HGV Driving Ban in Germany

Germany has strict driving bans for HGVs to promote road safety and reduce the burden on infrastructure. These restrictions are particularly important for hauliers, logistics planners, and drivers transporting goods through Germany. In this blog, we cover the most important rules, public holidays with driving bans, and exceptions, so you can plan your transport activities optimally.

What is the driving ban in Germany?

The driving ban in Germany applies to HGVs and tractor-trailer combinations with a total weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes, as well as truck-trailer combinations regardless of weight. These vehicles are prohibited from driving on the German road network on Sundays and public holidays between 00:00 and 22:00. This ban applies to both loaded and empty journeys related to the carriage of goods.

However, there are exceptions to the driving ban in Germany

Not all road transport or goods are subject to the driving ban. The following transports are exempt:

• Fresh dairy products, meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables (perishable goods);
• Vehicles involved in combined rail/road or road/water transport:
  • A maximum of 200 km between the loading or unloading address and the nearest railway station.
  • A maximum of 150 km as the crow flies between the loading or unloading address and a sea or inland port.
• Special transports such as emergency relief and medical transport.

For transports outside of these exceptions, it is possible to apply for an exemption, depending on the nature of the cargo and the necessity of the transport. You can find more information about exemptions from TLN as an entrepreneurial organisation and NIWO.

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Driving bans on Sundays and public holidays

The driving ban is in effect on Sundays and official public holidays. Below is an overview of the public holidays on which HGVs are prohibited from driving:

National public holidays with a driving ban:	Date
New Year’s Day	January 1
Good Friday	varies (April 18, 2025 & April 3, 2026)
Easter Monday	varies (April 21, 2025 & April 6, 2026)
Labour Day	May 1
Ascension Day	varies (May 29, 2025 & May 14, 2026)
Whit Monday	varies (June 9, 2025 & May 25, 2026)
German Unity Day	October 3
Christmas Day and Boxing Day	December 25 and 26

Additionally, when transporting through Germany, it is important to take regional differences into account, as not all federal states apply the same driving bans.

Regional public holidays with driving bans in Germany	Federal States
Corpus Christi – This is celebrated on the 10th day after Pentecost.	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland.
Reformation Day (October 31)	Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.
All Saints’ Day (November 1)	Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland.

Additional driving bans in the summer (holiday period)

From July 1 to August 31 inclusive, an additional driving ban applies on all Saturdays between 07:00 and 20:00, known as the ‘Ferienreiseverordnung‘. This ban applies to specific sections of motorways and Bundesstraßen (federal highways) to reduce traffic congestion during the summer months.

Affected motorways (Autobahn)	Locations
A1	Erfttal motorway triangle via Leverkusen-West motorway junction, Wuppertal, Kamener Kreuz, Münster to the Lohne/Dinklage junction.
A2	from Oberhausen motorway junction to Bad Oeynhausen motorway junction.
A3	Oberhausen motorway junction to Köln-Ost motorway junction, from Mönchhof Dreieck via Frankfurter Kreuz to Nürnberg motorway junction.
A5	Hattenbacher Dreieck to Bad Homburger Kreuz, from Darmstädter Kreuz to the Karlsruhe-Süd junction and from the Offenburg junction to the Neuenburg motorway triangle.
A6	Schwetzingen-Hockenheim junction to Nürnberg-Süd motorway junction.
A7	Schleswig/Jagel junction to Bordesholm motorway triangle, from the Soltau-Süd junction to the Göttingen-Nord junction, from the Schweinfurt/Werneck motorway triangle via Biebelried motorway junction, Ulm/Elchingen motorway junction, and Allgäu motorway triangle to the end of the motorway at the Füssen border crossing.
A8	Karlsruhe motorway triangle to the München-Obermenzing junction and from the München-Ramersdorf junction to the Bad Reichenhall junction.
A9/E51	Berliner Ring (Leipzig split/Potsdam motorway triangle) to the München-Schwabing junction.
A10	Berliner Ring, from the Werder motorway triangle via the Potsdam-Nord junction to the Berlin-Spandau junction.
A45	from the Dortmund-Süd junction via Westhofener Kreuz and Gambacher Kreuz to the Seligenstädter Dreieck.
A61	Meckenheim motorway junction via Koblenz motorway junction to Hockenheim motorway triangle.
A67	Darmstädter Kreuz to Viernheimer Dreieck.
A81	Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen junction to the Gärtringen junction.
A92	München-Feldmoching motorway triangle to the Oberschleißheim junction and from the Neufahrn motorway junction to the Erding junction.
A93	Inntal motorway triangle to the Reischenhart junction.
A99	München Süd-West motorway triangle via München-West motorway junction, München-Allach motorway triangle, München-Feldmoching motorway triangle, München-Nord motorway junction, München-Ost motorway junction, München-Süd motorway junction to the München/Eschenried motorway triangle.
A831	Stuttgart-Vaihingen junction to the Stuttgart motorway junction.
A980	Allgäu motorway junction to the Waltenhofen junction.
A995	Sauerlach junction to the München-Süd motorway junction.

Affected federal roads (Bundesstraßen)	Locations
B31	Stockach-Ost junction of the A98 to the Sigmarszell junction of the A96.
B96/E251	the Berlin border to the B104 in Neubrandenburg.

Fines and penalties for violating the driving ban

Those who ignore the driving ban in Germany can expect a substantial fine and penalty points:

• Fine for the driver and 1 penalty point
• Fine for the haulier and 1 penalty point
• In serious cases, a driving disqualification may be imposed in Germany.

These rules are enforced by the German police and traffic authorities (the German equivalent of the RDW). Hauliers must be aware of the risks and fines that may follow a violation.

Practical tips

To navigate driving bans in Germany and avoid fines, thorough planning is essential. Here are some tips:

• Plan your journeys carefully and take the driving bans into account.
• Choose alternative routes or departure times outside of the prohibited periods.
• Use multimodal transport, such as a combination of road and rail transport or shipping.
• Always inform your customers about potential delays during transport through Germany.
• Check for exemptions in good time if you need to carry out urgent transport.

EASY summary

The driving ban in Germany plays a major role in road transport and logistics planning. By staying informed about the rules, public holidays, and exceptions, hauliers can avoid delays and fines. Plan your journeys carefully and make use of alternative transport options to operate as efficiently as possible.

Would you like to know more about specific exemptions or current driving bans? Please contact us. We can explain it the EASY way or arrange it for you.