Each country has its own rules regarding truck driving bans, but usually the restrictions apply for the same period of time, such as weekend or public holiday bans. The driving ban in Europe applies to heavy vehicles – in this case, those with a gross weight of more than 7.5 tonnes. Of course, there are some exceptions to the truck ban in the European Union, which we’ll talk about later in this article.
European countries in which there is no ban on driving trucks
There is no general ban on driving trucks in the following countries:
Albania, Belgium, Belarus, Andorra, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine.
| Country | Special characteristics |
|---|---|
| Albania | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Andorra | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Armenia | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Belgium | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Denmark | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Estonia | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Finland | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Georgia | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Great Britain | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Ireland | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Kazakhstan | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Latvia | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Lithuania | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Malta | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Moldova | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Montenegro | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Netherlands | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Norway | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| North Macedonia | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Portugal | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Serbia | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
| Sweden | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays |
European countries in which there is a ban on driving trucks
Even if there is no total ban on driving trucks, it does not necessarily mean that you can drive anywhere and anytime without restrictions. In Spain, for example, there is no nationwide ban on truck driving, but individual provinces have different rules. In addition, national regulations may apply to the carriage of dangerous goods.
In Ukraine, for example, it is forbidden to drive a truck from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. if the air temperature is higher than +28.
Read also: Calendar of ban on the movement of trucks in Europe
Local authorities can also impose a ban at any time if traffic volumes are expected to increase. If we take Great Britain as an example, there is no nationwide ban, but some routes in the London area have special restrictions.
Bulgaria and Romania are special cases: there are also no general road bans, but there is a strictly differentiated traffic ban for trucks of different weight categories on different routes, on different days and at different times. In the summer, Romania may also introduce regional driving bans due to high temperatures. Therefore, before traveling to Bulgaria or Romania, it is highly desirable to get specific information about the planned route.
In the table is a list of European countries in which the ban on the movement of trucks is in effect:
| Country | Weight | Special characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | 7.5 tons | Prohibition of driving on all roads on Saturdays from 15:00 to 24:00, as well as on Sundays and holidays from 00:00 to 22:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons and for road trains of more than 3.5 tons. t. In addition, the movement of vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons is prohibited on all roads at night from 22:00 to 05:00. |
| Belarus | 6 tons | From the beginning of July to the middle of September, there is a daily traffic ban from 11:00 to 21:00 for vehicles with an axle load of more than 6 tonnes per axle on all motorways where the temperature rises above 25°C. . The movement of these vehicles is allowed from 09:00 to 11:00 in the morning. |
| Bulgaria | 12 tons | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays. But there are some local driving bans. On all highways and certain trunk roads, the movement of vehicles with a total mass of more than 12 tons is prohibited on the last working day before several consecutive holidays from 16:00 to 20:00, as well as on the last day of several consecutive holidays between 14:00 and 20:00: 00 hours From 15.6. the movement of vehicles with a total weight of more than 12 tons is prohibited on certain sections of highways and trunk roads. until 15.9. at the following hours: Friday 16:00 – 20:00, Sunday 17:00 – 21:00. |
| Croatia | 7.5 tons | Prohibition of movement for vehicles whose gross weight exceeds 7.5 t or a length of more than 14 m, as well as for vehicles with a max. speed of 40 km/h on selected main roads in the evenings before public holidays from 15:00 to 23:00, as well as on public holidays from 14:00 to 23:00. Additional ban on driving a vehicle on Sunday from 12:00 to 23:00 if a public holiday or the last day of several consecutive public holidays falls on a Friday or Saturday; on Friday from 15:00 to 23:00 when a public holiday falls on a Sunday or Monday. Prohibition of movement for vehicles whose gross weight exceeds 7.5 t or a length of more than 14 m, as well as for vehicles with a max. speed 40 km/h from 15.6. until 15.9. on some main roads: Saturday 04:00 – 14:00, Sunday 12:00 – 23:00. |
| Czech Republic | 7.5 tons | On Sundays and holidays, the movement of vehicles and road trains with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons is prohibited from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on highways, international and trunk roads. Prohibition on the movement of vehicles and road trains, the total mass of which exceeds 7.5 tons, starting from 1.7. until 31.8. on highways, international and main roads: Friday 17:00 – 21:00, Saturday 07:00 – 13:00, Sunday 13:00 – 22:00. |
| France | 7.5 tons | Starting from the last Saturday in July until the last Saturday in August, there is an additional traffic ban on Saturdays from 07:00 to 19:00 and on the following Sundays from 00:00 to 22:00 for trucks and road trains exceeding 7.5 t gross weight per on all roads, as well as for vehicles transporting dangerous goods, regardless of weight. (Driving is allowed on these Saturdays from 19:00 to 24:00!). There is an exception to the driving ban on Sundays and public holidays for driving to/from the port of Calais (the so-called Corridor de Givelde). It exclusively includes the A 16 from Calais to Belgium (De Panne border) and back, but not the A 26 and A 27. This exception does not apply to the transportation of dangerous goods. This exemption applies in both directions for vehicles traveling between the United Kingdom and Belgium (meaning an international service that actually uses a ferry). A general traffic ban on Saturdays and on the eve of public holidays from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday or on the day off itself for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons on all roads. And also on Saturday (weekends) and Sunday before the holiday from 00:00 to 24:00. |
| Germany | 7.5 tons | Prohibition of movement on Saturdays from 1.7. until 31.8. from 07:00 to 20:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons and for road trains on busy highways and trunk roads in both directions. General traffic ban on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons and for road trains on all roads. |
| Greece | 1.5 tons | Prohibition on the passage of vehicles with a total weight of more than 1.5 tons every Friday from mid-June to mid-September on certain routes from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. when leaving cities, and every Sunday throughout the year. from 15:00 to 21:00/22:00 in the reverse direction. |
| Hungary | 7.5 tons | A general traffic ban on Saturdays and on the eve of public holidays from 10:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Sunday or on the day off itself for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons on all roads. In the winter period from 04.11. until 1.3. the above driving ban does NOT apply to vehicles with engine class Euro 3 and higher in international traffic. If the holiday begins on Saturday or Sunday in the period from 1.9. until 30.6. , the driving ban is valid from 08:00 on the first day to 22:00 on the last day. Prohibition of traffic on all roads from 1.7. and 31.8. every Saturday from 15:00 to Sunday 22:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons. |
| Italy | 7.5 tons | Prohibition of the movement of vehicles and road trains with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tons on Sundays and public holidays on all roads: Sundays in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December from 09:00 to 22:00 .; Sundays in June, July, August and September from 07:00 to 22:00. |
| Liechtenstein | 3.5-5 tons | Prohibition of driving on all roads on Sundays and holidays from 00:00 to 24:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons and for road trains with a weight of more than 5 tons. Night traffic is prohibited on all roads at night from 22:00 to 05:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons and road trains of more than 5 tons. |
| Luxembourg | 7.5 tons | Prohibition on the movement of trucks with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons on all roads for transit towards France from 9:30 p.m. on Saturdays or the evening before public holidays until 9:45 p.m. on Sundays or public holidays, as well as toward Germany from the 23: 30 on Saturdays or the evening before public holidays until 21:45 on Sundays or until the public holiday itself. |
| Poland | 12 tons | From the last Friday of June to the last Sunday of August, there is a ban on the movement of vehicles with a total weight of more than 12 tons on all roads: Friday 18:00 – 22:00, Saturday – 08:00 – 14:00, Sunday – 08:00. :00 – 22:00 Prohibition on the movement of vehicles and road trains with a total weight of more than 12 tons on all roads in the evening before holidays from 18:00 to 22:00 (except 5.1., 24.12. and 31.12.), as well as on holidays from 08.08. :00 and 22:00 (except 6.1.). |
| Romania | 7.5 tons | A year-round ban on the movement of vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons on the national road DN 1 (E 60) in the sections Otopeni – Ploiesti and Ploiesti – Brasov in both directions: from Monday to Thursday from 06:00 to 22:00; Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 00:00 to 24:00. Various bans on the movement of vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons on all public holidays, as well as on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1.7. until 31.8. in separate areas on A2 (over 3.5 t), DN 7, DN 39, DN 22 C . Prohibition on driving due to high temperatures: from 01.07. a temporary ban on the movement of vehicles in regions for which the National Weather Service announced red and orange warning codes. From 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 7.5 t on all highways and national roads in the following regions of Romania: Mehedinci, Gorz, Vilca, Dolj, Olt, Arges, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Dambovitsa, Prahova , Brasov, Kovasna, Buzeu, Jalomitsa, Kalaras, Constanta, Tulcea, Braila, Galaţi, Vranca, Bacău, Vaslui, Niamc, Suceava and Botosani. |
| Slovenia | 7.5 tons | On Sundays, holidays and non-working days, the movement of vehicles and road trains with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons is prohibited from 08:00 to 21:00 on certain sections of roads in both directions. Prohibition on the movement of vehicles and road trains with a gross vehicle weight of more than 7.5 tons from the last weekend of June to the first weekend of September on certain sections of roads in both directions: Saturday 08:00 – 13:00 (or 06:00 – 16:00 ); Sundays, holidays and non-working days 08:00 – 21:00 (or 08:00 – 22:00). |
| Slovakia | 7.5 tons | Prohibition of traffic on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons and for road trains of more than 3.5 tons on highways, international routes and main roads. Prohibition of movement on Saturdays from 1.7. until 31.8. from 07:00 to 19:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 7.5 tons and for road trains of more than 3.5 tons on highways, international routes and main roads. |
| Spain | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays. There are only regional bans on passage and for ADR goods. | |
| Switzerland | 3.5-5 tons | Prohibition of driving on all roads on Sundays and holidays from 00:00 to 24:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons and for road trains with a weight of more than 5 tons. Night traffic is prohibited on all roads at night from 22:00 to 05:00 for vehicles with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons and road trains of more than 5 tons. |
| Turkey | There is no general ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays. Local driving ban: Entry to the city of Istanbul is also prohibited daily for all trucks from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 22:00. | |
| Ukraine | 24 tons | In Ukraine, since July 1, trucks are prohibited from moving when the air temperature exceeds +28 degrees. The ban applies to transport with an actual weight of more than 24 tons. |
Truck driving ban in Europe: traffic ban, truck ban calendar, fines.