Guides / Regulations by country / Turkey

🇹🇷 Turkey — HGV driving bans 2026

Good news for Turkey: there are no national weekend or public holiday driving bans. However, the Edirne–Istanbul corridor and the Bosphorus crossing concentrate a few local restrictions to be aware of — particularly for bridge crossings and dangerous goods transport.

⚠️ Times and thresholds may change, especially around Ramadan whose dates shift each year. This fact sheet is kept as up to date as possible but does not replace the official regulation: before a sensitive journey or a dispute, check the current rules (Turkish authorities, Turkish Transport Organisation — UND). GVW is the gross vehicle weight.

1. General rule

✅No weekend or public holiday bans. Unlike many European countries, Turkey imposes no national HGV driving ban on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. The only restrictions to watch are local (see section 2).

2. Local restrictions

Three areas concentrate most of the restrictions, all along the Edirne – Istanbul corridor and the Bosphorus crossing. Click each one to expand the details:

Route E5 — Edirne ↔ Istanbul ▾

On the E5 between Edirne and Istanbul, all goods HGVs are banned on Sundays, public holidays and at the start and end of Ramadan, depending on direction:

• Direction Edirne → Istanbul: ban from 07:00 to 10:00.

• Direction Istanbul → Edirne: ban from 17:00 to 22:00.

This ban does not apply to fresh produce or live animal transport.

Istanbul — weekday restriction ▾

In Istanbul, HGVs over 7 t GVW are banned Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 20:00.

Ring roads leading to the Bosphorus Bridge are exempt — noting that the bridge itself is completely closed to goods HGVs.

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Bosphorus) ▾

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, linking the European and Asian continents, is closed to goods HGVs every day in two time windows: from 07:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 22:00.

For dangerous goods transport on this bridge, see section 3.

3. Dangerous goods transport (ADR)

☣️Vehicles carrying dangerous goods in ADR categories 1 and 2 may cross the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge only from 02:00 to 06:00.

🚓Other categories may use this bridge only in convoy under police escort, from 16:00 to 23:00.

ℹ️For further information, contact the Turkish Transport Organisation (UND) at the Kapikule border crossing (fax 0090/284-23824899).

4. Good to know

🌉Bosphorus crossing: the Bosphorus Bridge (1^st bridge) is closed to goods HGVs; the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (2^nd bridge) remains open outside restricted hours. Plan your Europe–Asia route carefully.

🌙Ramadan: the E5 restrictions also apply at the start and end of Ramadan. As these dates shift every year, check the calendar before planning an Edirne–Istanbul transit.

🥬Fresh produce and live animals: these loads are exempt from the E5 ban — a useful point for refrigerated and livestock transport.

🛠 Drive with confidence, wherever you are in Europe

Bans vary 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 flags any violations — so you can focus on the road.

Analyse my card for free →

← Back to the country-by-country European overview