Which public holidays in Germany in 2027 carry a truck driving ban?

In 2027 the German holiday truck ban applies on 2027-01-01, 2027-03-26, 2027-03-29, 2027-05-01, 2027-05-06, 2027-05-17, 2027-10-03, 2027-12-25 and 2027-12-26. It covers trucks over 7.5 t and any truck with a trailer, from 00:00 to 22:00. Corpus Christi and All Saints add regional bans.

Which weekdays in 2027 lose a driving day to a holiday?

Five nationwide holidays fall on a working weekday: Friday 2027-01-01, Good Friday on 2027-03-26, Easter Monday on 2027-03-29, Ascension on 2027-05-06 and Whit Monday on 2027-05-17. Two more land on a Saturday, 2027-05-01 and 2027-12-25, and both still carry the full ban. German Unity Day on 2027-10-03 and the second Christmas Day on 2027-12-26 fall on Sundays, so they add no extra day. The ADAC 2027 holiday calendar confirms the weekdays.

The first half of the year is the tight stretch, because Ascension and Whit Monday sit eleven days apart in May. Check each date against your routes with the Germany 2027 holiday calendar , and use the Europe-wide 2027 holiday ban guide for the other countries on the same trip.

What does the German holiday truck ban cover?

Section 30(3) of the StVO bans trucks with a permissible gross weight over 7.5 t, and trailers behind trucks, on Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00. The federal freight office BALM adds that the rule covers commercial or paid transport of goods, including connected empty runs. The window ends at 22:00 on the holiday itself, so a truck may move again from that hour.

The text lists exemptions, among them rail-road combined transport, certain fresh and perishable foods and breakdown recovery vehicles. Read the exact wording before relying on one, because each exemption has conditions.

Which regional holidays add a truck ban in 2027?

Section 30(4) names three regional holidays. Corpus Christi on Thursday 2027-05-27 applies in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. All Saints on Monday 2027-11-01 applies in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Reformation Day on 2027-10-31 applies in nine northern and eastern states, but it falls on a Sunday, so it changes nothing.

Other state holidays, such as Epiphany on 2027-01-06, are not on the section 30(4) list and carry no truck ban. Check the states on your route, and plan loads with a carrier that tracks these dates. Request a quote for German lanes planned around the 2027 ban days.

Frequently asked questions

Does the ban apply when a holiday falls on a Saturday?

Yes. Section 30 applies the same 00:00 to 22:00 window to every listed holiday, whatever the weekday. Saturday 2027-05-01 and Saturday 2027-12-25 are therefore full ban days.

When can trucks drive again on a holiday in Germany?

From 22:00. The ban runs from 00:00 to 22:00 on the holiday itself, so departures after 22:00 are legal. Plan the driver rest and tachograph hours around that start time.

Does Epiphany or Assumption Day stop trucks in Germany?

No. The section 30(4) list names only the nationwide holidays plus Corpus Christi, Reformation Day and All Saints. A state holiday outside that list is a day off for staff but not a truck ban day.

Is a van under 7.5 t affected by the holiday ban?

A solo truck up to 7.5 t permissible gross weight is outside the weight limit. Trailers behind trucks are banned, so a truck pulling a trailer is inside the ban whatever its weight.