Although the Czech Republic and Slovakia are often treated as transit countries en route to southern Europe, their regulations regarding summer driving ban can significantly impact the fluidity and punctuality of transportation. While tourists enjoy relaxation and holidays, the logistics sector faces additional challenges that, if not anticipated, can result in delays, penalties, and increased operational costs.
In part four of our series “Summer driving ban in Europe 2025”, we take a closer look at the current restrictions in place in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, highlighting the dates, hours, and key exemptions that every dispatcher and driver should know.
🇨🇿 Czech Republic – summer driving ban and year-round truck bans
In the Czech Republic, strict traffic bans apply to trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) exceeding 7.5 tons. These restrictions cover motorways, expressways, and Class I roads, and are enforced both year-round and seasonally.
➡️ Year-round bans:
- Sundays and public holidays: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM
These rules aim to reduce heavy vehicle traffic on days with increased family and holiday travel, particularly along major tourist routes heading south.
➡️ summer driving ban (July 1 – August 31):
- Fridays: 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Saturdays: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Sundays and public holidays: 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM
During the summer season, the restrictions are extended to Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, posing an extra planning challenge for weekend deliveries or transit operations.
➡️ Exemptions:
Not all shipments are subject to these restrictions. The following types of transport are exempt:
- perishable foodstuffs,
- fuel,
- live animals,
- combined transport shipments (starting or ending at an intermodal terminal in the Czech Republic).
These exceptions allow critical supply chains to remain uninterrupted. However, proper documentation is essential during roadside inspections to validate exemption eligibility.
🇸🇰 Slovakia – weekend and summer driving ban
Slovakia also enforces traffic bans for heavy vehicles over 7.5 tons and for vehicle combinations where the trailer or semi-trailer exceeds 3.5 tons. These regulations also apply year-round and are extended during the summer season.
➡️ Year-round bans:
- Sundays and public holidays: 12:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Effectively, this means that truck transport is not allowed throughout the entire day on Sundays and holidays—regardless of the season. This is particularly important for return legs from southern Europe via Slovakia.
➡️ summer driving ban (July 1 – August 31):
- Saturdays: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Compared to the Czech Republic, Slovakia’s Saturday restrictions are longer, spanning from morning to evening. When combined with the Sunday ban, this can significantly impact weekend transport planning.
➡️ Exemptions:
As in the Czech Republic, Slovakia offers a list of exemptions, which includes transport of:
- perishable goods,
- fuels,
- postal shipments,
- live animals,
- humanitarian or emergency aid.
To qualify for an exemption, drivers must carry appropriate documentation confirming the nature of the load.
Planning a route through the Czech Republic and Slovakia during the summer season without considering traffic bans is like playing Russian roulette. While these countries may seem like simple transit zones, their regulations can severely disrupt even the most carefully scheduled operations.
That’s why it’s crucial to not only know the timing of restrictions but also understand the exemptions and, when necessary, rethink the timing or route of your transport altogether.
📌 In our next and final post of this series, we’ll take a deep dive into Poland’s summer transport regulations. And yes, there are a few surprises you’ll want to be ready for.
📧 Need cost-effective cargo transport through Europe? Write to us at offer@exportsy.pl – we’ll organize your transport, verify routes, and avoid unnecessary stops or fines.
