You Ignored the MVG Fine. Here's What Actually Happens Next

The Official Rule

Getting an elevated transport fee notice after a Munich ticket check and deciding to just ignore it, on the theory that it’s a one-time thing that isn’t worth the hassle, is a genuinely common instinct. It’s also one that leads to a specific, escalating chain of consequences that’s worth understanding before deciding to sit on that first notice.

The first step after non-payment is a written Mahnung, a formal payment reminder, and this step itself isn’t free, it typically adds a processing fee of at least 5 euros on top of the original elevated fare. Ignoring the Mahnung as well moves things into more serious territory.

If the Mahnung is also ignored, the case commonly gets handed over to an external Inkasso (debt collection) agency, and that step brings real added cost: by the time collection fees are layered onto the original amount, a fine that started around 60 euros can end up close to 120 euros. From there, a formal court payment order (gerichtliches Mahnverfahren) is a real possibility, bringing court costs into the mix along with the risk of Zwangsvollstreckung, enforced collection through legal channels, if the debt still isn’t resolved.

One persistent myth worth correcting directly: there’s no fixed rule that a criminal complaint (Strafanzeige) only follows exactly three incidents. Whether a transport operator actually files one depends on that specific operator’s internal policy, and some pursue a genuinely zero-tolerance approach, reporting repeat offenders well before hitting any particular fixed number. Treating “three times” as a safe threshold to stay under is a real misunderstanding, not a reliable rule to plan around. If it does escalate to a criminal matter, the underlying offense, Erschleichen von Leistungen under Section 265a StGB, can in the worst case carry a fine or up to a year in prison, and the claim itself remains legally collectible for three years, letting time pass quietly isn’t a way to make the obligation disappear.

What Real People Say

The recurring theme in accounts of this process is that the jump from “I’ll deal with it later” to “now there’s a debt collection agency and the amount has roughly doubled” happens faster and more automatically than people expect, there’s rarely a moment where the process pauses to check whether you genuinely intend to pay eventually. People who’ve been through this describe the first Mahnung as the real decision point, engaging with it, even just to set up a payment plan or dispute a genuine error, tends to head off the more expensive and stressful stages that follow.

On the “three strikes” myth specifically, the consistent correction from people who’ve actually researched their own transport operator’s policy is that it varies, and assuming a safe number of free passes is a risk, not a fact to rely on.

Step by Step

1. Don’t ignore the first notice, an elevated fare that goes unpaid moves to a formal Mahnung, adding a processing fee rather than staying at the original amount.
2. If a Mahnung arrives, engage with it directly, even contacting the transport operator to arrange payment is better than letting it lapse into Inkasso.
3. Understand that Inkasso involvement can roughly double the original cost, from around 60 euros toward 120 euros once collection fees are added.
4. Don’t assume a fixed “three strikes” rule protects you from a Strafanzeige, policy varies by operator, and some report repeat offenders well before any specific count.
5. If the case has already escalated to Inkasso or a court payment order, get individual advice rather than assuming either full liability for every added fee or that you can dismiss the claim by waiting it out.

Compliance Note

This page explains the general escalation process and legal exposure for unpaid MVG elevated transport fees in Germany, current as of mid-2026. It is not legal advice. Specific consequences and fees depend on the transport operator’s policy and your individual case, confirm your specific situation with the transport operator, a Verbraucherzentrale, or a legal advisor.