---
title: "Truck Driving Bans in Europe — Week 17, 2026-04-20 to 2026-04-26"
canonical: "https://nakordoni.eu/en/news/2026-04-20/traffic-bans-week-2026-17"
lang: "en"
type: "news"
source: "nakordoni.eu — border and travel news"
---

# Truck Driving Bans in Europe — Week 17, 2026-04-20 to 2026-04-26

20.04.2026 09:00    [Mira Kurhanska](https://nakordoni.eu/en/p/authors)     Editor: [Andrii Kurhanskyi](https://nakordoni.eu/en/p/authors)    Service Nakordoni.eu

This article covers a past period. [Current calendar of truck driving bans in Europe →](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/traffic_bans)

(image: Aerial view of highway, traffic jam, green forest, Netherlands)Shutterstock / contributor 301539971 (shutterstock-standard)

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## 15 Countries, 2 Heavy Ban Days: Sunday 26 April is the Critical Bottleneck

This week, 15 European countries enforce truck driving bans, with **only two exceptional full-day or holiday-specific windows**: Saturday 25 April (partial-day bans in 9 countries) and Sunday 26 April (full-day bans in 12 countries). Routine nightly bans (22:00–05:00) apply daily in Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein but are not counted as exceptional. All bans apply to **goods vehicles (HGV/TIR)**; passenger vehicles, coaches, and often empty containers are exempt. Drivers planning cross-border routes must prioritize the Alpine corridor (A12 Inntal, A13 Brenner) and main transit routes (A4 Poland, A1 Germany, A2 Italy), where enforcement is strictest and penalties highest.

## Date-by-date breakdown

### Monday 20 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All public roads | Urgent medical supplies, military |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |

Routine night bans only. No exceptional restrictions.

### Tuesday 21 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All public roads | Urgent medical supplies, military |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |

Routine night bans only. No exceptional restrictions.

### Wednesday 22 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All public roads | Urgent medical supplies, military |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |

Routine night bans only. No exceptional restrictions.

### Thursday 23 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All public roads | Urgent medical supplies, military |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |

Routine night bans only. No exceptional restrictions.

### Friday 24 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All public roads | Urgent medical supplies, military |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |

Routine night bans only. No exceptional restrictions.

### Saturday 25 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–05:00; 11:00–15:00; 15:00–24:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | 16:00–20:00 | >12t | Highways and selected national roads (I and II class) | Perishable goods, live animals, military |
| 🇫🇷 France | 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All roads | Perishable goods, livestock, fuel |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 15:00–23:00 | >7.5t (or trailers >14m) | Selected main roads and motorways | Perishable goods, live animals, fuel |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All public roads | Perishable goods, live animals, transit with vignette |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 09:00–22:00 | >7.5t | All roads outside urban areas | Perishable goods, live animals, fuel, ATP certificate |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–05:00; 22:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 21:30–24:00; 23:30–24:00 | >7.5t | All roads | Perishable goods, fuel |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 18:00–22:00 | >12t | All public roads | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |

**Critical day for the Alpine corridor**: Austria’s **A12 Inntal and A13 Brenner** enforce additional bans 07:00–15:00 (towards Italy/Germany). Italy’s nationwide ban (09:00–22:00) affects all extraurban roads. Plan routes through Slovenia or Hungary if possible.

### Sunday 26 April

| Country | Time | Applies to | Roads | Exemptions |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | 00:00–22:00; 22:00–24:00 | >7.5t | All motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 00:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All public roads | Urgent medical supplies, military |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | 13:00–22:00 | >7.5t (or >3.5t with trailer) | Motorways, expressways, 1st class roads | Perishable goods, live animals, fuel |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 00:00–22:00 | >7.5t | All federal roads and motorways | Fresh food, mail, empty containers |
| 🇫🇷 France | 00:00–22:00 | >7.5t | All roads | Perishable goods, livestock, fuel |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | 14:00–23:00 | >7.5t (or trailers >14m) | Selected main roads and motorways | Perishable goods, live animals, fuel |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | 00:00–22:00 | >7.5t | All public roads | Perishable goods, live animals, transit with vignette |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | 09:00–22:00 | >7.5t | All roads outside urban areas | Perishable goods, live animals, fuel, ATP certificate |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein | 00:00–24:00 | >3.5t | All roads | Same as Switzerland |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | 00:00–21:45 | >7.5t | All roads | Perishable goods, fuel |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 08:00–22:00 | >12t | All public roads | Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | 06:00–22:00 | >7.5t | National roads DN1, DN7, selected highways | Perishable goods, dangerous goods (ADR), TEN-T transit |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | 08:00–22:00 | >7.5t | Motorways and expressways | Perishable goods, live animals, dangerous goods (ADR) |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | 00:00–22:00 | >7.5t (or >3.5t with trailer) | All roads | Perishable goods, live animals, fuel |

**Worst day of the week**: Full-day bans in Switzerland (00:00–24:00) and Liechtenstein (00:00–24:00) block all transit through the Alps. Germany, France, Italy, and Poland enforce near-full-day restrictions. Avoid cross-border routes unless carrying exempt goods.

## Country-by-country rules & penalties

### 🇦🇹 Austria

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: All motorways and expressways (Autobahnen & Schnellstraßen) | Recurring pattern: Saturdays 15:00–24:00, Sundays & holidays 00:00–22:00 | Penalties: €150–€5,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport, vehicles in direct transit to/from rail terminals. **A12 Inntal & A13 Brenner**: additional Saturday ban 07:00–15:00 (towards Italy/Germany).

### 🇩🇪 Germany

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: All federal roads and motorways (Bundesstraßen & Autobahnen) | Recurring pattern: Sundays & public holidays 00:00–22:00 | Penalties: €75–€525

Exemptions: Fresh food, mail, empty containers returning to base, combined transport.

### 🇫🇷 France

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: All roads nationwide | Recurring pattern: Saturdays 22:00–Sunday 22:00 | Penalties: €135–€750

Exemptions: Perishable goods, livestock, fuel, humanitarian shipments.

### 🇮🇹 Italy

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: All roads outside urban areas (extraurbane) | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 09:00–22:00 (winter) | Penalties: €419–€1,682

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, fuel, newspapers, postal deliveries, vehicles with ATP certificate.

### 🇨🇭 Switzerland

Weight: >3.5t | Roads: All public roads nationwide | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 00:00–24:00 | Penalties: CHF 100–10,000

Exemptions: Very limited: urgent medical supplies, military. Most cargo has **no exemption**.

### 🇵🇱 Poland

Weight: >12t | Roads: All public roads | Recurring pattern: Sundays & public holidays 08:00–22:00 | Penalties: PLN 500–10,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, combined transport, fuel, mail, humanitarian aid, empty vehicles returning to base. **Note**: Poland’s threshold is >12t, meaning lighter trucks (<12t) are **not banned**.

### 🇭🇺 Hungary

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: All public roads | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 00:00–22:00 (April–September) | Penalties: HUF 30,000–300,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, vehicles in transit with valid Hungarian motorway vignette.

### 🇨🇿 Czech Republic

Weight: >7.5t (or >3.5t with trailer) | Roads: Motorways, expressways, 1st class roads | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 13:00–22:00 | Penalties: CZK 5,000–100,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, fuel, postal deliveries, combined transport.

### 🇸🇰 Slovakia

Weight: >7.5t (or >3.5t with trailer) | Roads: All roads | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 00:00–22:00 | Penalties: €150–€1,500

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, fuel. General exemption 00:00–06:00 for combined transport.

### 🇸🇮 Slovenia

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: Motorways and expressways | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 08:00–22:00 | Penalties: €500–€2,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, dangerous goods with valid ADR.

### 🇱🇺 Luxembourg

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: All roads | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays (direction-specific) | Penalties: €50–€500

Exemptions: Perishable goods, fuel.

### 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein

Weight: >3.5t | Roads: All roads | Recurring pattern: Same as Switzerland | Penalties: CHF equivalent

Exemptions: Same as Switzerland — very limited.

### 🇭🇷 Croatia

Weight: >7.5t (or trailers >14m) | Roads: Selected main roads and motorways | Recurring pattern: Sundays & holidays 14:00–23:00 | Penalties: HRK 3,000–15,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, fuel, humanitarian transport.

### 🇧🇬 Bulgaria

Weight: >12t | Roads: Highways and selected national roads (I and II class) | Recurring pattern: Public holidays all day, day before holidays 16:00–20:00 | Penalties: BGN 500–2,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, live animals, military, diplomatic vehicles. Uses [Orthodox Easter](https://nakordoni.eu/en/holidays) calendar.

### 🇷🇴 Romania

Weight: >7.5t | Roads: National roads DN1, DN7, selected highways | Recurring pattern: Weekends & public holidays | Penalties: RON 3,000–9,000

Exemptions: Perishable goods, dangerous goods with valid ADR, vehicles in international transit on TEN-T corridors. Uses [Orthodox Easter](https://nakordoni.eu/en/holidays) calendar.

## Plan Your Route

- **Check timing before departure**: Sunday 26 April is the most restrictive day, with full-day bans in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Avoid cross-border routes unless carrying exempt goods.
- **Use rest areas during bans**: Austria’s **A12 Inntal** and **A13 Brenner** enforce additional Saturday bans (07:00–15:00). Use truck parkings near border crossings (e.g., Brennersee, Kufstein).
- **Alternative routes**: For Italy-bound cargo, consider Slovenia (A1) or Hungary (M1/M7) to bypass Alpine restrictions. Poland’s >12t threshold allows lighter trucks to operate freely.
- **Buffer time near borders**: Enforcement is strictest at border crossings (e.g., Brenner, Tarvisio, Görlitz). Allow 1–2 hours extra for checks.

## Useful Tools for Truck Drivers

- [Interactive Traffic Bans Calendar](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/traffic_bans) — full ban schedule with filters
- [Live Traffic Incidents Map](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/traffic) — real-time road closures and delays
- [Truck Parkings Map (19,000+)](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/parkings) — find parking during ban hours
- [Speed Cameras (48,000+)](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/speed_cameras) — radar and camera locations
- [European Vignettes & Tolls](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_car_drivers/vignettes) — e-vignette prices for 9 countries
- [Truck Drivers Portal](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers) — all tools in one place
- [European Holidays Calendar](https://nakordoni.eu/en/holidays) — public holidays affecting truck bans

Source: [nakordoni.eu — Truck Traffic Bans Calendar](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/traffic_bans) | Updated: 20.04.2026

This report is compiled automatically from our monitoring data; the analysis is written with the help of artificial intelligence. The editor is responsible for corrections.

Translated automatically from the Ukrainian original and checked by our editorial team. The Ukrainian version is authoritative.

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[Original source](https://nakordoni.eu/en/for_truck_drivers/traffic_bans?utm_source=nakordoni.eu)

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Updated 29.10.2026 14:25