Fines for overloading – what you need to know

European countries approach road traffic fines very individually: There is neither a centralised overview of all fine catalogues nor a Europe-wide uniform catalogue for traffic offences.

Platforms such as the ADAC fine calculator provide information on fines in different countries, but these are limited to common traffic offences and camper-specific violations such as overloading are usually not included.

Information on fines for overloading in the DACH region:

The German Road Traffic Act (StVO) provides for a fine as a sanction – as well as penalty points in the driving record – depending on how much the permitted weight has been exceeded.

The fine catalogue distinguishes between passenger cars, lorries, and the extent of the overloading. For vehicles over 7.5 tonnes, the law also differentiates between the driver and the registered keeper, and – if they are not the same person – both can receive a fine and penalty points.

In Germany, there is a 2% tolerance for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes and a 5% tolerance for vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes – exceeding these thresholds may result in penalties. For an overview of penalties for overloading, see the fine catalogue, broken down into:

• Cars with trailer or caravan
• Motorhomes
• Lorries

Example:

Driving record

This official register (Fahreignungsregister) records legally binding traffic offences. These are scored according to type and severity, and deleted after 2, 5 or 10 years, depending on the seriousness of the offence. When a total of 8 points is accumulated in the register, the driving licence is withdrawn – usually for at least six months, after which a new application can be made.

Austria does not have a centralised fine catalogue; here, inspectors set the level of fines for individual offences locally, within the legal framework. Fines vary according to the seriousness of the offence and type of vehicle. There is no tolerance for overloading of 2% and 5% as in Germany. In addition, inspectors can prohibit onward travel.

Example: In a motorhome, if you exceed the permissible weight by more than 5%, the penalty can be between €170 and €210, while exceeding 15% can result in a report to the authorities and an individually determined penalty. For motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes, this already applies from over 5% overloading. For particularly serious offences, the fine can reach up to €5,000. In addition, the driver or keeper must pay the cost for weighing the vehicle.

Information on loads, overloading and possible fines can be found on the websites of the Austrian Automobile, Motorbike and Touring Club (ÖAMTC) or the Austrian Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology.

The situation in Switzerland is similar: For overloading of more than 5%, the fine is set individually, and fines are generally based on the vehicle or combination's weight class. There is also a threat of criminal charges and a subsequent driving ban in Switzerland. In addition, any excess weight must be offloaded before travel can continue.

Example: In Switzerland, overloading is charged from the very first kilo: Up to 100 kg overloading can cost around €85, overloading between 100 kg and 5% of the permitted weight leads to fines ranging from around €170 to €220. Over 5% triggers an individually set penalty.

On the website of the Touring Club Switzerland (TCS), you will find detailed information on traffic rules and fines in Switzerland, including those for overloading. The complete list of fines in Switzerland can be viewed at: https://www.fedlex.admin.ch

You can find the permissible gross weight in the vehicle documents. If you want to make sure that you have not overloaded the transporter, you should calculate the total loaded weight of the vehicle before starting your journey. To do this, use the unladen weight of the vehicle without the driver and with a full tank as your starting point. Subtract this from the permissible gross weight. The difference is the maximum total payload allowed, including the driver.

Note: The weight of any additional passengers must also be taken into account.

Most often, you can weigh the transporter at the place where it is loaded for business purposes. If you use the vehicle as a private person, there are alternatives such as scales at local recycling centres. On average, the service costs between 5 and 10 euros.

Note: Although such facilities are usually close by, you may be subject to police checks on the way. Even if you are on your way to a public weighbridge, overloading is still considered a violation of road traffic regulations, specifically the Road Traffic Act.

A pro tip: Thanks to innovative lightweight technology, a lightweight AL-KO VT chassis can make a decisive difference in saving weight, without compromising the transporter's stability. Enjoy the benefits: You’ll be able to increase your payload, supply more customers per day and save time. This improves your profitability.

Once you have registered, you will receive exclusive information on products, innovations, offers and more direct to your email inbox.