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DE

Bußgeldstelle (fines office)

Anhörungsbogen (hearing form) received: do I have to answer?

What this letter means

The Anhörungsbogen (hearing form) is not yet a decision (Bescheid). The Bußgeldstelle (fines office) tells you what you are accused of, for example speeding, and gives you the chance to comment. Only after that does it decide whether to close the case or to issue a Bußgeldbescheid (fine notice).

You must give your personal details: name, date and place of birth, address, marital status, occupation and nationality. Anyone who refuses to give these details or gives false details commits an administrative offence themselves.

You do not have to say anything about the accusation. You may tick that you admit the offence, give an explanation, or remain silent. Remaining silent does not mean you admit anything.

If you are contacted not as the person concerned (Betroffener) but as a witness (Zeuge), for example as the vehicle keeper when another person was driving, you receive a Zeugenfragebogen (witness form). If you are a close relative of the person who was driving, you may refuse to give evidence.

What to do now

  1. 1Check whether you are contacted as the person concerned (Betroffener) or as a witness (Zeuge); this is stated at the top of the form.
  2. 2Fill in your personal details completely.
  3. 3Decide whether you want to comment on the accusation; you can also send back only your personal details.
  4. 4If you were not the driver, you can say so; whether you name the driver is your decision, and as a relative you have the right to refuse to give evidence (Zeugnisverweigerungsrecht).
  5. 5Write any comment in German; the templates (Vorlagen) on this site are in German.
  6. 6Keep a copy of your answer and note the date you sent it.

How you can reply

Give only your personal details

You fulfil your duty and leave the accusation open. The proceedings continue, and you can later file an Einspruch (objection) against a Bußgeldbescheid.

Ask to see the file (Akteneinsicht)

Before you comment on the accusation, you can look at the file, for example the photo and the measurement record. The authority allows the person concerned to see the file as long as this does not put the investigation at risk.

Template: Akteneinsicht bei einer Behoerde beantragen

Make a statement

If the accusation is wrong, for example because you can prove you were somewhere else at the time, write this in a factual way and enclose evidence.

Common questions

What happens if I ignore the Anhörungsbogen?

The hearing (Anhörung) is an offer to comment. If you do not answer, you give up this chance. The authority can then decide without your side of the story and send a Bußgeldbescheid. If it cannot find out who was driving, the vehicle keeper may have to keep a Fahrtenbuch (logbook of journeys).

Do I have to say who was driving?

As the person concerned, you do not have to incriminate yourself. As a witness you are generally obliged to give evidence, but you may refuse if the person who was driving is a close relative, for example your spouse, child or sibling.

I only got a parking ticket. What can happen to the vehicle keeper?

If, for a parking or stopping offence, it cannot be found out who parked the car, the authority can order the vehicle keeper to pay the costs of the proceedings. Against this decision on costs (Kostenbescheid) you can apply for a court decision (Antrag auf gerichtliche Entscheidung) within two weeks of delivery.

Sources (German law and official pages)

  1. § 55 Anhörung des Betroffenen (OWiG)
  2. § 46 Anwendung der Vorschriften über das Strafverfahren (OWiG)
  3. § 136 Erste Vernehmung (StPO)
  4. § 111 Falsche Namensangabe (OWiG)
  5. § 52 Zeugnisverweigerungsrecht der Angehörigen (StPO)
  6. § 49 Akteneinsicht des Betroffenen und des Verletzten (OWiG)
  7. § 25a Kostentragungspflicht des Halters eines Kraftfahrzeugs (StVG)
  8. § 31a Fahrtenbuch (StVZO)

Research as of: 10 November 2026