Do the rules change depending on the country? What is common, which differs
Updated on 13 June 2026
“In Poland they can drive more”, “in Spain the night is not the same”… We hear everything and its opposite at the roadside restaurant. The truth is simple: driving and rest are the same everywhere in Europe. This is the labor code and pay which vary from one country to another.
To find your way, you have to separate two worlds: the rules of road safety (harmonized throughout Europe) and the labor law (specific to each country). We often confuse the two, and this is where preconceived ideas are born.
1. The common base: driving and rest, identical everywhere
Driving and rest times do not depend not of your country or the one where you ride. They are set by the Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006, applicable in the same way throughout the European Union, the EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland. For journeys outside the EU, theAETR agreement imposes equivalent rules (Eastern countries, Balkans, etc.).
Concretely, a French, Polish, Portuguese or Romanian driver is subject to the same limits :
✅4:30 a.m. maximum continuous driving, then a cut-off of at least 45 mins (or 15 + 30 mins).
✅9am driving per day (10 hours twice a week maximum).
✅Daily rest 11am (reducible to 9 a.m., three times between two weekly rest periods).
✅Weekly rest 45h (reducible to 24 hours with compensation).
✅56h maximum driving over a week, 90h over two consecutive weeks.
✅The same tachograph and the same driver card, read in the same way by all European controllers.
In other words: on the road, the rule is the same for everyone. A check in Germany applies 561/2006 to a Spaniard exactly as to a German.
2. What is changing: national labor law
It's here that countries diverge. Each state has its own labor code and his collective agreements, who decide how your time is paid — not how you drive. 561/2006 says “you can drive 9 hours”; labor law says “this is how these hours are paid”.
| Subject | Harmonized in Europe | Specific to each country |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous driving (4h30), breaks | ✅ identical | — |
| Daily/weekly rest | ✅ identical | — |
| Chronotachograph, driver card | ✅ identical | — |
| Working hours, overtime | — | ❌ differs |
| Night work (range, increase) | — | ❌ differs |
| Minimum wage | — | ❌ differs |
| Meal/bed allowance | — | ❌ differs |
| Amount of fines | common gravity frame | ❌ national amounts |
The “common seriousness framework” for offenses comes from Directive 2006/22 (minor/serious/very serious classification), but each country freely sets the amount of the corresponding fines.
3. The French example: the CCNTR
In France, it is National Collective Agreement for Road Transport (CCNTR) which lays down the pay rules, in addition to the Labor Code. For a long distance highway, French particularities are strong:
▸Monthly payment at 152 hours (equivalent to 35 hours/week).
▸Hours ofequivalence at +25% between 152 p.m. and 186 p.m.
▸Hours additional at +50% beyond 186 hours.
▸Work of night increased according to the company agreement; as soon as a minute of duty falls within the night range (often 9 p.m.–6 a.m. or 10 p.m.–5 a.m.), the workday is capped at 10 a.m..
▸Allowances for meal, snack and bedtime, increased abroad.
Another country will have its own thresholds, its own definition of nighttime and its own allowances. This is why you cannot “copy” the pay slip of a foreign colleague: the calculation framework is not the same.
4. Driving abroad: detachment (Mobility Package)
Since February 2022, the Mobility Package clarified what salary applies when you work in another country. The principle is based on the type of operation :
➖Bilateral transportation (from or to the country of your company): not of secondment, you remain under your usual contract.
✅Cabotage (domestic transport in a country which is not yours) and cross-trade (between two third countries): you are detached → right to at least the minimum wage and the essential conditions of the host country for these operations.
▸The transit (crossing a country without loading or unloading) is not detachment.
Added to this is the rule of cabotage, identical throughout the EU: maximum 3 operations in 7 days after an international delivery, then a waiting period of 4 days before shipping again in the same country.
5. Fines: same fault, very different addition
The same offense (for example exceeding 4.5 hours of driving) is classified in the same way everywhere thanks to Directive 2006/22, but the amount of the fine is set by each country. The result varies from simple to tenfold: some countries impose very heavy sanctions, others more moderately, and several accumulate fines per day of violation noted during the same inspection.
National scales evolve regularly. Before a dispute or a trip, check the amount in force in the country concerned, or get support (union, legal advice).
6. Tour of Europe country by country
Here are all the countries ofEuropean Union, of theEuropean Economic Area (EEA), space Schengen, the more United Kingdom and theIreland. Essential reminder: all apply the same driving and rest times (Regulation 561/2006; the United Kingdom retained this text after Brexit). What changes from one country to another is above all: driving bans (weekends, public holidays, summer Saturdays, etc.), toll or vignette, the currency, the existence of a legal minimum wage and the terms of detachment.
Click on a country to unfold its own rules:
🧨 ADR — hazardous materials (transversal) ALL COUNTRIES ▾
🚫 In addition to the “classic heavy goods vehicle” prohibitions below, transport ADR undergoes additional country-specific restrictions : weekend/holiday bans often wider, reinforced time slots, and tunnels closed to certain goods.
🚇 Tunnels — categories A to E: each European tunnel has a code (A = no restrictions, B to E = increasingly restrictive). The code of your goods (section 3.4 of the transport document) determines whether you can pass. The most sensitive tunnels: Mont-Blanc and Fréjus (France/Italy), Gotthard and San Bernardino (Switzerland), Austrian tunnels.
⚠️ On board: ADR transport document, written instructions, driver training certificate (ADR), safety equipment, orange plates and signage. An incomplete ADR check results in immobilization, regardless of driving time.
Authorized ADR routes and slots change by region and material type. Before ADR transport, check the local decree and the categories of tunnels on your route.
🇩🇪 Germany EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 Sundays and public holidays 12 a.m.–10 p.m. for trucks > 7.5 t (even empty). Summer Saturdays (July–August) 7 a.m.–8 p.m. on many motorways (A3, A7, A8, A9, etc.).
💶 Toll LKW-Maut (per kilometer, highways + nationals).
👷 Minimum wage MiLog due from cabotage/cross-trade; strict Zoll & BAG controls.
⚠️ Environmental zones (Umweltzone) in 36+ cities: badge required.
Find out more — summer Saturdays by motorway, 36+ Umweltzonen, public holidays by State
🇦🇹 Austria EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 Weekend: Saturday 3 p.m. → Sunday 10 p.m. (> 7.5 t, or > 3.5 t with trailer). Public holidays 12 a.m.–10 p.m. Night ban (Nachtfahrverbot) 10 p.m.–5 a.m. for > 7.5 t.
💶 Electronic toll GO-Box on highways.
⚠️ A12 Inntal: sectoral ban (Sektorales Fahrverbot) and IG-L; Euro 0–2 banned on the day. Brenner: traffic dosage (Blockabfertigung). Fines among the highest in Europe.
🇧🇪 Belgium EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends or public holidays.
💶 Kilometer toll Viapass (> 3.5 t).
⚠️ Low emissions zones (Antwerp, Brussels, Ghent): HGV > 3.5 t restricted except destination. Overtaking prohibited for > 3.5 t on two-way roads.
🇧🇬 Bulgaria EU · SCH · € (2026) ▾
🚫 Summer (July 1–Sept 15): Fridays 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. – 8 p.m. for > 12 t on most highways. Public holidays 2 p.m.–8 p.m. (eve 6 p.m.–9 p.m.). Above 35°C: > 20 t prohibited from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Except summer: no weekend ban.
💶 Vignette / electronic toll (TOLL BG).
🇨🇾 Cyprus EU · € ▾
🚫 No general ban (island, outside continental network).
⚠️ Outside Schengen; left hand drive.
🇭🇷 Croatia EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 Summer (June 15–September 15): Saturday 4 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 11 p.m. on regional and county roads (> 7.5 t or > 14 m). Public holidays 2 p.m. – 11 p.m. Coastal routes to ferries (Split, Zadar) exempt.
💶 Toll highways (ENC badge).
⚠️ Euro and Schengen since 2023.
🇩🇰 Denmark EU · SCH · DKK ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends.
💶 Eurovignette + bridge tolls (Storebælt, Øresund).
👷 No legal minimum wage (collective agreements). Crown anchored to the euro.
🇪🇸 Spain EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general national ban, but regional restrictions on certain routes: Catalonia (AP-7/E15 direction Spain→France near the border), Basque Country (A-8, N-I). Reinforced restrictions for hazardous materials (Sundays/holidays).
💶 Some toll highways (AP).
👷 Legal minimum wage (SMI).
🇪🇪 Estonia EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends.
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇫🇮 Finland EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends.
👷 No legal minimum wage (agreements).
⚠️ Winter equipment required; extreme cold.
🇫🇷France EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: Saturday 10 p.m. → Sunday 10 p.m., public holidays 12 a.m.–10 p.m. (+ standby 10 p.m.–24 p.m.). Summer Saturdays (July–August, dates fixed by decree) 7 a.m.–7 p.m. across the entire network. Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes winter camps (massif). Île-de-France: restrictions during peak hours.
💶 Toll motorways (PL electronic toll collection).
👷 Minimum wage (SMIC); CCNTR; frequent checks.
🧨 ADR: additional restrictions (Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays) and Mont-Blanc / Fréjus tunnels subject to ADR categories. Itineraries imposed by prefectural decree.
⚠️ ZFE (Crit'Air) in large cities.
🇬🇷 Greece EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 Sundays all year 3 p.m. – 9 p.m./10 p.m.. Summer (mid-June → mid-September): Fridays 4 p.m.–9 p.m. Perishable foods and live animals exempt.
💶 Toll highways.
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇭🇺 Hungary EU · SCH · HUF ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: from September to June, from Saturday (or day before public holiday) 10 p.m. to Sunday/holiday 10 p.m.. Summer (July–August): Saturday 3 p.m. → Sunday 10 p.m., plus bans on specific roads.
💶 Electronic toll per kilometer HU-GO (> 3.5 t).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇮🇪 Ireland EU · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends. Dublin: HGV of 5 axles or more prohibited in the city center (7 a.m.–7 p.m.).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
⚠️ Outside Schengen; left hand drive.
🇮🇹 Italy EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: Sundays and public holidays 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. (from 7 a.m. on Sundays from June to September). Summer calendar: Saturdays 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and Fridays 4 p.m.–10 p.m. in July/August. Perishables and animals: mandatory green sign.
💶 Toll highways (Telepass).
👷 No legal minimum wage (agreements). High fines.
🧨 ADR: reinforced prohibition slots and tunnels (Mont-Blanc, Fréjus, Gd-St-Bernard) subject to ADR categories.
⚠️ Winter tires compulsory in Val d'Aosta (Oct 15–Apr 15).
🇱🇻 Latvia EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends.
💶 Heavy goods vehicle sticker (at the time).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇱🇹 Lithuania EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general national ban (summer restrictions possible on certain roads).
💶 Heavy goods vehicle sticker (road/time).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇱🇺 Luxembourg EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: weekend/holiday restrictions depending on direction (to France: Saturday/eve 9:30 p.m. → 9:45 p.m.; to Germany: 11:30 p.m. → 9:45 p.m.). Exemptions: live animals, foodstuffs, cut flowers.
💶 Eurovignette.
👷 Minimum wage among the highest in the EU.
⚠️ Overtaking PL prohibited on almost the entire motorway network.
🇲🇹 Malta EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban (island).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
⚠️ Left hand drive.
🇳🇱 Netherlands EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends (except dangerous weather conditions: black ice, visibility < 200 m).
👷 Legal minimum wage; active ILT controls.
⚠️ Low emission zones in several cities; heavy goods vehicle toll in preparation.
Find out more — weather, exceptional convoys, environmental zones
🇵🇱 Poland EU · SCH · PLN ▾
🚫 > 12 t: summer (last Friday in June → end of school holidays) Friday 6 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.–2 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–10 p.m.. Public holidays 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. (eve 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.).
💶 Electronic toll e-TOLL.
👷 Legal minimum wage. First transport pavilion in Europe.
🇵🇹 Portugal EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 No general ban on heavy goods vehicles, but hazardous materials restrictions (Fridays / Sundays / public holidays 6 p.m.–9 p.m. near Lisbon and Porto; A23 tunnels and 25-April bridge prohibited for ADR).
💶 Electronic tolls (Via Verde, gates without barrier).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇷🇴 Romania EU · SCH · RON ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: summer (June 15–September 15) Saturdays and Sundays 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. on many national routes (DN1, DN2, A2, etc.). All year round, weekends and public holidays 6 a.m.–10 p.m. on the DN1 Bucharest–Brașov.
💶 Thumbnail rovinieta (+ bridge tolls).
👷 Legal minimum wage. Land Schengen since 2025.
🇸🇰 Slovakia EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: Sundays and public holidays 12 a.m.–10 p.m. on motorways and 1st class roads. Summer (July–August): addition of Saturday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m..
💶 Electronic toll (eznámka / SkyToll, > 3.5 t).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇸🇮 Slovenia EU · SCH · € ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: Sundays and public holidays 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.. Summer (end of June → beginning of September): Saturdays 8 a.m.–1 p.m. (until 6 a.m.–4 p.m. on routes to the coast). Foreign HGVs > 7 t or > 14 m blocked at border car parks during the bans.
💶 Electronic toll DarsGo (> 3.5 t).
👷 Legal minimum wage. Alpine transit.
🇸🇪 Sweden EU · SCH · SEK ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends.
💶 Eurovignette.
👷 No legal minimum wage (agreements).
🇨🇿 Czechia EU · SCH · CZK ▾
🚫 > 7.5 t: Sundays and public holidays 1 p.m.–10 p.m. on motorways and 1st/2nd class roads. Summer (July–August): Fridays 5 p.m.–9 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m.–1 p.m.
💶 Electronic sticker + toll Myto CZ (> 3.5 t on motorways).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
🇳🇴 Norway EEA · SCH · NOK ▾
🚫 No general ban on weekends.
💶 Toll gantries AutoPASS.
👷 Minimum wage made compulsory in road transport.
⚠️ Mandatory winter equipment (chains, studded tires authorized).
🇮🇸 Iceland EEA · SCH · ISK ▾
🚫 No general ban (island).
👷 No legal minimum wage, but binding de facto agreements.
⚠️ Extreme weather; winter equipment.
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein EEA · SCH · CHF ▾
🚫 Aligned with Switzerland: night ban 10 p.m.–5 a.m. and Sundays/holidays for > 3.5 t.
💶 Royalty RPLP (per km / weight / emissions, common with Switzerland).
🇨🇭 Switzerland SCH · CHF ▾
🚫 Night ban 10 p.m.–5 a.m. AND Sundays/holidays 0h–24h for any vehicle > 3.5 t (very strict regime). Exemptions for food and animals for slaughter.
💶 Royalty RPLP / LSVA (per km, weight and emissions).
👷 Secondment via bilateral agreement (no generalized national minimum wage).
🧨 ADR: strict diet; Gotthard and San Bernardino tunnels subject to ADR categories, slots and possible escorts.
⚠️ Headlights on 24/7; pro blood alcohol level 0.1 g/L.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom UK · GBP ▾
🚫 No national ban on weekends. London: HGV > 18 t prohibited Saturday 1 p.m. → Monday 7 a.m. and at night 9 p.m.–7 a.m. (except highways).
👷 Legal minimum wage.
⚠️ Post-Brexit: still applies 561/2006; very limited cabotage; left hand drive. London: ULEZ + Direct Vision Standard (PL license required).
🇧🇾 Belarus Outside the EU · AETR ▾
🚫 No ban on weekends or public holidays. But thaw March–April : axle > 6 t prohibited on M8, M10, M11, M12 (except many exempt sections).
🌡️ Summer (June–August): beyond 25°C, axle > 6 t prohibited 11 a.m.–9 p.m..
🇷🇸 Serbia Outside the EU · AETR ▾
🚫 No ban on weekends or public holidays for standard trucks.
📏 Oversized convoys prohibited Friday 12 p.m. → Saturday 5 a.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. → Monday 5 a.m., throughout the network.
🇹🇷 Türkiye Outside the EU · AETR ▾
🚫 No ban national on weekends. E5 Edirne↔Istanbul closed to HGV on Sundays/holidays and Ramadan (7 a.m.–10 a.m. then 5 p.m.–10 p.m. depending on direction).
🌉 Istanbul: PL > 7 t prohibited Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m.. Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge closed to heavy goods vehicles 7 a.m.–10 a.m. and 4 p.m.–10 p.m.; Bosphorus bridge prohibited for HGVs.
Driving bans follow annual calendars (public holidays, summer dates) which change every year, and the amounts (minimum wage, tolls, fines) change regularly: they are not detailed here to the nearest cent on purpose. Before a trip or a dispute, check the calendar and the values in force in the country concerned — for example on a specialized portal like europe-trucks.com or the country's official website. “No legal minimum wage” means that remuneration is governed by collective agreements in the sector.
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