21-04-2026

Driving Ban Spain: What You Need to Know

Spain is an important country for freight traffic, but like in other European countries, there are driving bans on certain days and times. This particularly applies to trucks over 7.5 tons, for the transport of hazardous materials, and for certain regions, such as the Basque Country. In this blog, you will learn exactly when the driving ban in Spain applies, what exceptions exist, and what else you need to consider.

General driving ban in Spain for hazardous materials

In Spain, there is a driving ban for trucks transporting hazardous materials. This driving ban applies on Sundays and public holidays, as well as on the days preceding public holidays. The rules are as follows:

On Sundays and public holidays, there is a driving ban for trucks transporting hazardous materials, even if they are empty and cleaned. These vehicles are not allowed to drive on the roads between 08:00 and 24:00.
On the days preceding public holidays, there is a driving ban for these vehicles between 13:00 and 24:00, with the exception of Saturdays.

This driving ban applies to all trucks transporting hazardous materials, regardless of their loading weight. It is important to take these times into account in your planning.

Driving bans in Spain during public holidays

In addition to the driving bans for hazardous materials, there are also general driving bans on certain public holidays for trucks over 7.5 tons. The driving bans on public holidays in Spain in 2026 are:

New Year's Day (January 1, 2026)
Three Kings' Day (January 6, 2026)
Holy Thursday (April 2)
Good Friday (April 3, 2026)
Easter Sunday and Monday (April 5 and 6, 2026)
Labor Day (May 1, 2026)
Assumption Day (August 15, 2026)
National Day (October 12, 2026)
All Saints' Day (November 1, 2026)
Constitution Day (December 6, 2026)
Immaculate Conception (December 8, 2026)
Christmas (December 25, 2026)

On these days, there is a driving ban for trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons. The driving bans usually start around 08:00 and end around 24:00.

Sunday driving ban for transit traffic in the Basque Country

The Spanish Basque Country has an additional driving ban for trucks passing through the region (transit traffic). This driving ban applies to vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tons and is in effect on:

Saturdays and the days preceding public holidays from 22:00 to 00:00.
Sundays and public holidays from 00:00 to 22:00.

Note: This driving ban does not apply to destination traffic, so if your final destination is in the Basque Country, you are allowed to drive.

Exceptions to the driving ban in Spain

There are several exceptions to the driving ban in Spain:

Trucks transporting perishable goods, such as fresh meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and dairy.
Medical goods, such as medicines or medical equipment.
Mail and newspapers may also be transported.
Trucks transporting live animals or chicks.
Goods for official events such as economic, sports, cultural, educational, or political events.
Trucks transporting products for the supply of airplanes or ships.
Goods for emergencies can also be transported without issue.
Trucks that need to travel to or from the Balearic Islands (Sicily and Mallorca) with the proper documentation.
Additionally, certain vehicles weighing under 7.5 tons, such as tractors without trailers, may be exempt from the driving ban.

Driving ban for hazardous materials in the Spanish Basque Country

In the Spanish Basque Country, there is a specific driving ban for trucks over 3.5 tons transporting hazardous materials:

Days preceding public holidays (except Saturdays): from 13:00 to 00:00.
Sundays and public holidays: from 08:00 to 00:00.

This driving ban does not apply to the following exceptions:

Transport of LPG and heating oil for household use to distribution points or consumers.
Transport of products for gas stations.
Transport of gases for hospitals.

Special driving bans in Madrid

In addition to the national driving bans, there are also specific driving bans for Madrid. In the city center of Madrid, there is a driving ban for vehicles with a total weight of more than 12 tons (12,000 kg). The driving ban in Madrid is as follows:

Weekdays: from 09:00 to 21:00.
Public holidays: from 00:00 to 24:00.

Additionally, there are stricter rules for vehicles that are wider than 2 meters and longer than 5.5 meters. These vehicles are not allowed in the center of Madrid between 12:00 and 21:00. However, exceptions are made for relocations.

Vehicle transport to or from Spain

Are you planning to have one or more cars transported to or from Spain? At JUR Autotransport, we always take into account the driving bans on public holidays and other days when a driving ban may apply. This can affect our delivery times, but thanks to our customer portal, you always have real-time insight into the status of your transport. This way, you know exactly what to expect, regardless of driving bans.