France moves to end paper traffic fines and put all payments online
Online platform set to simplify administrative procedures and end the problem of fines getting lost in the post
No date has been set for the new digital system to fully replace paper fines
Pixavril/Shutterstock
All traffic fines are to become fully digital under French government proposals, allowing drivers to receive, pay, and / or contest penalties through a secure online platform.
The plans for a secure space dedicated to traffic fines were confirmed by French public finance body la direction g茅n茅rale des Finances publiques on June 10, 2025, as part of a wider push towards cutting paper waste.
While no date has been set for the digital system to fully replace paper fines, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has confirmed that the proposals are moving forward, accompanied by efforts to improve the accuracy of address data.
鈥淭hose involved in the fine management chain are already working to improve the reliability of notifications to users based on the identity information available to the tax authorities,鈥� said Mr Retailleau.
He added that the new system will draw on data from income tax declarations, which 鈥渨ill be used to verify addresses, providing a more reliable system than the current vehicle registration database.鈥�
Fines from automated traffic controls, eg speed cameras, are sent to the registered owner of the vehicle, using the address recorded in the Syst猫me d鈥橧mmatriculation des V茅hicules (SIV).
If the fine is sent to the wrong address, recipients cannot initiate payment or contest the fine, potentially resulting in increased fines for late payment.
As tax records, which include addresses, are submitted annually they will comprise the most up to date information hence using this data is more reliable.
The Interior Ministry has given no clarification as to how this may affect those who do not pay tax in France or those using a foreign licence.
Just as with French drivers, those with foreign licences who are stopped by police for a minor infraction, or caught on camera committing one, may receive a fine.
Those triggered by cameras are sent in the post along with a notification about the offence.
This system works for drivers with French licences as well as for those from other countries with an agreement on the exchange of driver details.
Since Brexit the DVLA does not allow the French authorities access to the addresses of UK drivers, however despite this 62,780 fines were sent to UK addresses in 2023 alone.
