Ireland: no nationwide truck driving ban. Local and route restrictions may still apply, see below.
Ireland has no nationwide Sunday or public holiday truck driving ban. Freight may run on Sundays and public holidays without a general calendar restriction. The one significant time-and-area restriction is Dublin City Council's HGV cordon: vehicles with 5 or more axles are banned from the city centre cordon (roughly bounded by the canals) from 07:00 to 19:00 every day unless they hold a permit. A separate cordon around Sandymount applies 24 hours a day.
Next 30 days
Ireland: no scheduled nationwide driving bans. Local and city restrictions are described below.
Public holidays with truck bans — Ireland 2026
| Date | Holiday | Ban time | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | No general ban applies | ||
| St Brigid's Day | No general ban applies | ||
| St Patrick's Day | No general ban applies | ||
| Easter Monday | No general ban applies | ||
| May Bank Holiday | No general ban applies | ||
| June Bank Holiday | No general ban applies | ||
| August Bank Holiday | No general ban applies | ||
| October Bank Holiday | No general ban applies | ||
| Christmas Day | No general ban applies | ||
| St Stephen's Day | No general ban applies |
Exempt from the ban
Fines for violations
- Breach of the Dublin HGV permit scheme terms: fixed charge notice of €200
- Professional driver over the 20 mg alcohol limit but under 80 mg: €200 fine and 3 month driving disqualification
Dublin HGV Cordon / Permit Scheme
Dublin City Council's HGV Management Strategy has operated since 19 February 2007. Vehicles with 5 or more axles are prohibited from two cordon areas unless they hold a valid permit. The city centre cordon, roughly bounded by the canals, applies from 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Sunday. A cordon around Sandymount, including Strand Road, applies 24 hours a day. Vehicles with 4 axles or fewer are not affected. Permits are applied for online at www.hgv.ie up to 14 days in advance. A Load/Unload permit costs €10 per day, is paid by credit card and allows a maximum of five stops inside the cordon. A Restricted Goods Permit, for vehicles carrying goods barred from the Dublin Tunnel, is free and confines the vehicle to East Wall Road and Alfie Byrne Road. Permitted vehicles must stay on designated roads and obey local signs such as 3 tonne weight limits and turn bans. An Garda Siochana enforces the scheme and has direct access to the permit database. Breaching the permit terms carries a fixed charge notice of €200.
Basic driving rules for trucks
Ireland drives on the left and uses km/h, unlike the miles used in the United Kingdom. Goods vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 3,500 kg are limited to 90 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on all other roads. A heavy commercial vehicle drawing a trailer is limited to 90 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on all other roads. Lower posted speed limits always take priority. The alcohol limit for professional drivers is 20 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, compared with 50 mg for fully licensed drivers. A professional driver found over 20 mg but under 80 mg receives a €200 fine and a three month disqualification.
Drivers' hours and tachograph
As an EU member state, Ireland applies the EU rules on drivers' hours and rest periods under Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and the tachograph rules under Regulation (EU) No 165/2014. These govern daily and weekly driving time, breaks and rest for goods vehicles over 3,500 kg. The Road Safety Authority is the enforcement body in Ireland.
FAQ
Are trucks banned on Sundays in Ireland?
No. Ireland has no nationwide Sunday driving ban for trucks. The only Sunday restriction is the Dublin city centre HGV cordon, which applies to vehicles with 5 or more axles from 07:00 to 19:00 every day, including Sunday.
Do public holidays stop truck traffic in Ireland?
No. There is no general public holiday driving ban for trucks in Ireland. Freight may run on all 10 Irish public holidays. Traffic can still be heavier around holidays, but driving itself stays legal.
Do I need a permit to drive an HGV into Dublin city centre?
You need a permit only if your vehicle has 5 or more axles and you enter the city centre cordon (roughly bounded by the canals) between 07:00 and 19:00. Permits are issued by Dublin City Council through www.hgv.ie and can be applied for up to 14 days in advance. A Load/Unload permit costs €10 per day and allows up to five stops. A Restricted Goods Permit for goods barred from the Dublin Tunnel is free. Vehicles with 4 axles or fewer do not need a permit.
What are the Dublin HGV cordon hours and area?
The city centre cordon runs from 07:00 to 19:00 Monday to Sunday and covers the area roughly bounded by the canals. A second cordon around Sandymount, including Strand Road, operates 24 hours a day. Permitted 5+ axle vehicles must use designated roads and follow local signs such as 3 tonne limits and turn bans.
I transit Ireland or Northern Ireland towards Great Britain. Anything to plan for?
The Republic of Ireland is in the EU and Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. Onward travel from the island of Ireland to Great Britain uses ferries, and direct Ireland to continental Europe ferry links are also used for freight. Border-queue and crossing-time information is covered elsewhere on this site.
Which basic road rules apply to trucks in Ireland?
Ireland drives on the left and uses km/h. Goods vehicles over 3,500 kg are limited to 90 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on all other roads. The alcohol limit for professional drivers is 20 mg per 100 ml of blood, lower than the 50 mg limit for fully licensed drivers.
Official source
- Dublin City Council: Transporting Heavy Goods in Dublin City
- Dublin City Council: HGV Management Strategy FAQs
- Dublin City Council HGV Permit Scheme (hgv.ie)
- Citizens Information: Speed limits in Ireland
- Citizens Information: Public holidays
- Road Safety Authority: Heavy commercial vehicles and professional drivers
Rules can change on short notice. Verify with the official sources above before dispatch.