German driving ban
Germany has strict driving bans for trucks to promote road safety and relieve the infrastructure. These restrictions are especially important for hauliers, logistics planners and drivers who transport goods through Germany. In this blog, we will discuss the most important rules, public holidays with driving bans and exceptions, so that you can optimally plan your transport activities.
What is the driving ban in Germany?
The driving ban in Germany applies to trucks and tractor-trailer combinations with a total weight of more than 7.5 tonnes, as well as to truck-trailer combinations, regardless of weight. These vehicles are not allowed to drive 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 in connection with the transport of goods.
But 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, fruits and vegetables (perishable goods);
- Vehicles involved in combined rail/road or road/water transport:
- At a Maximum of 200 KM between loading or unloading address and the nearest train station.
Maximum 150 km as the crow flies between the loading or unloading address and a sea or inland port.
- Special transports such as emergency and medical transport.
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Driving bans on Sundays and public holidays
On Sundays and official holidays the driving ban is in effect. Below is an overview of the holidays on which trucks are not allowed to drive:
National holidays with driving ban: | Date |
|---|---|
New Year’s Day | 1 January |
Good Friday | varies (April 18, 2025 & April 3, 2026) |
Easter Monday | varies (April 21, 2025 & April 6, 2026) |
Labor Day | May 1st |
Ascension Day | varies (May 29, 2025 & May 14, 2026) |
Whit Monday | varies (June 9, 2025 & May 25, 2026) |
Day of German Unity | October 3rd |
First and Second Day of Christmas (Boxing day) | December 25th & 26th |
In addition, it is important to take regional differences into account when transporting through Germany, as not all states apply the same driving bans.
Regional holidays with driving bans in Germany | States |
|---|---|
Scaramentstag – 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-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia. |
All Saints Day (November 1) | Baden-Württemberg, Beieren, Noordrijn-Westfalen, Rijnland-Palts, Saarland. |
Additional driving bans in the summer (holiday period)
From 1 July to 31 August, an additional driving ban known as the ‘Ferienreiseverordnung’ applies on all Saturdays between 07:00 and 20:00. This ban applies to specific sections of motorways and Bundesstraßen in order to reduce traffic during the summer months.
| Affected motorways (Autobahn) | Locations |
|---|---|
| A1 | Autobahndreieck Erfttal via Autobahnkreuz Leverkusen-West, Wuppertal, Kamener Kreuz, Münster to the Lohne/Dinklage connection. |
| A2 | from Autobahnkreuz Oberhausen to Autobahnkreuz Bad Oeynhausen. |
| A3 | Autobahnkreuz Oberhausen to Autobahnkreuz Köln-Ost, from Mönchhof Dreieck via Frankfurter Kreuz to Autobahnkreuz Nürnberg. |
| A5 | Hattenbacher Dreieck to Bad Homburger Kreuz, from Darmstädter Kreuz to Karlsruhe-Süd and form Offenburg to Autobahndreieck Neuenburg. |
| A6 | aansluiting Schwetzingen-Hockenheim to Autobahnkreuz Nürnberg-Süd. |
| A7 | from Schleswig/Jagel to Autobahndreieck Bordesholm, from Soltau-Süd to Göttingen-Nord, from Autobahndreieck Schweinfurt/Werneck via Autobahnkreuz Biebelried, Autobahnkreuz Ulm/Elchingen and Autobahndreieck Allgäu till the eind of the motorway Füssen. |
| A8 | Autobahndreieck Karlsruhe to München-Obermenzing and München-Ramersdorf to Bad Reichenhall. |
| A9/E51 | Berliner Ring (afsplitsing Leipzig/Autobahndreieck Potsdam) to München-Schwabing. |
| A10 | Berliner Ring, from Autobahndreieck Werder via Potsdam-Nord to Berlin-Spandau. |
| A45 | From Dortmund-Süd via Westhofener Kreuz and Gambacher Kreuz to Seligenstädter Dreieck. |
| A61 | Autobahnkreuz Meckenheim via Autobahnkreuz Koblenz to Autobahndreieck Hockenheim. |
| A67 | Darmstädter Kreuz to Viernheimer Dreieck. |
| A81 | Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen to Gärtringen. |
| A92 | Autobahndreieck München-Feldmoching to Oberschleißheim and from Autobahnkreuz Neufahrn to Erding. |
| A93 | Autobahndreieck Inntal to Reischenhart. |
| A99 | Autobahndreieck München Süd-West via Autobahnkreuz München-West, Autobahndreieck München-Allach, Autobahndreieck München-Feldmoching, Autobahnkreuz München-Nord, Autobahnkreuz München-Ost, Autobahnkreuz München-Süd to Autobahndreieck München/Eschenried. |
| A831 | Stuttgart-Vaihingen to Autobahnkreuz Stuttgart. |
| A980 | Autobahnkreuz Allgäu to Waltenhofen. |
| A995 | Sauerlach to Autobahnkreuz München-Süd. |
| Federal roads involved (Bundesstraßen) | Locations |
|---|---|
| B31 | Stockach-Ost from A98 to Sigmarszell from A96. |
| B96/E251 | the broder from Berlijn to B104 in Neubrandenburg. |
Fines and sanctions for violating the Driving Ban
Anyone who ignores the driving ban in Germany can expect a hefty fine and penalty points:
- Fine for the driver and 1 penalty point
- Fine for the carrier and 1 penalty point
- In serious cases, a driving ban may be imposed in Germany.
These rules are enforced by the German police and traffic authorities (the German RDW). Carriers must be aware of the risks and fines that can follow in case of violation.
Practical tips
To avoid driving bans in Germany and fines, good planning is very important. Here are some tips:
- Plan your journeys carefully and take driving bans into account.
- Choose alternative routes or departure times outside the prohibited periods.
- Use multimodal transport, such as a combination of road and rail or shipping.
- Always inform your customers about possible delays during transport through Germany.
- Check for exemptions in good time if you need to carry out urgent transport.
EASY summarized
The driving ban in Germany plays a major role in road transport and logistics planning. By staying up to date on the rules, holidays and exceptions, carriers can avoid delays and fines. Plan your journeys carefully and use alternative transport options to operate as efficiently as possible.
If you want to know more about specific exemptions or current driving bans, please consult the official sources of the German traffic authorities.
Calculate your transport costs in under 2 minutes!
Do you want to know the costs of transporting your goods from A to B? The price calculator lets you calculate your transport costs. No more surprises for you!