Short answer: in Germany, trucks over 7.5 t and trucks with trailers may not drive on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00, and in summer (1 July – 31 August) also on Saturdays from 07:00 to 20:00 on listed motorway sections. In Austria, the weekend ban runs from Saturday 15:00 to Sunday 22:00 (holidays 00:00–22:00), and trucks over 7.5 t also face a night ban from 22:00 to 05:00 every day.
Driving bans change the timing of a trip more than its cost — but a truck that waits a whole Sunday at the border still costs a day of fixed costs. Plan them into the delivery date and the quote.
Germany
Sunday and public holiday ban (§ 30 (3) StVO)
- Vehicles: trucks with a permissible maximum mass over 7.5 t, and trailers behind trucks, when used for commercial freight transport.
- Time: Sundays and public holidays, 00:00 – 22:00.
- Roads: all public roads.
Nationwide public holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, 1 May, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, 3 October (German Unity Day), 25 and 26 December. Regional holidays such as Corpus Christi, Reformation Day and All Saints' Day apply only in the federal states where they are public holidays.
Main exemptions:
- combined transport rail–road (up to 200 km) and port–road (up to 150 km)
- fresh perishables such as milk, dairy products, fresh meat, fresh fish and fresh fruit and vegetables
- certain animal by-products, emergency vehicles and a few other special cases
Summer Saturday ban (Ferienreiseverordnung)
- Period: every Saturday from 1 July to 31 August.
- Time: 07:00 – 20:00.
- Vehicles: trucks over 7.5 t and trucks with trailers, for commercial freight transport including related empty runs.
- Roads: only the motorway and federal road sections listed in the regulation — not the whole network.
Austria
Weekend and holiday ban
- Vehicles: trucks with trailers where the truck or the trailer is over 3.5 t, and trucks, articulated vehicles and self-propelled machines over 7.5 t.
- Time: Saturday 15:00 – 24:00 and Sundays and public holidays 00:00 – 22:00.
Note that the Austrian ban already starts on Saturday afternoon and covers lighter combinations than the German ban.
Night driving ban
- Vehicles: trucks over 7.5 t.
- Time: every day 22:00 – 05:00.
- Low-noise exception: certified low-noise trucks may drive at night if they carry the proof, but at a maximum of 60 km/h (80 km/h where the authorities allow it).
Exemptions and extra bans
Exemptions exist mainly for local supply, such as food transport. During holiday travel periods, additional bans may be imposed on specific routes — check them before planning a summer trip through Austria.
Germany vs. Austria at a glance
| Germany | Austria | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend ban starts | Sunday 00:00 | Saturday 15:00 |
| Weekend ban ends | Sunday 22:00 | Sunday 22:00 |
| Vehicles | > 7.5 t, trucks with trailers | > 7.5 t, combinations with a vehicle > 3.5 t |
| Night ban | none | 22:00 – 05:00, > 7.5 t |
| Summer Saturdays | 07:00 – 20:00 on listed roads (1 Jul – 31 Aug) | additional route bans possible |
Planning tips for dispatchers
- A Friday departure can hit two bans. A truck crossing into Austria on Saturday afternoon may stand still until Sunday 22:00.
- Check the holiday calendar of every country on the route, including regional holidays in Germany.
- Include standing time in the quote. Fixed costs keep running during a ban.
Calculate the trip
Logist Calculator shows fuel prices and driving restrictions on its fuel prices & restrictions page and calculates the full cost of a trip — route, fuel, tolls for every European country and your vehicle's fixed costs. The first 10 calculations are free.
Related: Germany truck toll 2026 · Austria GO toll 2026 · How to calculate truck cost per km
FAQ
Can trucks drive on Sundays in Germany?
Trucks over 7.5 t and trucks with trailers may not drive on Sundays and public holidays between 00:00 and 22:00, unless an exemption applies (for example fresh perishables or combined transport).
When does the weekend truck ban start in Austria?
On Saturday at 15:00. It ends on Sunday at 22:00.
Is there a night driving ban for trucks in Austria?
Yes. Trucks over 7.5 t may not drive between 22:00 and 05:00, except certified low-noise trucks at a maximum of 60 km/h.
Does the German Saturday ban apply all year?
No. It applies only on Saturdays from 1 July to 31 August, from 07:00 to 20:00, on the road sections listed in the Ferienreiseverordnung.
As of September 2026. Driving bans can change; check the official sources before planning.