Riding without a ticket costs €60
Schwarzfahren
Travelling by train, bus or tram without a valid ticket costs at least €60, and it can be a criminal offence.
The rule
In Germany there are usually no gates at stations. You buy the ticket before you get on, and inspectors check at random.
Some paper tickets must be stamped (entwerten) in a small machine before the journey. An unstamped ticket counts as no ticket.
If you have no valid ticket, you pay an "increased fare" (erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt): twice the normal fare, at least €60.
If you had a valid personal ticket (for example a Deutschlandticket or a semester ticket) but forgot it at home, you can usually show it at the transport company's office within one week and pay only €7.
Riding without a ticket is also a criminal offence in Germany (Erschleichen von Leistungen). Companies often report people who are caught again and again.
What it costs
| If you… | Fine or cost |
|---|---|
| No valid ticket | twice the fare, at least €60 |
| Valid personal ticket forgotten, shown within a week | €7 |
| Reported to the police (often after repeated cases) | a fine or, in serious cases, up to 1 year in prison |
India vs Germany
In India, the TTE sells you a ticket with a penalty on the train. In Germany, inspectors in plain clothes ask for your ticket, and saying "I will buy one now" does not help.
German words for this
- die Fahrkarte / das Ticket · ticket
- entwerten · to stamp (a ticket)
- die Fahrkartenkontrolle · ticket inspection
- schwarzfahren · to ride without a ticket
Official sources
Last checked: 8 November 2026, against the official sources named on each page. General information for learners, not legal advice: rules can change and some depend on your state or city. If something matters for you, check the official source or ask the office.
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