Which Swiss public holidays in 2027 carry a truck driving ban?
Swiss truck ban days in 2027 outside Sundays are 1 Jan, 26 Mar, 29 Mar, 6 May, 17 May and 25 Dec, plus the year-round 22:00 to 05:00 night ban.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Switzerland bans heavy vehicles on every Sunday and on seven named public holidays, plus 26 December in some years. In 2027 the ban days that are not Sundays are Friday 1 January, Friday 26 March, Monday 29 March, Thursday 6 May, Monday 17 May and Saturday 25 December.
Which dates in 2027 fall under the Swiss HGV ban?
Six dates matter outside Sundays. They are calculated from art. 91 of the Swiss Traffic Rules Ordinance (VRV) , consolidated version of 2026-07-01, because ASTRA lists the holiday names but publishes no calendar dates. Western Easter falls on 2027-03-28, which fixes Good Friday, Easter Monday, Ascension and Whit Monday.
| Date | Weekday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027-01-01 | Friday | New Year |
| 2027-03-26 | Friday | Good Friday |
| 2027-03-29 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 2027-05-06 | Thursday | Ascension |
| 2027-05-17 | Monday | Whit Monday |
| 2027-12-25 | Saturday | Christmas |
At Easter, three ban days fall together: Friday 26 March, Sunday 28 March and Monday 29 March. Saturday 27 March is not named in art. 91(1), so it is not a listed ban day, and the night ban still applies. Christmas is the only Saturday ban day in 2027. Open the Switzerland 2027 holiday calendar to see every date alongside the other public holidays.
Is 1 August 2027 an extra ban day?
No. 1 August is on the art. 91 list, but in 2027 it falls on Sunday, so it adds nothing to the Sunday ban. The same applies to 26 December 2027, which is also a Sunday.
Cantons matter here. Art. 91(1) says the ban lapses in a canton or part of a canton where one of the listed days is not celebrated, and ASTRA repeats this on its page. We found no primary list of which cantons skip which day, so confirm local practice before you plan a run around a lapse.
Does the night ban still apply on 2027 ban days?
Yes. Art. 91(2) sets a night ban from 22:00 to 05:00 on every night of the year, separate from the Sunday and holiday rule.
Art. 91(3) defines the covered vehicles: heavy motor vehicles over 3.5 t, commercial tractors and work motor vehicles, articulated vehicles with a permitted gross train weight over 5 t, and vehicles towing a trailer over 3.5 t. For the standing rules, read the Switzerland HGV driving ban guide .
Frequently asked questions
Do cantonal holidays trigger the national truck ban?
No. Only the days named in art. 91(1) carry the ban, and a named day stops applying in a canton that does not celebrate it. Extra cantonal holidays are not named in art. 91(1), so they add no ban day.
Does Christmas on a Saturday change the 26 December rule?
Not in 2027. Art. 91(1) adds 26 December unless Christmas falls on a Monday or Friday, so the condition is met this year. Because 26 December 2027 is a Sunday, the Sunday ban already applies.
Which goods are exempt from the Swiss ban?
Art. 91a exempts food that is not deep-frozen, UHT or sterilised and has a use-by period of at most 30 days, plus cut flowers and slaughter animals. Zero-emission heavy vehicles up to 4,250 kg, and zero-emission articulated vehicles up to 5,750 kg, are also exempt when the extra weight comes only from the zero-emission drive. Check the exact conditions in the article before relying on an exemption.
Can a driver get a permit for an unavoidable trip?
Yes. Special permits are governed by VRV art. 92, and the canton is responsible, according to ASTRA . Apply to the canton.
Get a transport quote to plan your Swiss runs around every 2027 ban day.
