A Volkswagen Golf managed to get a $208,000 parking fine at Berlin Airport
- A grey fifth-gen Volkswagen Golf has been parked outside Berlin airport for over a year
- It has amassed a fine of over $200,000 and it’s steadily growing
- The authorities have no idea who the car belongs to and have declared it abandoned
Published on Feb 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Feb 10, 2025 at 7:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A mysterious grey Volkswagen Golf has been parked outside Berlin Airport for over a year with no sign of the owner anywhere – and has got itself a rather hefty fine.
The fifth-generation VW Golf looks in great condition, even having a tow bar installed on it, so its complete abandonment has baffled the public, police, and authorities.
Up until now it has been completely impossible for anyone to locate an owner and it’s state looks like it was abandoned in quite a hurry.
The parking fine has increased to more than $200,000 and the questions remain: where is the owner and why did they leave in such a hurry?
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The Golf has a fine that is 66 times the price of the car
A mysterious grey fifth-generation VW Golf has been parked outside Berlin airport for well over a year and has not moved one inch.
It is completely confusing the authorities because the owner has been impossible to find.
The car is parked in a short stay spot which is free for the first 10 minutes but then costs $24 per extra hour. This means that the daily fee alone is $573.
The Golf’s stay has been anything but short and so the fine has now reached $207,000, 66 times the price of a VW Golf on the used-car market.
Tracking down the owner
No one is able to find an official owner of the car, and even if they did, how could they be convinced to spend so much on the fine?
There is much speculation surrounding the car, including theories that it was a getaway car and the license plates have been switched to the current Hanover ones it has now.
The inside of the car looks to have been abandoned in a hurry, with the remains of someone’s lunch scattered inside and a half-drunk water bottle.
Whoever the car belongs to is going to have a nasty shock when they get back from vacation…
Daisy is a technology journalist, covering artificial intelligence, consumer tech, Apple news, cryptocurrency, digital business, and emerging technologies. Since joining the team in 2025, she has reported on everything from AI-powered startups and major iOS updates to viral tech hacks and the latest developments in the digital economy. Drawing on her background in automotive journalism and a degree in History and Journalism from Goldsmiths, University of London, Daisy specializes in breaking down complex technology stories into clear, engaging reporting for a global audience. Her work focuses on the products, platforms, and innovations that are transforming the way people work, communicate, and interact with technology. Daisy has gained first-hand access to some of the world's most talked-about technologies and innovators, including meeting Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot during its first European appearance in London. She has also discussed the future of space exploration with an astronaut, bringing unique insights and real-world perspectives to her coverage of emerging technology.
