Poland truck driving ban 2026: times, rules and exemptions
Poland bans HGVs over 12 t on Fridays 18:00-22:00, Saturdays 08:00-14:00, Sundays 08:00-22:00 from 26 Jun to 30 Aug 2026. Schedule, exemptions and fines.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Poland bans trucks over 12 tonnes on Fridays 18:00-22:00, Saturdays 08:00-14:00, and Sundays 08:00-22:00 from 26 June to 30 August 2026. On public holidays the ban runs 08:00-22:00 year-round. Exemptions cover perishable goods, emergency vehicles, and empty vehicles returning from abroad.
When does the Poland truck driving ban apply in summer 2026?
The summer restriction period runs from Friday 26 June to Sunday 30 August 2026, set annually by a Ministerial Announcement from the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure (Obwieszczenie Ministra Infrastruktury, sign DOK-6.772.199.2025.DK, dated 17 April 2026). Three time bands apply across the weekend:
| Period | Day | Ban times |
|---|---|---|
| Summer (26 Jun - 30 Aug 2026) | Friday | 18:00-22:00 |
| Summer (26 Jun - 30 Aug 2026) | Saturday | 08:00-14:00 |
| Summer (26 Jun - 30 Aug 2026) | Sunday | 08:00-22:00 |
| Public holidays (year-round) | Holiday | 08:00-22:00 |
Saturday afternoons and evenings remain open - a common planning mistake is assuming the Saturday ban extends past 14:00, which it does not. On the eve of a public holiday the restriction narrows to 18:00-22:00, matching the Friday window. The most significant public holiday inside the summer period is 15 August 2026 (Assumption of Mary), when the full 08:00-22:00 ban applies. Check all ban-trigger dates on Logifie's Poland holiday calendar .
For HGV speed rules on the same DE-PL-UA corridor, see Logifie's Poland truck speed limits page .
Which trucks are affected by Poland's driving restrictions?
The ban covers any vehicle or combination with a permissible total weight exceeding 12 tonnes, excluding buses. According to Green-Zones.eu's 2026 Poland summary , this is one of the highest thresholds in the EU - Germany applies its ban from 7.5 tonnes - so a meaningful share of medium-weight vehicles that face restrictions further west can travel freely in Poland during the same hours.
Are there exemptions to the Polish truck ban?
Four categories are fully exempt. Vehicles transporting perishable goods - meat, fish, dairy, eggs, fresh produce, cut flowers, and live animals - travel without restriction. Emergency and public-authority vehicles (Police, Border Guard, Armed Forces, fire and chemical rescue) are equally exempt. Vehicles crossing the state border may travel up to 50 km from the crossing point, and empty vehicles returning from an assignment abroad - or travelling to collect a load - are exempt regardless of route length. Full exemption criteria are listed on the trafficban.com reference page .
Penalties are stacked across three parties: the driver faces PLN 200 to PLN 500, the carrier company PLN 1,000, and the transport manager up to PLN 2,000. All three apply from the same infringement. Check live diesel prices when rerouting on Logifie's Poland fuel tracker .
Frequently asked questions
What is the weight threshold for Poland's truck driving ban?
The ban applies to vehicles with a permissible total weight exceeding 12 tonnes, excluding buses. This is one of the highest thresholds in the EU - Germany restricts from 7.5 tonnes. Vehicles at or below 12 tonnes are unaffected by the seasonal and public-holiday windows.
Does the Poland truck ban apply on Saturday afternoons?
No. The Saturday restriction runs 08:00 to 14:00 only. Saturday afternoons from 14:00 onward are open for movement, making them a useful planning window for repositioning or weekend deliveries during the summer period.
What are the penalties for violating the truck ban in Poland?
Fines are levied on three parties from the same infringement. The driver faces PLN 200 to PLN 500, the carrier company PLN 1,000, and the responsible transport manager up to PLN 2,000.
Are perishable goods exempt from the Poland truck ban?
Yes. Vehicles transporting perishable food products - including meat, fish, dairy, eggs, fresh produce, cut flowers, and live animals - are exempt from both summer and year-round public-holiday restrictions. The exemption applies whether the vehicle is loaded or returning empty after delivering perishables, provided transport documentation reflects the cargo.
Track ban windows on the road with the Logifie Driver Assistant app , which consolidates driving restriction schedules, public holiday calendars, and route alerts in one place.
