Switzerland’s record speeding fine: €246,200 for a Ferrari Testarossa

In Switzerland, authorities have recorded the largest speeding fine to date. The driver of a Ferrari Testarossa was caught by radar near St. Gallen at 137 km/h on a stretch limited to 80 km/h—57 km/h over the limit.

The penalty exceeded €246,200 and was entered into the Guinness World Records. The amount was calculated under a Swiss system in which the punishment depends on the offender’s income and assets; the court took into account that the driver’s wealth was estimated at roughly €19.3 million.

The case dates back to January 2010. An aggravating factor was the driver’s prior record for similar violations in the country. In Switzerland, repeat offenses weigh heavily on the severity of the sanction.

Local practice rests on the idea that money should not buy impunity: a fine has to be felt regardless of means. This episode stands as a clear example of how strictly the country enforces its speed limits. And in a car like the Testarossa, where speed can feel deceptively effortless, that hard line serves a purpose.

The story also underlines that when choosing and operating powerful cars, it’s crucial to account for local rules: not every country treats violators the same, no matter what sits in the garage.