2026-03-16

Driving Ban Italy: What is the Situation?

Italy is a popular destination for freight traffic, but like in many other countries, there are also driving bans for trucks here. In this blog, you will read exactly when you can and cannot drive, what the exceptions are, and what else you need to consider.

General driving ban for trucks in Italy

For vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons (gross weight including payload), a driving ban applies on Sundays and public holidays:

From January to May and October to December, the driving ban is in effect on Sundays from 09:00 to 22:00.
From June to September, the driving ban is in effect on Sundays from 07:00 to 22:00.
On public holidays, the driving ban usually applies from 08:00 to 22:00.

During the summer months, there are often additional driving bans on Saturdays.

Public holidays in Italy in 2026

On these days, a driving ban also applies:

New Year's Day (January 1, 2026)
Epiphany (January 6, 2026)
Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (April 5 and 6, 2026)
Liberation Day(April 25, 2026)
Labor Day(May 1, 2026)
Republic Day(June 2)
Assumption of Mary(August 15, 2026)
All Saints' Day (November 1, 2026)
Immaculate Conception(December 8, 2026)
Christmas(December 25 & 26, 2026)

Additional driving bans in the summer months

In the summer, the roads in Italy can be busy. Therefore, there are several additional days in July and August when a driving ban applies.

Fridays: often from 16:00 to 22:00
Saturdays: often from 08:00 to 16:00
In August, there are also days with a ban until 22:00

The exact dates vary each year and are announced every spring. For example, in 2025, there was a driving ban on August 2, 9, 16, and 23 from 08:00 to 22:00.

Exceptions to the driving ban

Some trucks are allowed to drive when a driving ban is in effect, provided they display a vehicle with green plates and a black letter 'd' or 'a'.

For example:

Trucks transporting perishable goods, such as fresh fish, meat, vegetables, fruit, dairy.
Trucks transporting medical goods.

Trucks transporting mail and newspapers.

Trucks transporting live animals and chicks.
Trucks transporting supplies for aircraft or ships.
Trucks transporting goods for events or emergencies.
Trucks that need to travel to or from Sardinia or Sicily and have the proper documentation.

Also, tractors without a trailer weighing less than 7.5 tons do not have to comply with the driving ban.

Driving bans for hazardous materials

In Italy, there are specific driving bans for the transport of hazardous materials. These are classified into nine classes based on the nature of the hazard.

Class 1: Explosives and explosive materials.
Class 2: Gases.
Class 3: Flammable liquids.
Class 4: Flammable solids.
Class 5: Oxidizing substances.
Class 6: Toxic substances.
Class 7: Radioactive substances.
Class 8: Corrosive substances
Class 9: Miscellaneous dangerous substances and items

The general driving ban applies to all hazardous materials, regardless of total weight, on Sundays, public holidays, and certain busy days. In the summer (June 1 to September 20), there is an additional ban for trucks transporting hazardous materials in class 1 from Friday 18:00 to Sunday 24:00.

Exceptions for international transport

Is your truck entering Italy from abroad or from Sardinia? Or are you leaving the country towards abroad? Then there are relaxations on the driving ban:

Upon entering Italy or Sardinia, the driving ban starts four hours later.
When departing to abroad, the driving ban ends two hours earlier.
When departing to Sardinia, the driving ban ends four hours earlier.
Are you driving to a major intermodal terminal, such as Bologna, Verona, or Milan? Then the driving ban also ends four hours earlier.

You must always be able to provide documents showing where your freight is coming from or going to.

Vehicle transport to or from Italy

Do you want to transport one or more cars to or from Italy? We take all driving bans on Sundays and public holidays and other days when a driving ban may apply into account. This may affect our delivery times. In your customer portal, you can see the status of your transport 24/7.

Driving bans also apply in other countries. Check our other blogs to find out when this applies: