2026 driving ban calendar: by country and by date
Two views. “By country” — pick a country and scroll through the months: days with bans are colour-coded, along with public holidays when warehouses are often closed. “By date” — pick a day and see at once every country with a ban on that day. Handy when a trip crosses several countries.
In most of Western and Central Europe, trucks over 7.5 t do not drive on Sundays and public holidays, and in summer on some Saturdays too. The strictest rules are in Switzerland and Austria, which add a night ban. The most relaxed are the Netherlands, Belgium, Lithuania and the United Kingdom, where there is no general ban.
At a glance
- Bans mainly apply to vehicles with a maximum permitted weight above 7.5 t. Exceptions: in Poland the ban starts only at 12 t, while in Switzerland it already applies from 3.5 t.
- The typical window is Sundays and public holidays until about 22:00. After 22:00 most countries open their roads again.
- In summer, Saturdays are added: in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia. For planning, these are the hardest days of the year.
- Holidays count in the country where the truck is driving at the time. In Germany, some holidays apply only in certain federal states.
- Exemptions usually cover perishable food, live animals and combined transport. Ordinary general cargo normally does not qualify.
Table: truck driving bans by country in 2026
The table shows the general rules for curtainsider trucks. Many countries also have local restrictions for specific roads, tunnels, cities or roadworks.
| Country | Vehicles affected | Sundays and holidays | Summer 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | over 7.5 t and trucks with trailers | 0:00–22:00 | Saturdays from 4 July to 29 August, 7:00–20:00, on certain motorways |
| France | over 7.5 t | from 22:00 on Saturday (or the eve of a holiday) to 22:00 on Sunday (or the holiday) | Saturdays 11, 18 and 25 July, 1 and 8 August, 7:00–19:00. In winter, 7, 14, 21, 28 February and 7 March, 7:00–18:00 on roads to Alpine resorts |
| Italy | over 7.5 t | 9:00–22:00; June to September 7:00–22:00 | Fridays and Saturdays are added in July and August — 79 days in total over the year. For vehicles arriving from abroad the ban starts 4 hours later; for vehicles heading abroad it ends 2 hours earlier |
| Spain | over 7.5 t | no general ban: restrictions on specific roads and on peak travel days | weekends and holidays in July–August, at peak hours on some roads. Catalonia, the Basque Country and Navarre have their own rules |
| Austria | over 7.5 t; with a trailer if the trailer or tractor exceeds 3.5 t | from 15:00 on Saturday to 22:00 on Sunday; holidays 0:00–22:00. Plus every night 22:00–5:00 (with exemptions for low-noise vehicles) | the Brenner corridor (A12, A13) has additional restriction days |
| Switzerland | over 3.5 t | all day; plus every night 22:00–5:00. No ban on 26 December 2026, as Christmas falls on a Friday | — |
| Poland | over 12 t | public holidays only: 8:00–22:00, on the eve 18:00–22:00. No ban on ordinary Sundays, 6 January or 24 December, and no evening ban on 24 and 31 December | from 26 June to 30 August: Friday 18:00–22:00, Saturday 8:00–14:00, Sunday 8:00–22:00 |
| Czechia | over 7.5 t — on motorways and class I roads | 13:00–22:00 | 1 July to 31 August: Friday 17:00–21:00, Saturday 7:00–13:00 |
| Slovakia | over 7.5 t, and over 3.5 t with a trailer — on motorways, expressways and class I roads | 0:00–22:00; from 1 September 2026, 6:00–22:00 | Saturdays from 1 July to 31 August, 7:00–19:00 |
| Hungary | over 7.5 t | from 22:00 on Saturday (or the eve of a holiday) to 22:00 on Sunday (or the holiday). From 4 November to 1 March the ban does not apply to international transport with Euro 3 or newer vehicles | 1 July to 31 August the ban starts at 15:00 on Saturday. 8 August 2026 is a working Saturday, so there is no summer ban that day |
| Slovenia | over 7.5 t | 8:00–22:00; Good Friday 14:00–22:00 | Saturdays from 27 June to 5 September, 8:00–13:00; on the Primorska motorway and some other roads 6:00–16:00 |
| Luxembourg | over 7.5 t — only in transit towards France and Germany | from 21:30 on Saturday (from 23:30 towards Germany) to 21:45 on Sunday. Holidays are French or German, depending on the direction | — |
| Netherlands, Belgium | — | no general ban | — |
| Lithuania, Norway | — | no general ban | — |
| United Kingdom | — | no general ban. In London, vehicles over 18 t face night and weekend restrictions (London Lorry Control Scheme) | — |
Checked against official sources on 27 September 2026 — see the list at the end of the article. Authorities can add extra bans for holidays and major events, so before an important shipment check the current calendar or ask us.
Germany: 2026 public holidays with a truck ban
In Germany the 0:00–22:00 ban applies not only on Sundays but also on public holidays. Some holidays are regional: on those days the ban applies only in the listed federal states.
| Date | Holiday | Where the ban applies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day | nationwide |
| 3 April | Good Friday | nationwide |
| 6 April | Easter Monday | nationwide |
| 1 May | Labour Day | nationwide |
| 14 May | Ascension Day | nationwide |
| 25 May | Whit Monday | nationwide |
| 4 June | Corpus Christi | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| 3 October | German Unity Day | nationwide |
| 31 October | Reformation Day | Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia |
| 1 November | All Saints’ Day | Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland |
| 25–26 December | Christmas | nationwide |
In summer there is also a “holiday traffic” ban: every Saturday from 4 July to 29 August 2026, from 7:00 to 20:00, on the sections of the main motorways used by holidaymakers.
Summer 2026: the hardest weekends
When a trip crosses several countries, the bans add up. The toughest period runs from 11 July to 8 August: on those Saturdays bans apply at the same time in France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Czechia. A truck that did not get through France on Friday evening may stand for almost two days — from Saturday morning to Sunday evening. Summer Saturday bans also apply in Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia.
How a ban shifts delivery: an example
A truck loads in Germany on Friday at 15:00 and heads for Spain. Under EU rules a single driver drives up to 9–10 hours a day. Saturday is spent in France, and at 22:00 the weekend ban begins there, so the truck stands until 22:00 on Sunday. The same shipment loaded on Thursday unloads as early as Monday.
Hence a simple rule: when planning, look not only at the distance but also at which days the transit falls on. The same trip can take 2 days or 4, depending on the loading date.
Shipper’s checklist
- Check weekends along the entire route, not just in the countries of loading and delivery.
- Take the destination country’s holidays into account. The consignee’s warehouse may be closed even if trucks are allowed to drive.
- In summer, allow extra time for Saturdays — especially for transit through France, Germany and Italy.
- Do not count on exemptions. Relief for perishable goods does not extend to ordinary cargo.
- Ask the carrier for a trip plan: where the truck will wait out the ban and when it will unload.
How we handle it
We plan every trip around the bans in all the countries along the way. That is why our quote comes with a realistic unloading date, not one based on distance alone. If loading falls on an awkward day, we will suggest another option — for example, loading the day before. Every truck has GPS and dispatch is available 24/7, so you always know where your cargo is, even when the truck is waiting out a weekend.
Questions and answers
Does the ban apply to an empty truck?
In many countries, yes. In Germany, for example, the ban also covers empty runs connected with commercial transport.
Can a truck drive on Sunday after 22:00?
In most countries, yes: the ban ends at 22:00. The exceptions are Switzerland and Austria, where a separate night ban applies until 5:00.
Do bans apply to trucks up to 7.5 t?
As a rule, no. But in Switzerland restrictions already apply from 3.5 t, while in Poland, on the contrary, only from 12 t.
Where can I check the current dates?
On official websites: BALM in Germany, Bison Futé in France, the Ministry of Transport in Italy, DGT in Spain. Links are at the end of the article.
Sources
- Germany — BALM (Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility): truck driving bans
- France — Bison Futé: calendar of additional bans for 2026
- Italy — Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport: Decree No. 325 of 12.12.2025, 2026 calendar
- Spain — DGT: traffic restrictions
- Austria — WKO: truck driving bans
- Poland — Ministry of Infrastructure: restrictions for trucks
- Slovakia — Road Traffic Act No. 8/2009, § 39
- Hungary — Government Decree No. 190/2008 on restricting heavy truck traffic
- Slovenia — Promet.si: general restrictions for trucks
- Luxembourg — Grand Ducal Police: restrictions for trucks
- Switzerland — Traffic Regulations Ordinance (VRV), Art. 91; Czechia — Ministry of Transport; London — London Councils, London Lorry Control Scheme
- 2026 public holiday dates — Nager.Date
Writes for shippers about trip planning, truck loading and paperwork.