Anhörungsbogen (Verkehrsordnungswidrigkeit)
Anhörungsbogen after a traffic offence: what you must fill in and what is optional
From: The fine authority (Bußgeldstelle) or the police
An Anhörungsbogen is a form that gives you a chance to respond before a fine decision. It also helps the authority find out who was driving. It is not yet a fine.
Got this letter? Get your personal explanation.Take a photo. See your deadline, amount, and next steps, in your language. First letter free.Why you got this letter
- A speed camera or a red-light camera photographed your vehicle.
- The authority wants to know who was driving.
- The authority wants your side of the story before it decides.
What to do
- 1Read the form. Check your personal details: name, address, place of birth, nationality. If they are wrong, correct them.
- 2You must give your personal details. All other information is usually marked as voluntary.
- 3You do not have to say anything that incriminates you. Give only statements that help you.
- 4If you were not driving, say so on the form and return it. You may name the driver, but you do not have to name close relatives.
- 5Never state something false. Knowingly false statements can be punished.
- 6If you are unsure, get advice from a lawyer before you answer. You may also use the form's date as a guide for when to reply, and ask for more time if needed.
Deadline
The form usually names a date to reply. Reply by that date if you can, or ask the authority for more time. Check your form for the exact date and for what it says about missing it.
If you do nothing
If your personal details are wrong or missing, you must correct them. Refusing to give them, or giving false ones, can be an offence with a fine of up to 1,000 euros (up to 500 euros if by negligence). Otherwise the authority can decide on the evidence it has, and send a Bußgeldbescheid.
Words in this letter
- Anhörungsbogen
- A form that lets you respond to an accusation before a decision.
- Angaben zur Person
- Personal details. You must give these.
- Angaben zur Sache
- Statements about the offence. They are voluntary.
- Betroffener
- The person accused of the offence.
- Zeugenfragebogen
- A different form for people who are not accused, for example the vehicle owner.
Example reply
Give only your personal details and make no statement about the offence.
Betreff: Ihr Schreiben vom [Datum], Aktenzeichen [Aktenzeichen]
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,
zu Ihrem Anhörungsbogen vom [Datum] mache ich folgende Angaben zur Person:
Name: [Vor- und Nachname]
Geburtsdatum und Geburtsort: [Datum, Ort]
Anschrift: [Anschrift]
Staatsangehörigkeit: [Staatsangehörigkeit]
Zur Sache mache ich keine Angaben.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
[Unterschrift]Show English translation
Subject: Your letter dated [date], reference [reference] Dear Sir or Madam, In response to your hearing form dated [date], I give the following personal details: Name: [full name] Date and place of birth: [date, place] Address: [address] Nationality: [nationality] I make no statement about the offence. Kind regards [Signature]
Questions people ask
Do I have to fill in the whole form?
No. You must give personal details. According to the ADAC, everything else is voluntary, and you never have to give information that incriminates you.
What if someone else was driving?
You can say so on the form. You may name the driver. You do not have to name close relatives, such as your spouse, fiancé or parents (they have the right to refuse to testify). If you were not driving, state this and return the form.
What if the pre-printed details are wrong?
Correct them. According to the ADAC, not correcting wrong personal data can be fined with up to 1,000 euros.
Is the Anhörungsbogen a fine?
No. It is a chance to respond. A fine only comes with a Bußgeldbescheid, which you can object to within two weeks.
Sources
Updated 2026-10-20. This page explains a common type of letter; it is not legal advice. Your letter may differ, so check its dates and amounts.