showing the top 10 European countries with the strictest driving penalties:
| RANK | Countries | Speeding Fine (Minimum) | Use of Mobile Phone while Driving Fine (Minimum) | Running a Red Light Fine (Minimum) | Drunk Driving Fine (Minimum) | Parking Violation Fine (Minimum) | Unbuckled Seatbelt Fine (Minimum) | No Vignette Fine (Minimum) | % of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Limit | STRICTNESS SCORE |
| 1 | Denmark | € 135.00 | € 201.00 | € 270.00 | € 670.27 | € 70.00 | € 200.00 | € 335.20 | 0.05% | 83.81 |
| 2 | Norway | € 97.76 | € 867.00 | € 710.00 | € 520.00 | € 70.00 | € 120.00 | no vignette required | 0.02% | 82.46 |
| 3 | Spain | € 100.00 | € 200.00 | € 200.00 | € 500.00 | € 80.00 | € 200.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 75.00 |
| 4 | Slovenia | € 40.00 | € 250.00 | € 300.00 | € 300.00 | € 120.00 | € 120.00 | € 300.00 | 0.05% | 71.53 |
| 5 | Netherlands | € 32.00 | € 420.00 | € 300.00 | € 300.00 | € 120.00 | € 180.00 | € 115.00 | 0.05% | 70.79 |
| 6 | Italy | € 173.00 | € 250.00 | € 170.00 | € 573.00 | € 28.00 | € 74.00 | no vignette required | 0.04% | 68.83 |
| 7 | Czech Republic | € 59.13 | € 138.07 | € 177.25 | € 2,001.00 | € 19.69 | € 59.17 | € 197.39 | 0.00% | 68.00 |
| 8 | France | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 4,500.00 | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 68.00 | 0.05% | 67.80 |
| 9 | Monaco | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 300.00 | € 300.00 | € 35.00 | € 135.00 | € 68.00 | 0.02% | 66.09 |
| 10 | Greece | € 40.00 | € 100.00 | € 700.00 | € 200.00 | € 80.00 | € 350.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 64.29 |
Denmark leads the list with a strictness score of 83.81, having significant fines for speeding (€135) and one of the highest for drunk driving (€670.27).
Norway ranks second with a score of 82.46. It enforces the highest fine for mobile phone use while driving at €867, setting a strong deterrent against distracted driving.
Spain comes in third with a score of 75.00, maintaining a €200 fine for both speeding and mobile phone use, demonstrating a balanced approach to traffic violations.
Slovenia and the Netherlands round out the top five with scores of 71.53 and 70.79, respectively. Both countries have notably high fines for mobile phone use while driving.
France, ranking eighth, imposes the highest drunk driving fine at €4,500, significantly higher than other European countries, showing a particularly strict stance on this offense.
Five European countries - the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Azerbaijan - enforce a zero-tolerance policy with a 0.00% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit, setting the strictest standard for drunk driving in Europe.
Mattijs Wijnmalen, CEO of Vignetteswitzerland.com, commented on the findings:
“Our study reveals that European countries are serious about road safety, with some fines hefty enough to make drivers think twice. Denmark and Norway are leading the charge, showing they're not messing around when it comes to protecting people on the road.
These strict penalties do more than just empty wallets - they're about filling our roads with more responsible drivers. If we all followed these rules, we could see a real change in road safety across Europe.
Whether you're a local or just passing through, knowing these rules is key. By following them, you're not only avoiding fines but also becoming part of the solution for safer European roads. After all, good driving habits are one of the best souvenirs you can bring home from your travels.“
ENDS
Sources:
Official government sources and national transportation authorities across Europe.
Methodology:
Data on driving penalties was collected from official government sources and national transportation authorities. To determine the overall strictness of driving penalties in each country, we developed a composite score. This score was calculated by first ranking each country's penalties across various categories (such as speeding fines, drunk driving fines, etc.) relative to other European nations. We then combined these individual rankings to create a comprehensive strictness score, allowing for a fair comparison across all countries studied.
Data is correct as of November 13, 2024.
European Countries Ranked by Driving Penalty Strictness in 2024 (Full Table):
| RANK | Countries | Speeding Fine (Minimum) | Use of Mobile Phone while Driving Fine (Minimum) | Running a Red Light Fine (Minimum) | Drunk Driving Fine (Minimum) | Parking Violation Fine (Minimum) | Unbuckled Seatbelt Fine (Minimum) | No Vignette Fine (Minimum) | % of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Limit | STRICTNESS SCORE |
| 1 | Denmark | € 135.00 | € 201.00 | € 270.00 | € 670.27 | € 70.00 | € 200.00 | € 335.20 | 0.05% | 83.81 |
| 2 | Norway | € 97.76 | € 867.00 | € 710.00 | € 520.00 | € 70.00 | € 120.00 | no vignette required | 0.02% | 82.46 |
| 3 | Spain | € 100.00 | € 200.00 | € 200.00 | € 500.00 | € 80.00 | € 200.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 75.00 |
| 4 | Slovenia | € 40.00 | € 250.00 | € 300.00 | € 300.00 | € 120.00 | € 120.00 | € 300.00 | 0.05% | 71.53 |
| 5 | Netherlands | € 32.00 | € 420.00 | € 300.00 | € 300.00 | € 120.00 | € 180.00 | € 115.00 | 0.05% | 70.79 |
| 6 | Italy | € 173.00 | € 250.00 | € 170.00 | € 573.00 | € 28.00 | € 74.00 | no vignette required | 0.04% | 68.83 |
| 7 | Czech Republic | € 59.13 | € 138.07 | € 177.25 | € 2,001.00 | € 19.69 | € 59.17 | € 197.39 | 0.00% | 68.00 |
| 8 | France | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 4,500.00 | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 68.00 | 0.05% | 67.80 |
| 9 | Monaco | € 135.00 | € 135.00 | € 300.00 | € 300.00 | € 35.00 | € 135.00 | € 68.00 | 0.02% | 66.09 |
| 10 | Greece | € 40.00 | € 100.00 | € 700.00 | € 200.00 | € 80.00 | € 350.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 64.29 |
| 11 | Romania | € 60.00 | € 115.00 | € 175.00 | € 265.00 | € 132.63 | € 60.00 | € 100.00 | 0.00% | 64.04 |
| 12 | United Kingod | € 120.51 | € 241.12 | € 120.64 | € 629.11 | € 60.22 | € 120.49 | no vignette required | 0.08% | 63.31 |
| 13 | Switzerland | € 21.31 | € 106.31 | € 267.14 | € 641.13 | € 42.74 | € 63.99 | € 213.80 | 0.05% | 62.95 |
| 14 | Estonia | € 120.00 | € 16.00 | € 200.00 | € 400.00 | € 40.00 | € 200.00 | € 100.00 | 0.02% | 61.20 |
| 15 | Croatia | € 60.00 | € 199.06 | € 265.00 | € 275.00 | € 40.00 | € 132.90 | € 70.00 | 0.05% | 60.56 |
| 16 | Portugal | € 60.00 | € 120.00 | € 120.00 | € 250.00 | € 120.00 | € 120.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 58.13 |
| 17 | Belgium | € 53.00 | € 184.02 | € 174.00 | € 180.00 | € 58.00 | € 100.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 56.83 |
| 18 | Luxembourg | € 49.00 | € 250.00 | € 145.00 | € 145.00 | € 24.00 | € 145.00 | € 150.00 | 0.05% | 54.44 |
| 19 | Sweden | € 130.00 | € 130.00 | € 260.00 | € 42.00 | € 6.48 | € 145.00 | € 69.08 | 0.02% | 53.11 |
| 20 | Andorra | € 24.00 | € 300.00 | € 200.00 | € 150.00 | € 12.00 | € 200.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 52.61 |
| 21 | Slovakia | € 70.00 | € 60.00 | € 150.00 | € 232.00 | € 30.00 | € 50.00 | € 100.00 | 0.00% | 52.11 |
| 22 | Iceland | € 158.55 | € 34.00 | € 125.00 | € 69.00 | € 67.34 | € 80.00 | no vignette required | 0.04% | 51.63 |
| 23 | Ireland | € 80.00 | € 120.00 | € 80.00 | € 200.00 | € 40.00 | € 120.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 51.30 |
| 24 | Cyprus | € 2.00 | € 150.00 | € 85.00 | € 125.00 | € 100.00 | € 150.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 48.37 |
| 25 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | € 50.00 | € 50.00 | € 250.00 | € 200.00 | € 25.00 | € 50.00 | no vignette required | 0.03% | 48.06 |
| 26 | Kosovo | € 20.00 | € 100.00 | € 150.00 | € 200.00 | € 41.00 | € 150.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 48.06 |
| 27 | Malta | € 70.00 | € 100.00 | € 250.00 | € 1,200.00 | € 25.00 | € 25.00 | no vignette required | 0.08% | 47.73 |
| 28 | Lithuania | € 30.00 | € 60.00 | € 60.00 | € 880.00 | € 20.00 | € 30.00 | € 170.00 | 0.04% | 45.48 |
| 29 | Montenegro | € 70.00 | € 60.00 | € 70.00 | € 70.00 | € 60.00 | € 40.00 | no vignette required | 0.03% | 44.17 |
| 30 | Hungary | € 12.18 | € 24.00 | € 170.00 | € 135.00 | € 29.51 | € 925.91 | € 62.71 | 0.00% | 43.88 |
| 31 | North Macedonia | € 20.00 | € 45.00 | € 300.00 | € 250.00 | € 45.00 | € 20.00 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 43.83 |
| 32 | Finland | € 115.00 | € 100.00 | € 100.00 | € 6.00 | € 20.00 | € 70.00 | no vignette required | 0.04% | 41.89 |
| 33 | Poland | € 45.00 | € 46.00 | € 115.00 | € 540.00 | € 25.00 | € 25.00 | € 57.47 | 0.02% | 41.53 |
| 34 | Austria | € 29.00 | € 100.00 | € 70.00 | € 300.00 | € 21.00 | € 35.00 | € 120.00 | 0.05% | 40.75 |
| 35 | Latvia | € 20.00 | € 25.00 | € 30.00 | € 430.00 | € 30.00 | € 30.00 | € 180.00 | 0.05% | 39.26 |
| 36 | Serbia | € 25.00 | € 40.00 | € 130.00 | € 40.00 | € 50.00 | € 40.00 | no vignette required | 0.03% | 38.31 |
| 37 | Germany | € 30.00 | € 100.00 | € 90.00 | € 500.00 | € 10.00 | € 30.00 | € 100.00 | 0.05% | 37.34 |
| 38 | Bulgaria | € 10.23 | € 25.00 | € 250.00 | € 255.00 | € 10.00 | € 25.00 | € 150.00 | 0.05% | 36.25 |
| 39 | Azerbaijan | € 5.48 | € 28.00 | € 54.78 | € 219.12 | € 10.96 | € 21.91 | no vignette required | 0.00% | 29.89 |
| 40 | Armenia | € 48.73 | € 24.00 | € 61.15 | € 70.94 | € 12.23 | € 200.00 | no vignette required | 0.08% | 29.54 |
| 41 | Albania | € 9.50 | € 47.00 | € 50.00 | € 47.00 | € 10.00 | € 50.00 | no vignette required | 0.01% | 26.94 |
| 42 | Ukraine | € 7.64 | € 11.47 | € 11.47 | € 386.54 | € 7.64 | € 11.00 | no vignette required | 0.02% | 23.37 |
| 43 | Turkey | € 41.30 | € 12.00 | € 11.69 | € 185.00 | € 10.73 | € 5.37 | no vignette required | 0.05% | 21.43 |
| 44 | Georgia | € 13.88 | € 13.88 | € 27.77 | € 173.54 | € 3.47 | € 14.00 | no vignette required | 0.02% | 20.11 |
| 45 | Belarus | € 24.51 | € 22.00 | € 11.51 | € 185.18 | € 8.35 | € 11.00 | € 11.13 | 0.03% | 18.76 |