Speeding fines in France: amounts and penalties in 2026
A speeding fine in France depends on how far over the limit you were, calculated on the adjusted speed. It ranges from 68 € to a standard fine of 135 €. From 50 km/h over the limit, speeding is a criminal offence: up to 3,750 €, 3 months in prison and the loss of the right to drive.
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Key points
- Standard fine of 68 € or 135 € depending on the excess and the speed limit of the road.
- 135 € fines are reduced to 90 € if paid within 15 days, and increased to 375 € after 45 days.
- Since 29 December 2025, exceeding the limit by 50 km/h or more is a criminal offence from the first time.
- French penalty points are taken from French licences; drivers with a foreign licence still pay the fine.
How much is a speeding fine in France?
The amount depends on two things: how far over the limit you were, and the speed limit of the road. The same excess is not punished in the same way on a road limited to more than 50 km/h and on a road limited to 50 km/h or less. The amount shown is the standard fine; it is reduced if you pay quickly and increased if you pay late.
The speed used is not the measured speed but the adjusted speed, after the camera's technical margin has been deducted. The calculation is explained in speed camera tolerance, and the limits for each type of road in speed limits in France.
| Excess over the limit | Points (French licence) | Standard fine |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5 km/h (road limited to more than 50 km/h) | 0 | 68 € |
| Under 5 km/h (road limited to 50 km/h or less) | 0 | 135 € |
| Under 20 km/h (road limited to more than 50 km/h) | 1 | 68 € |
| Under 20 km/h (road limited to 50 km/h or less) | 1 | 135 € (90 € reduced, 375 € increased) |
| 20 to under 30 km/h | 2 | 135 € (90 € reduced, 375 € increased) |
| 30 to under 40 km/h | 3 | 135 € (90 € reduced, 375 € increased) |
| 40 to under 50 km/h | 4 | 135 € (90 € reduced, 375 € increased) |
| 50 km/h or more | 6 | Criminal offence: up to 3,750 € |
Scale on 4 October 2026 (Service-Public, fiche F19460). An excess of 30 km/h or more can also lead to a driving ban of up to 3 years.
Reduced, standard or increased: what are the payment deadlines?
A fixed penalty for a French traffic offence has three possible amounts depending on how quickly you pay. Deadlines run from the date the notice was sent.
For the most common speeding offence (the 135 € fine), the reduced amount is 90 € if paid within 15 days, or 30 days when paying online. The standard 135 € is due within 45 days, or 60 days online. After that, the fine is automatically increased to 375 €; a 20 % discount is still possible if you pay within 30 days (45 days by card).
| Amount | Value | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Reduced fine | 90 € | 15 days (30 days online) |
| Standard fine | 135 € | 45 days (60 days online) |
| Increased fine | 375 € | Automatic after 45 days; 20 % off if paid within 30 days (45 days by card) |
Amounts and deadlines for the most common speeding fine (Justice.fr, updated 11 January 2025).
Excessive speeding: why 50 km/h over is a criminal offence
From 50 km/h over the limit, speeding is no longer a minor offence but a criminal offence (délit), judged in court. The penalties are heavy: up to 3,750 € fine, up to 3 months in prison, and possible immobilisation and confiscation of the vehicle. For a repeat offence, confiscation becomes mandatory.
Additional penalties can include a driving ban of up to 3 years, a mandatory road safety course, and the cancellation of the licence. The police can also withhold the licence on the spot. Since 29 December 2025, all this applies from the first offence; before that date, a first excess of 50 km/h or more was still a minor offence.
Driving in France with a foreign licence or foreign plates
French speed cameras photograph the number plate. For a vehicle registered in another country, the fine is sent to the registered keeper when France can identify them; France exchanges vehicle registration data with other European countries for road safety offences. The amounts and deadlines are the same as for French residents.
French penalty points are recorded on French licences. A driver with a foreign licence has no French points to lose, but still owes the fine, and the most serious offences can lead to a ban from driving in France. If you think the notice is wrong, contest it before paying: paying counts as accepting the offence.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a speeding fine in France?
The standard fine is 68 € for a small excess on a road limited to more than 50 km/h, and 135 € in most other cases. From 50 km/h over the limit, it is a criminal offence punishable by up to 3,750 €.
What is the difference between a reduced and an increased fine?
The reduced fine rewards quick payment: 90 € within 15 days instead of 135 €. The increased fine, 375 €, applies automatically after 45 days.
Will I receive a French speeding fine at home?
If France can identify the registered keeper of the vehicle, the notice is sent to their address. France exchanges vehicle registration data with other European countries for road safety offences.
Do foreign drivers lose points for speeding in France?
French penalty points are recorded on French licences. A driver with a foreign licence does not lose French points, but still has to pay the fine, and serious offences can lead to a ban from driving in France.
When does speeding become a criminal offence in France?
From 50 km/h over the limit, since 29 December 2025 even for a first offence: up to 3,750 €, 3 months in prison, a driving ban and possible confiscation of the vehicle.
Does paying the fine mean accepting the offence?
Yes. Paying counts as accepting the offence. If you want to contest the notice, do it before paying.
Official sources
- Service-Public — Speeding: fines and penalties (fiche F19460, in French, updated 29/12/2025)
- Justice.fr — Fixed penalty for a traffic offence (in French, updated 11/01/2025)
- The Connexion — What happens if you are flashed in a car with non-French plates
Last checked: 4 October 2026. This page is a translation of our French guide; the French Highway Code is the only official text.
Read next
- Speed limits in France: the complete tableSpeed limits in France: 50 km/h in towns, 80 or 90 km/h on main roads, 110 and 130 km/h on dual carriageways and motorways. Rain, fog and new drivers.
- Speed camera tolerance in France: how the adjusted speed is calculatedFrench speed camera margin: 5 km/h below 100 km/h, 5 % above. How the measured speed becomes the adjusted speed used for the fine, with worked examples.
- Radar detectors and French law: what is banned, what is allowedRadar detectors are banned in France (1,500 € fine, confiscation), but driver-assistance apps are allowed. What French law says, in plain English.
Speed limits and camera locations are indicative: only the signs on the spot count. Always follow the French Highway Code.
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