Speeding 50 km/h or more over: a criminal offence
Since late December 2025, going 50 km/h or more over the limit is no longer a class 5 minor offence: it is a criminal offence that goes on your record.
Extreme speeding, 50 km/h or more over the limit, has been a criminal offence (délit) from the very first time since the new wording of article L413-1 of the French Highway Code came into force at the end of December 2025; it used to be a class 5 minor offence, criminal only for repeat offenders. The penalty is up to 3 months in prison and a €3,750 fine. Prosecutors may instead offer a fixed criminal fine of €300, cut to €250 if paid quickly and raised to €600 if late, which ends the proceedings. A French licence loses half its maximum points, that is 6. A court may suspend the licence for up to three years with no work exemption, cancel it with a ban on reapplying for up to three years, and confiscate the vehicle, which is compulsory for a repeat offence unless the court gives specific reasons. Example: 140 km/h measured by a fixed camera on an 80 road gives 133 km/h recorded, 53 km/h over: the offence.
Criminal offence: fine up to
€3,750
6 points, up to 3 months in prison · 53 km/h over
| Recorded speed (margin 7.0 km/h) | 133 km/h |
| Possible fixed criminal fine | €300 |
| reduced / increased | €250 / €600 |
| Points deducted | 6 |
| Licence suspension risked | up to 3 years |
| If stopped: licence seized | 72 h, then up to 6 months |
| Points back with no new offence | after 3 years |
On a 80 km/h road, fixed camera: penalty by measured speed
| Measured from | Recorded | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 86 km/h | 81 km/h | €68 | 0 |
| 90 km/h | 85 km/h | €68 | 1 |
| 106 km/h | 100 km/h | €135 | 2 |
| 116 km/h | 110 km/h | €135 | 3 |
| 127 km/h | 120 km/h | €135 | 4 |
| 137 km/h | 130 km/h | offence, €300 (fixed) | 6 |
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
From what speed
| Limit | Recorded from | Fixed camera: measured from | In-car camera: measured from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 km/h | 80 km/h | 85 km/h | 90 km/h |
| 50 km/h | 100 km/h | 106 km/h | 112 km/h |
| 70 km/h | 120 km/h | 127 km/h | 134 km/h |
| 80 km/h | 130 km/h | 137 km/h | 145 km/h |
| 90 km/h | 140 km/h | 148 km/h | 156 km/h |
| 110 km/h | 160 km/h | 169 km/h | 178 km/h |
| 130 km/h | 180 km/h | 190 km/h | 200 km/h |
In town, 106 km/h measured where 50 is allowed is enough. On a motorway, 190 km/h measured by a fixed camera is recorded as 180 km/h: 50 km/h over, hence the offence, whereas 188 km/h would stay a class 4 minor offence.
The penalties, one by one
Article L413-1 provides up to 3 months in prison and a €3,750 fine, plus, as additional penalties: suspension of the licence for up to three years, which the court may not limit to driving outside work; a ban on driving certain vehicles for up to 5 years; cancellation of the licence with a ban on applying for a new one for up to 3 years; an awareness course at the offender’s expense; confiscation of a vehicle the offender owns.
Before the reform, 50 km/h over was a class 5 minor offence (up to €1,500), criminal only for a repeat. Decree 2025-1269 repealed article R413-14-1, which provided for it.
Speeding 50 km/h over: the offence
Offence from a measured speed of
137 km/h
| Fixed criminal fine | €250 / €300 / €600 |
| In court: up to | €3,750, 3 months |
| Points | 6 |
When stopped: seizure and immediate suspension
A driver stopped at the roadside has the licence seized, then suspended by the prefect for up to 6 months pending the court’s decision. The vehicle may be immobilised and impounded. The procedure is on the licence suspension page.