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The police offered me an on-the-spot fine for a traffic offence: what happens if I do not pay?

In short

You do not have to pay, but if you don't, things can get worse. The public prosecutor's office can offer a higher settlement, which may be followed by a payment order increased by 35% or a case at the police court.

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This rule in 72 seconds
Video transcript

The police stopped you and offered an immediate payment of 64 €. You're not planning to pay. It depends: You don't have to pay, but it can get worse: a higher settlement offer, then a payment order increased by 35%, or court. The right way: Pay by card on the spot or by bank transfer within 10 days using the form you're given. If you live in Belgium, no cash. Example: 1st degree: Immediate payment: 64 € + 10,67 €; Settlement: 94 € + 10,67 €; Payment order: Increased by 35%.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • For minor offences, the police offer you an amount to pay: an on-the-spot fine (onmiddellijke inning / perception immédiate). If you pay, the case is normally closed. However, within one month the public prosecutor can still inform you by registered letter that they will prosecute anyway.
  • If you live in Belgium, you cannot pay the police in cash. You pay by card on the spot, or by bank transfer within 10 days using the form you are given.
  • An on-the-spot fine is not possible if you are under 18 or if you have caused damage to someone else. If you live in Belgium, it is also not possible in these cases: a 4th-degree offence; a total amount above 382 €; a 3rd-degree offence found together with another offence; driving far over the speed limit. Far over means more than 30 km/h over the limit in built-up areas, 30 zones, school zones, residential areas (woonerf) and shared spaces (erf), or more than 40 km/h over on other roads.
  • If you do not pay, the public prosecutor's office can offer a higher settlement (minnelijke schikking / transaction). If you do not pay that either, you may receive a payment order (bevel tot betalen / ordre de paiement) increased by 35%. The prosecutor can also summon you to the police court.
  • Pay the payment order within 30 days, or contest it at the police court within that period. A payment order that is neither contested nor paid is enforced by FOD Financiën.

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
2026 amounts (wegcode.be). On-the-spot fine: 1st degree 64 €, 2nd degree 128 €, 3rd degree 191 €. Settlement: 1st degree 94 €, 2nd degree 176 €, 3rd degree 259 €. Administrative costs of 10,67 € are added; for a payment order or a court fine, the costs are 30,56 €. For speeding, the amount depends on how many km/h you were over the limit.

Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 65 §1wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad

Court / prison
No prison sentence. Fine at the police court (excluding costs): 1st degree 100 € – 2.500 €, 2nd degree 200 € – 2.500 €, 3rd degree 300 € – 5.000 €, 4th degree 400 € – 5.000 €.

Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §1-2 (Justel)wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad

What really matters: the indirect consequences

What do these terms mean?

On-the-spot payment
A fixed amount offered by the police. If you pay, the case is closed and does not go to court. If not, the prosecutor takes over; the amount can rise and the case can go to court.
Police court
The court for traffic offences and appeals against GAS fines. Despite the name, it is not part of the police; an independent judge decides.

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

This system allows minor offences to be dealt with quickly and cheaply, without going to court, leaving the courts free for serious cases. For people who do not pay, the amounts increase step by step so that the penalty cannot simply be ignored.

Where can you go?

  • Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
  • Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
23 / 23 statements in an official source
Checked: 02.11.2026
Last checked
22.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 23 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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