Apply for an exemption from the lorry driving ban during holiday periods

  • Service description

    In Germany, trucks with a maximum permissible mass of more than 7.5 tonnes and trucks with trailers are not permitted to drive on specified routes on motorways and federal roads on Saturdays during the main holiday period from 1 July to 31 August of each year between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm.

    The ban generally does not apply to

    1. combined road-rail freight transport from the consignor to the nearest suitable loading station or from the nearest suitable unloading station to the consignee,
    2. combined road-port freight transport between the loading or unloading point and a port located within a maximum radius of 150 kilometres (inbound or outbound),
    3. the transport of
      • fresh milk and fresh dairy products,
      • fresh meat and fresh meat products,
      • fresh fish, live fish and fresh fish products,
      • perishable fruit and vegetables,
    4. Empty journeys in connection with journeys under number 3,
    5. Travelling with vehicles that are used in accordance with the Federal Benefits Act. The benefit certificate must be carried and handed over to the responsible persons for inspection on request.

  • Procedure

    Exceptional authorisations may be granted on request in individual cases.

  • Prerequisites

    An exemption can only be granted in urgent cases if transport by other means of transport is not possible and an alternative route is not available. Detours must be accepted.

    Economic or competitive reasons alone are no justification for an exception.

  • Which documents are required?

    • Applications must be submitted in writing, but informally and with reasons.
    • Freight and accompanying documents
    • In the case of transport over a road distance of more than 100 kilometres: a certificate from the goods clearance office responsible for the place of dispatch confirming the impossibility of transporting the goods by rail on time.
    • Motor vehicle and trailer licence
    • A corresponding official certificate is required for foreign motor vehicles whose registration documents do not show the permissible total weight and engine power.

  • What fees are incurred?

    Fees of between 10.20 euros and 179.00 euros apply. For more information, please contact the relevant office.

  • Legal basis

  • Remarks

    Further information on the lorry driving ban can be found on the website of the Federal Office for Goods Transport (BAG):

  • Typing

    3b

Who should I contact?

Exemption licences are issued by the road traffic authorities (districts, independent cities, towns and municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants),

  • in whose district the summons is received or
  • in whose district the applicant has his residence, registered office or a branch office.

If a load is picked up outside the area of application of the Holiday Travel Ordinance, the road traffic authority in whose district the border crossing point of the area of application of this ordinance is located is responsible.

Responsible departments