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Truck Driving Bans in Poland 2026

· Applies to trucks over 12 t GVW

No ban right now in Poland. Next ban: Sun, 5 Jul 08:00–22:00 local time.

Poland bans trucks and vehicle combinations over 12 t GVW (buses excluded) on listed public holidays from 08:00 to 22:00 and on the evening before most of those holidays from 18:00 to 22:00. From Friday 26 June to Sunday 30 August 2026 a summer regime adds nationwide bans on Fridays 18:00–22:00, Saturdays 08:00–14:00 and Sundays 08:00–22:00. Unlike Germany, Poland has no year-round Sunday truck ban.

Next 30 days

DateTime (local)Restriction
08:00–14:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
18:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–14:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
18:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–14:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
18:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–14:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
18:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–14:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban
08:00–22:00 Seasonal, over 12 t. Summer weekend ban

Rules & exemptions

BanWhenTimeWhereVehicles
Public holiday ban 12 public holidays listed in the regulation (see 2026 table) 08:00–22:00 All public roads nationwide Vehicles and vehicle combinations over 12 t GVW, buses excluded. Legal basis: § 2 pkt 1 of the rozporządzenie Ministra Transportu z dnia 31 lipca 2007 r. The regulation lists the ban days by name; not every statutory holiday is on the list.
Pre-holiday evening ban Day before each listed holiday from Easter Sunday through Independence Day (§ 2 pkt 2, lit. b–j) 18:00–22:00 All public roads nationwide Vehicles and vehicle combinations over 12 t GVW, buses excluded. No evening ban on 31 December (1 January is excluded from the eve rule), on 24 December (25–26 December are excluded), or on 5 January (6 January carries no ban at all).
Summer weekend ban Every weekend from Friday 26 June to Sunday 30 August 2026 Fri 18:00–22:00, Sat 08:00–14:00, Sun 08:00–22:00 All public roads nationwide Vehicles and vehicle combinations over 12 t GVW, buses excluded. Separate from the holiday regime; if a listed holiday falls in this period, the holiday ban applies that day.

Public holidays with truck bans in Poland 2026

DateHolidayBan timeScope
New Year's Day 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Epiphany (public holiday, NOT listed in the ban regulation) No ban Trucks may drive; no evening ban on 5 January either
Easter Sunday 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Easter Monday 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Labour Day 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Constitution Day (3 May) 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Whit Sunday 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Corpus Christi 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Assumption Day / Armed Forces Day 08:00–22:00 Nationwide; replaces the summer Saturday 08:00–14:00 window
All Saints' Day 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Independence Day 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Christmas Day 08:00–22:00 Nationwide
Second Day of Christmas 08:00–22:00 Nationwide

Summer weekend ban

Friday 26 June – Sunday 30 August 2026 · Fri 18:00–22:00, Sat 08:00–14:00, Sun 08:00–22:00

Runs from the first Friday after the school year ends to the last Sunday before classes resume (§ 2 pkt 3 of the regulation); in 2026 that is 26 June to 30 August. Applies nationwide to trucks over 12 t GVW, in addition to the public holiday regime. 2026 Fridays: 26 June; 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 July; 7, 14, 21, 28 August. Saturdays: 27 June; 4, 11, 18, 25 July; 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 August (on 15 August the full holiday ban 08:00–22:00 applies instead of the 08:00–14:00 window). Sundays: 28 June; 5, 12, 19, 26 July; 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 August.

Exempt from the ban

Police, Road Transport Inspection, Border Guard, customs, armed forces, fire and rescue servicesRescue, humanitarian and disaster-relief operations, breakdown clearanceRoad and bridge construction, maintenance and repair vehiclesLive animal transport; milk, grain and livestock collectionPerishable goods and foodstuffs listed in the regulation's annex (major part of the load)Medicines and medical suppliesDangerous goods in quantities requiring orange warning platesCombined (road-rail) transport; goods unloaded from rail wagons within 50 km of the stationPress and postal consignments forming a major part of the loadConcrete and concrete pumps; municipal waste and liquid waste collectionCoal, coke, other coal-based solid fuels, firewood, pellets and briquettesVehicles returning from abroad to finish a transport operation or reach a consignee based in PolandVehicles that entered Poland outside ban hours, within 50 km of the border crossing, and vehicles queuing at the border to exit PolandSlow-moving agricultural vehicles and farm tractorsEmpty runs to collect an exempt load or returning after delivering one

Fines for violations

6 January and 24 December: holidays without a truck ban

The regulation names its ban days explicitly instead of covering all statutory holidays. Epiphany (6 January, a public holiday since 2011) and Christmas Eve (24 December, a public holiday since 2025) are not on the list in § 2 pkt 1 of the consolidated text (Dz.U. 2023 poz. 2423), so no truck ban applies on either day and no evening ban applies on 5 January or 24 December.

Warsaw restrictions for trucks over 16 t

Warsaw applies its own city rules to vehicles over 16 t GVW: time-window restrictions, destination-traffic exceptions and all-day transit limits depending on the route. These are set by local signage and city regulations, apply on top of the national over-12 t regime, and local signage always takes precedence.

Heat-related temporary bans

During periods of extreme heat Poland can impose temporary daytime driving bans on trucks over 12 t to protect road surfaces. These measures are announced separately when activated and are not part of the fixed holiday or summer calendar.

FAQ

Are trucks banned every Sunday in Poland?

No. Poland has no year-round Sunday truck ban. Sundays are restricted only during the summer regime (08:00–22:00 from 26 June to 30 August 2026) and when a listed public holiday falls on a Sunday.

What weight of truck is affected in Poland?

Vehicles and vehicle combinations over 12 t gross vehicle weight. Buses are excluded.

Is there a truck ban on 6 January (Epiphany) in Poland?

No. Epiphany has been a statutory public holiday since 2011, but the ban regulation lists its ban days by name and 6 January was never added. Trucks run normally on 6 January and there is no evening ban on 5 January.

When is the summer truck ban in Poland in 2026?

From Friday 26 June to Sunday 30 August 2026: Fridays 18:00–22:00, Saturdays 08:00–14:00, Sundays 08:00–22:00, nationwide.

Is there a ban on the evening before public holidays?

Yes. Trucks over 12 t are banned 18:00–22:00 on the day before each listed holiday from Easter Sunday through Independence Day. There is no evening ban on 5 January, 24 December or 31 December.

What are the penalties for violating the Polish truck ban?

200–500 PLN for the driver, 2,000 PLN for the carrier and 1,000 PLN for the person managing transport operations in the company.

Are there extra truck restrictions in Warsaw?

Yes. Warsaw applies local rules to vehicles over 16 t GVW, including time-window limits, destination-traffic exceptions and transit restrictions set by city signage. These apply on top of the national over-12 t regime.

Does Poland ban trucks during heatwaves?

Yes, temporary hot-weather bans on trucks over 12 t can be introduced during extreme heat. They are announced separately when activated and are not part of the fixed calendar.

Official source

Rules can change on short notice. Verify with the official sources above before dispatch.

Country

Trading Sundays: Poland 2026 → Ukraine summer heat truck ban →