Applying for an exemption from the ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays

  • Service description

    In Germany, lorries with a gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tonnes and trailers behind lorries are not permitted to drive on Sundays and public holidays between 0:00 and 22:00.

    The ban does not apply to
     

    • combined road-rail freight transport from the consignor to the nearest suitable loading station or from the nearest suitable unloading station to the consignee, but only up to a distance of 200 km,
    • Combined goods transport port-road between loading or unloading point and a port located within a maximum radius of 150 kilometres (arrival or departure),
    • the transport of a) fresh milk and fresh dairy products, b) fresh meat and fresh meat products, c) fresh fish, live fish and fresh fish products, d) perishable fruit and vegetables,
    • Empty journeys in connection with journeys under number 2,
    • Journeys with vehicles that are used in accordance with the Federal Benefits Act.

    The notification of benefits must be carried and handed over to the responsible persons for inspection on request.


    Exceptions to the ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays can be granted under certain conditions.

  • Prerequisites

    An exemption authorisation may only be granted if certain conditions are met, e.g:

    • Supplying the population with perishable foodstuffs
    • On-schedule loading and unloading of ocean-going vessels
    • Maintaining the operation of public utilities or transport facilities.

    An exemption authorisation is issued following a written application. Applications can also be submitted by fax.

  • Which documents are required?

    • Informal application with justification,
    • Freight and accompanying documents,
    • in the case of transport over a road distance of more than 100 km, a certificate from the goods clearance office responsible for the place of dispatch confirming the impossibility of transporting the goods by rail on time,
    • for cross-border traffic, proof of the clearance times of the border customs office for loads on lorries,
    • 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?

    Fee according to GebOst currently between EUR 10.20 and EUR 767.00 per exemption and per vehicle/person. The calculation of the fee is based on the costs associated with the granting of the licence and any economic advantage accruing to the licence holder.

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    An individual authorisation is valid for one journey with one vehicle or vehicle combination.

    A permanent exemption permit for up to 3 years may only be issued if, in addition to the requirements for an individual permit, the need for regular transport is also established.

  • Legal basis

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Who should I contact?

Exemption permits are issued by the road traffic authorities (districts, independent cities, towns and municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants; other towns and municipalities only if the exemption permit is only valid in the municipal area) in whose district the load is taken up or the road traffic authorities in whose district the applicant has his place of residence, registered office or a branch office.

Responsible departments