In certain cases, it is not possible for us to send an invoice or reminder directly to a vehicle owner due to data protection or administrative reasons.
This can result in you receiving a penalty application or a court summons without a prior invoice/reminder.
Below we explain the reasons for this and the corresponding procedures.
🔒 1. Restricted owner information by some road traffic offices
In Switzerland, not all road traffic offices release owner data in the same way.
In some offices, due to cantonal data protection regulations or an activated information block, the disclosure of owner information to third parties – including Beppo or the parking lot owner – is prohibited.
➡️ This means:
In these cases, it is not possible for us to send invoices or reminders by post.
After the payment deadline expires (for example, with a parking ticket on the vehicle), we are obliged to immediately submit a penalty application to the competent authority.
The further process then takes place via the police and the court.
💡 Example:
In some cantons (e.g., Vaud), owner data is not transmitted to private applicants when an information block is active, while other cantons allow a case-by-case review and inspection.
💡 Recommendation:
If you have an information block in place, pay attention to notices on the vehicle – payment requests attached there already count as the first invoice.
🌍 2. Vehicles with foreign license plates
For vehicles with a foreign license plate, it can also happen that no owner data can be determined.
➡️ This particularly occurs when:
the responsible authority abroad does not transmit data to Swiss authorities,
the vehicle is registered to a foreign company or leasing company, or
no international owner information is available.
In these cases, sending an invoice or reminder is not possible, and after the deadline expires, we are also obliged to immediately submit a penalty application to the competent authority.
🏠 3. Postal delivery not possible or address unclear
Occasionally, the owner data can be determined, but delivery by post is not possible – for example, due to the following circumstances:
You have moved without notifying your new address to the road traffic office,
the mailbox is not properly labelled, or
the address is outdated or incorrect.
⚖️ 4. Reasons for directly receiving a penalty application
It can therefore happen that you receive no invoice or reminder, but immediately a letter from the police or the court.
This does not mean that an invoice was deliberately not sent to you, but that no legally permissible or practical delivery was possible.
📋 The most common causes are:
🔒 Data protection or information block (depending on the road traffic office)
🏠 Unreported address change
✉️ Undeliverable mail (mailbox or address)
🌍 Foreign license plate – no data transmission from abroad
🚗 Known driver did not pay the invoice
💡 Please note:
Even if the invoice was not sent to you by post, the civil claim remains legally valid.
🧭 Overview of the process with blocked owner data or undeliverable invoice/reminder
| Situation | Possible measure | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 🔒 No data disclosure by the road traffic office | Delivery not permitted (e.g., due to data protection or block) | Direct penalty application to the competent authority |
| 🌍 Foreign license plate | No owner data available from abroad | Direct penalty application to the competent authority |
| 🏠 Mail undeliverable / address unclear | Address check via registers | If check unsuccessful → penalty application |
| 🚗 Known driver, but no payment | No payment despite notification | Penalty application or debt collection |
💡 How to avoid a direct summons
Always report address changes immediately to the road traffic office.
If you have set up an information block, regularly check your vehicle for payment requests.
For foreign vehicles, please check whether your home country transmits owner data to Switzerland.
Respond promptly as soon as you receive an invoice or reminder.
Pay on time to avoid additional costs, fines, or proceedings.
📝 Summary:
In some cantons, road traffic offices are not permitted to release owner data due to data protection regulations, and with foreign license plates, data is often not ascertainable.
In these cases, sending an invoice or reminder is not possible – after the payment deadline, a penalty application must be submitted immediately.
A parking ticket attached to the vehicle counts as the first invoice.
The simplest solution is to keep your address always up to date, observe deadlines, and pay early to avoid unnecessary proceedings.