Truck driving bans in Europe
Overview of the fixed weekend and public holiday bans in the main countries. Always check the current calendar before you leave.
Driving bans are national rules, not EU rules. They sometimes change, and extra bans are often added in summer and around public holidays. This table gives the fixed basic rules. Check the current calendar before every trip.
Overview
| Country | Fixed ban | Who it applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Sundays and public holidays 00:00 – 22:00. In July and August also Saturdays 07:00 – 20:00 on certain motorways | Trucks over 7.5 tonnes and trucks with a trailer |
| France | Saturday 22:00 – Sunday 22:00 and from the evening before a public holiday until 22:00 on the public holiday. Extra bans in summer and around Paris and Lyon | Over 7.5 tonnes |
| Austria | Saturday 15:00 – Sunday 22:00 and on public holidays. In summer, extra bans on Saturdays on tourist routes. There are also night bans and sectoral bans (e.g. Tyrol) | Over 7.5 tonnes |
| Italy | Sundays and public holidays 09:00 – 22:00. Extra bans in summer, also on Saturdays | Over 7.5 tonnes |
| Poland | Bans in the summer season (weekends) and on a number of public holidays | Over 12 tonnes |
| Belgium | No general weekend ban. However, there are overtaking bans for trucks, including in rain or snow and on some motorways | — |
| Netherlands | No general weekend ban. However, there are local restrictions (e.g. environmental zones and delivery time windows in cities) | — |
Exemptions
Most countries have exemptions, for example for perishable goods, empty runs under an exemption, or combined transport to and from a station or port. The conditions differ per country and often require documents that prove the exemption applies.
A driving ban and your rest periods
A driving ban is often a good time for a weekly rest period. Remember: a regular weekly rest period (45 hours or more) may not be spent in the cab. So plan accommodation in advance (see Where can you rest?).