Hungary's police record speeding, red lights and other offences with cameras. For these the law makes the car's keeper (üzembentartó) liable, whoever was driving: the police send an administrative fine (közigazgatási bírság) as a decision (határozat), without first telling you a case has started. By law it is between 16,000 and 468,000 forints, set by the offence, and none can be imposed two years after the offence. An officer on the road can also give an on-the-spot fine (helyszíni bírság).
The periods
- 8 days from receiving the decision (a Hungarian car, hire cars too) to send an evidence request (bizonyítási indítvány) or show that someone else had the car.
- 15 days for a car registered in another EU country: the letter comes in a language of that country, with a reply form.
- An appeal, for a fee stated in the decision, has a period of 15 days.
- Payment: within 30 days of the decision becoming final.
Enter the day you received the decision on this page and the site counts the 8 days; a period ending on a weekend or a holiday ends on the next working day.
Someone else was driving — and hire cars
The keeper is not liable if the car had been stolen and reported, or handed to someone else before the offence — sold, lent or rented out. The proof is that person's signed declaration with the plate, their name, date and place of birth, address and the period of use, sent with the reply form attached to the decision. For a hire car the rental company names the hirer, and the fine then comes to you.
Seeing the photo and paying
The photo is on the police portal ugyintezes.police.hu, found with the 9-digit decision number and the plate; pay there or by bank transfer from abroad, quoting the decision number. The police cannot reduce or waive a fine — instalments or a deferral are asked for by post before the deadline. Complaints sent by e-mail are not processed; staff answer in English and German.
Parking tickets
Unpaid or overstayed parking is not a police matter: the municipality's parking operator charges one hour's fee plus a surcharge (pótdíj), smaller if paid within 15 days, forty times the hourly fee after that. The demand must be posted to the keeper within 60 days; the claim lapses after one year and is collected through the court of the keeper's home.
A lawyer for speeding fines can check the decision and prepare the evidence request or the appeal in Hungarian; for other penalties see fines and administrative penalties. No vignette on a motorway is a different letter: see the vignette surcharge.
Prepared by Legal Help Tool. Last updated . General information, not legal advice.
