🇭🇺 Hungary — HGV driving bans 2026
Hungary bans heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 t on weekends and public holidays, with times that vary between winter and summer. Broad exemptions exist — especially for Euro 3 and above vehicles in international transport — but they are lifted in summer on a long list of tourist routes. Here are the details.
1. General rule
Trucks weighing more than 7.5 t are banned on weekends and public holidays, with times depending on the season:
❄️From 1 September to 30 June. Ban from Saturday (or eve of a public holiday) 22:00 until Sunday (or public holiday) 22:00.
☀️From 1 July to 31 August. Ban from Saturday 15:00 until Sunday 22:00, and from the eve of a public holiday 22:00 until Sunday or public holiday 22:00.
↻Public holiday adjacent to the weekend. If a public holiday immediately precedes a Saturday or Sunday, the ban runs from the first day at 08:00 until the last day at 22:00.
2. Exemptions
The ban does not apply to:
- From 4 November to 1 March, vehicles of Euro 3 standard and above in international transport.
- Euro 3+ vehicles carrying liquefied gas, or solo tractors Euro 3+ under 7.5 t.
- Transport of perishable goods and fresh or frozen products (and empty vehicles associated with such transport).
- Transport of fresh flowers and plants, live animals, event equipment, and humanitarian shipments.
- Combined transport, between the terminal and the loading or unloading point, or between the terminal nearest the border and the border crossing point.
Exemption applications should be submitted to the Nemzeti Közlekedési Hatóság — Pf 102, 1389 Budapest, Pf. 102 — office@nkh.gov.hu.
3. Routes not exempt in summer
From 1 July to 31 August, the exemptions in section 2 do not apply on motorways M7 and M2, nor on the following routes. Click to expand the list:
View the list of affected routes ▾
No.2 — between Budapest and Parassapuszta.
2A
No.6 — between Dunaujvaros and Budapest.
No.7
No.10 — between Dorog and Budapest.
No.11 — between Esztergom and Budapest.
No.12
No.1201
No.51 — from the junction with route 510 to Dömsöd.
No.71
No.76 — between junctions No.71/No.7, and between Zalaapati and No.71.
No.55 — between Alsonyek and Baja.
No.82 — between No.8 and Veszpremvarsany.
No.84 — between Sümeg and No.71.
No.33 — between Dormand and Debrecen.
No.86 — between Janossomorja and Nemesböd, and between Körmend and Zalabaksa.
No.37 — between Miskolc and Satoraljaujhely.
No.38 — from junction No.37 to Rakamaz.
4. Public holidays 2026
On the dates below, the weekend ban applies according to the seasonal times (section 1).
1 January — New Year's Day
15 March — Revolution of 1848
3 April — Good Friday
5 April — Easter Sunday
6 April — Easter Monday
1 May — Labour Day
24 May — Whit Sunday
25 May — Whit Monday
20 August — National Day
23 October — Revolution of 1956
1 November — All Saints' Day
25 December — Christmas Day
26 December — Boxing Day
5. Bans in Budapest
Only HGVs holding a special permit may circulate in the city centre, on Margaret Island, and in the Castle District.
Pollution peaks. When pollution exceeds the limits for more than two consecutive days, alternating traffic applies from 06:00 to 22:00: vehicles whose plate ends with an even number drive on even days, and plates ending with an odd number on odd days — including for foreign-registered vehicles.
6. Dangerous goods transport (ADR)
Transport of substances in classes 1.4G and 1.3G requires authorisation, to be requested from the Országos Rendőr-Főkapitányság (ORFK) — 1139 Budapest, Teve u. 4-6.
7. Good to know
🍺Alcohol: zero tolerance, 0.0 g of alcohol per litre of blood.
❄️Tyres: snow chains recommended in winter.
💡Lights: dipped headlights mandatory during the day outside built-up areas.
🚦HGV speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on motorways and first-class roads, 70 km/h on other roads.
📞Useful numbers: 107 (police), 105 (fire brigade), 104 (emergency), 188 or +36 1 345 1755 for MAK breakdown assistance.
🛠 Drive with confidence, wherever you are in Europe
Bans differ from country to country, but your driving and rest times (561/2006) are the same everywhere. TruckerMaster reads your driver card on your phone, breaks down each day, and spots any violations — so you can focus on the road.
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