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NederlandsFrance 2026 driving bans: Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 across the network
The full 2026 calendar of lorry driving bans in France. General ban from Saturday 22:00 to Sunday 22:00 on motorways. Exemptions for perishables, combined transport and emergencies. Critical for anyone setting out from the Iberian Peninsula.
France is where most Iberian trips get stuck, almost always for the same reason: the ban starts at 22:00 on Saturday, not at midnight, and the same early start applies on the eve of a public holiday.
The 2026 calendar
Standard weekend ban
| Day | Hours | Roads | Weight threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 22:00 → 24:00 | All motorways | over 7.5 t |
| Sunday | 00:00 → 22:00 | All motorways | over 7.5 t |
Total per weekend: 24 continuous hours of ban (Saturday 22:00 → Sunday 22:00).
Eve of a public holiday
On the day before national holidays, the ban starts the previous evening at 22:00:
| Holiday | Banned eve | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas (25/12) | 24/12 at 22:00 → 25/12 at 22:00 | 24h |
| New Year (1/1) | 31/12 at 22:00 → 1/1 at 22:00 | 24h |
| Easter (moveable) | Thursday 22:00 → Monday 22:00 | 72h |
| Assumption (15/8) | 14/8 at 22:00 → 15/8 at 22:00 | 24h |
Summer — additional restrictions
On top of the standard ban, Saturdays with heavy holiday traffic get extra restrictions:
- Saturday morning: 06:00 → 22:00 on designated sections of the A7, A9, A63 and A64
- Bison Futé rating: Saturdays marked red (heavy traffic) or orange (moderate)
- Critical periods: Easter, Whitsun, the summer holidays (July-August), the All Saints break
Always check the Bison Futé calendar before leaving, as dates and roads can change.
Exemptions from the ban
Transports exempt from the weekend ban:
- Perishable goods (fresh food, chilled products) — documentation required
- Live animals — with animal welfare certificates
- Combined transport (truck plus rail) — within the regulated perimeter
- Emergency vehicles, public service, newspaper distribution
- Recovery vehicles and cranes on professional movements (prior request)
Note: the paperwork must be available for inspection. Fraud (claiming perishables without proof) brings fines of €750 to €3,750.
Île-de-France (Paris and its region)
Extra, stricter restrictions around Paris:
| Day | Hours | Area | Roads affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 17:00 → 24:00 | Île-de-France | A1, A3, A4, A6, A13, A15, RN1, RN2, RN3 |
| Eve of a holiday | 14:00 → 24:00 | Île-de-France | The same roads |
Impact: anyone heading for northern Europe (Belgium, Germany) is stuck on Friday evening in the Paris region.
Dangerous goods (ADR) restrictions
Vehicles carrying dangerous goods face much broader bans:
- Daily ban 22:00 → 05:00 on designated roads (tunnels, urban centres)
- The weekend ban starts on Saturday at 00:00, not 22:00
- Certain loads (explosives, gases) are banned during heavy traffic periods
Check the red signs and roadside boards before setting off.
Crit’Air certificate (air quality)
Low-emission zones in Paris, Lyon, Grenoble and Aix-en-Provence require the environmental sticker:
| Sticker | Access to the restricted zone |
|---|---|
| 0 (electric) | ✓ Free |
| 1 (hybrid) | ✓ Free |
| 2 (Euro 5-6 petrol, Euro 6 diesel) | ✓ Free |
| 3 (Euro 4 diesel) | ✗ Blocked |
| 4 (Euro 3 petrol, Euro 5 diesel) | ✗ Blocked |
| No sticker | ✗ Blocked |
Fine for not having one: €68 to €450.
Planning from the Iberian Peninsula
Option 1: cross before Saturday 22:00
- Leave early on Friday (06:00-08:00)
- Aim: clear the border and be south of Toulouse before Saturday 22:00
- Weekly rest: Friday night or early Saturday (outside the ban)
- Resume: early on Monday
Distance from Portugal to Toulouse: around 2,000 km (24-28h of driving plus the required rests) Feasibility: good with two drivers; fragile with one.
Option 2: leave on Monday
- Weekly rest: the whole of Saturday and Sunday, no pressure
- Departure: early Monday (00:00-04:00)
- French leg: Monday 04:00-16:00, completely free
- Advantage: safer, less fatigue, the weekly rest comfortably met
Option 3: alternative routes
- Via Italy: across Spain and in over the Brenner — but Italy and Austria have bans too
- Via Switzerland: more expensive in tolls, but no weekend ban
- By sea: containers — not an alternative for standard loads
Fines and penalties
| Offence | Fine | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Driving during the ban | €750 | Minimum — the operator is liable |
| Repeat offence (twice in 6 months) | €1,500 | Investigation of a deliberate pattern |
| Serious repeat offence (three or more) | €3,750 | Possible impounding of the vehicle |
| Missing exemption paperwork | €450 | For example, claiming perishables with no proof |
Liability: the fine falls on the operator, not only on the driver.
Useful contacts
| Body | Role | Link |
|---|---|---|
| DiRIF | Île-de-France roads | https://www.dir.ile-de-france.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/ |
| VINCI Autoroutes | A7, A9, A63 | https://www.vinci-autoroutes.com/ |
| Bison Futé | Traffic calendar | https://www.bison-fute.gouv.fr/ |
| Crit’Air | Check the sticker | https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/ |
Final tip: the best strategy for the Iberian Peninsula to France is leaving early on Monday. It costs a day of rest, but it avoids the rush, meets the rules without shaving margins, and the driver arrives rested.