Unsecured transport of furniture on a car roof in Germany: the offence that starts with a falling piece and ends with a heavy fine
Transporting a table or a mattress on the roof of a car may seem simple to many people – just a quick rope and an old blanket. In Germany, however, this is not seen as a casual improvisation, but as a load transport that is subject to strict rules on safety and legal liability.
If any part of the load falls off, regardless of whether damage occurs or not, you may face a heavy fine, points in Flensburg, and in serious cases even criminal charges if people are injured or property is damaged.
When is transport considered “unsecured” under the law?
According to § 22 StVO (German Road Traffic Regulations), anyone transporting a load – including furniture on the roof – must ensure that:
the load is secured so that it cannot move or fall off
the permitted dimensions for length, height and width are not exceeded
suitable securing equipment is used (such as proper ratchet straps, not just simple ropes)
the load does not block visibility, signals, lights or the licence plate
Any breach of these requirements is considered unsecured load (ungesicherte Ladung).
What happens if the furniture falls off the roof?
Even if no damage occurs, loss of load is considered a serious traffic offence and will be punished.
If the falling load causes property damage, traffic disruption or injury to a person, the case can quickly escalate into a criminal investigation, on top of the traffic fine.
Legal penalties
| Type of offence | Fine | Points | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Load not adequately secured | €35 | 0 | minor offence, no damage |
| Unsecured load causes a danger | €60 | 1 | e.g. visible movement or strong wobbling |
| Load falls off, no direct damage | €75–100 | 1 | usually involves police or road services |
| Falling load causes damage or injuries | €120–200 | 1–2 | plus possible civil claims or criminal case |
| Gross negligence or repeated offences | up to €500 + licence suspension | 2 | at the discretion of the court |
Real-life examples
In Frankfurt, a mattress fell from a car roof on a motorway, forcing another car to swerve and leave the lane. Although no one was injured, the driver received:
a €150 fine
1 point in Flensburg
an order to attend a safety briefing at TÜV
In another case in Berlin, a driver transported a wardrobe on his car roof without adequate securing. It fell onto a parked car and caused extensive damage. The result:
€4,200 in compensation for the damage
plus an official fine for unsecured load
How to secure the load correctly
Use ratchet straps (Spanngurte) with a minimum lashing capacity of around 400 daN
Prevent sliding by using anti-slip mats (Antirutschmatten) under the furniture
Secure the load at the front, rear and sides
Re-check straps and stability after a few kilometres and then every 50–100 km
Conclusion
Transporting furniture on the car roof without professional securing is not only unsafe, but also a costly legal offence that can quickly escalate into a criminal case if any damage or injury occurs.
In Germany, the law makes no distinction between a moving company and a private driver: whoever loads something onto a vehicle is fully responsible for anything that may fall off.
Protect yourself, your car and others – and secure every item properly.
The editorial team of this website endeavours to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors or incomplete details may occur. Please treat the information in this article as an initial reference and always consult the competent authorities for binding, up-to-date information.
