Everything you need to know about the driving ban in Switzerland
Are you driving a truck through Switzerland? Then it is good to know that there are sometimes driving bans for trucks over 3.5 tons. For example, you cannot just hit the road on Sundays and public holidays. This can affect your planning and delivery times. In this blog, we explain when the driving ban in Switzerland applies and what exceptions exist.
When does the driving ban apply in Switzerland
In Switzerland, there are several times when a driving ban applies. This is not only related to traffic congestion but also to safety and environmental protection. It is therefore important to plan your trips accordingly. The driving bans apply at the following times:
- Public holidays – On official public holidays, there is a driving ban from 00:00 to 24:00;
- Sundays – Every Sunday from 00:00 to 24:00, there is a ban on freight traffic;
- Night driving ban – On certain routes, you are not allowed to drive at night from 22:00 to 5:00.
Driving ban in Switzerland during public holidays
On these public holidays in 2026, a driving ban applies:
- New Year's Day (January 1, 2026)
- Good Friday (April 3, 2026) - Except for the cantons of Ticino and Valais
- Easter Monday (April 5 and 6, 2026) - Except for the canton of Ticino
- Ascension Day (May 14, 2026)
- Whit Monday (May 24 and 25, 2026) - Except for the canton of Valais
- National Day (August 1, 2026)
- Christmas Day (December 25 and 26, 2026)
Driving ban on Sundays
On Sundays, there is a standard driving ban for trucks in Switzerland. Between 00:00 and 24:00, vehicles with a permissible maximum weight of more than 3.5 tons are not allowed to drive on public roads.
Night driving ban Switzerland
In addition to the driving ban on Sundays and public holidays, Switzerland also has a night driving ban for freight traffic. This ban applies daily between 22:00 and 05:00 for trucks with a permissible maximum weight over 3.5 tons. The goal? To reduce noise pollution and provide better environmental protection, especially in densely populated areas and along major transport routes.
Exceptions to the driving ban in Switzerland
There are several exceptions to the driving ban in Switzerland. In certain situations, you may still be allowed on the road despite the driving ban. Below we outline the exceptions:
- Vehicles of the police, fire department, and ambulance services – Emergency services are always exempt from the driving ban.
- Transport of perishable goods – Transport that carries fresh food or medical products is allowed to drive.
- Postal transport – Trucks that deliver or pick up official mail may sometimes continue to drive.
- Goods for events – Transport necessary for the setup or dismantling of events may be permitted under certain conditions.
- Emergency transports – In exceptional cases, a special permit may be granted for urgent transports.
- Combination with rail transport – Trucks that use roll-on/roll-off rail transport for part of the route may sometimes be allowed to continue driving under certain conditions.
For these exceptions, a separate permit is often required, which must be applied for in advance from the Swiss authorities.
Vehicle transport to or from Switzerland
Do you want to transport one or more cars to or from Switzerland soon? We take all driving bans on Sundays and public holidays 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:
- Driving ban France
- Driving ban Italy
- Driving ban Belgium
- Driving ban Switzerland
- Driving ban Austria
- Driving ban Luxembourg
- Driving ban Netherlands
- Driving ban Spain
