Public transportation in Stuttgart

The fine for riding without a valid ticket on public transportation has gone up from 40 to 60 Euros as of July 2015 in most cities. I wasn't up to date since it's been a while since I made the mistake of not having the proper ticket. I can also add that one can NOT talk ones way out of a ticket. If you think you have a valid excuse then there is a special office you can go to and discuss it. The controllers will not cut you a break for any reason. I've know people to get angry and say; "I just won't pay". Well, it automatically goes to court where you inevitably lose and then pay the additional court costs and penalties adding good 500 or more euros to the bill.

A couple of things to add. In the Stuttgart S-Bahn, there is a 1st class section in addition to the normal 2nd class. There is a glass partition and door that separates the two. Although there is a "1" on the door, if one is not used to the system or it is crowded, then one could easily overlook this. Don't make the mistake of ending up in 1st class because your 2nd class ticket will be like having no ticket at all. You will pay a big fine, not just the difference in tariffs if controlled. Also, with the  daily or weekend group tickets, one can add additional people, up to 5 for just an additional 5 Euro per person. So it really pays off to find friends or even spontaneous people at the station to share the ride and costs with.

There are also weekly, monthly or yearly passes for commuters, which allow unlimited travel within a certain area (typically between your home and work). This is a good deal if you travel daily. Visit an SSB or VVS office to get one.
It often pays to also include the two inner city zones (if not already included in your commute), because then you can go to the city without additional cost and as often as you like.
Another option for the yearly passes is called "TicketPlus": Pay approx. EUR10/month more and your pass becomes transferable, i.e. you can give it to your friends to use when you don't need it, and it is also valid for two people (or more kids) during off-peak hours.

The TicketPlus Beppi mentioned is a very good deal for many families. I had one for about 5 years. Never gave it to my friends but my wife and I both used it extensively. Not only is it transferable (usable by anybody) but after 7 pm on weekdays and the whole day Saturdays and Sunday - two adults and 3 children (under 17) or all of your own kids can ride together. Another big plus on the weekends is that it is valid for the whole VVS System and not just the specific zones paid for. It usually cost a lot to go to the outlying zones so this is great for weekend trips in the region.

One drawback to a transferable  pass, rather than personal one, is that you have to have the pass with you. With a personal one, if you get controlled and you can later prove that you have a years pass, they can’t fine you. With a transferable one, someone else could be using it at the same time, so this doesn’t work.

The other thing is the cost. About 7 years ago I paid a bit more than 700 Euros for a 2 zone TicketPlus pass. Now it cost 956 Euros. I also stopped going to my Taekwondo training which meant 2 or 3 times a week using the ticket for both zones. Most of my current usage is short routes and I can often take advantage of the special short ride tickets for just € 1,30. But I am planning to sell my car since I have joined the Stadtmobil car sharing program and in combination a year’s pass might make sense again. Which pass if any is best all depends on your personal usage.