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NederlandsItaly 2026 driving bans: Sundays 07:00-22:00 in summer and 09:00-22:00 in winter
The full 2026 calendar of lorry driving bans in Italy. Bans on Sundays and public holidays, with hours that change with the season. Summer (to 30 September): 07:00-22:00. Winter (from 1 October): 09:00-22:00. Critical on the Brenner corridor.
Italy publishes an annual calendar of divieti (bans) for heavy vehicles, adopted by ministerial decree and published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale. The calendar changes twice a year, following summer and winter time.
The 2026 calendar
Summer period (to 30 September)
| Day | Hours | Roads | Weight threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundays | 07:00 → 22:00 | Motorways and expressways | over 7.5 t |
| Public holidays | 07:00 → 22:00 | Motorways and expressways | over 7.5 t |
Duration: 15 continuous hours per Sunday or holiday.
Winter period (from 1 October)
| Day | Hours | Roads | Weight threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sundays | 09:00 → 22:00 | Motorways and expressways | over 7.5 t |
| Public holidays | 09:00 → 22:00 | Motorways and expressways | over 7.5 t |
Duration: 13 continuous hours per Sunday or holiday.
Italian public holidays in 2026
| Date | Holiday | Ban |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year | 09:00-22:00 |
| 6 January | Epiphany | 09:00-22:00 |
| Easter | Easter Sunday | 07:00-22:00 (summer) |
| Easter Monday | The following Monday | 09:00-22:00 |
| 25 April | Liberation Day | 09:00-22:00 |
| 1 May | Labour Day | 09:00-22:00 |
| 2 June | Republic Day | 09:00-22:00 |
| 15 August | Assumption | 07:00-22:00 (summer) |
| 1 November | All Saints | 09:00-22:00 |
| 8 December | Immaculate Conception | 09:00-22:00 |
| 25 December | Christmas | 09:00-22:00 |
| 26 December | St Stephen’s Day | 09:00-22:00 |
Exemptions from the ban
Transports exempt from the Sunday and holiday ban:
- Dairy products (milk, cheese) — with commercial paperwork
- Fresh meat — with slaughterhouse or cold store certificate
- Perishable fruit and vegetables — with a dated delivery note
- Fish and seafood — in sealed, dated packaging
- Medicines and blood — with medical or hospital documentation
- Emergency, postal and security transports
- Special transports (circus, shows)
Note: the paperwork must be to hand in the cab. Fraud brings fines of €500 to €2,000.
Critical corridors
A4/A13 — Brenner (Austrian border)
The problems:
- Sunday blocked in Italy (07:00-22:00 to 30/09; 09:00-22:00 after)
- Saturday blocked in Austria (15:00-24:00)
- You have to cross before Saturday 15:00 or after Sunday 22:00
Workable option: cross early on Saturday (00:00-15:00) or early on Monday.
A1/A11 — Rome-Florence
Regular Sunday ban. The alternative route via Umbria has no ban but is slower (+3h).
A3 — Naples-Reggio Calabria
Sunday ban along the whole road. A national road alternative exists, but it is slower (+2-3h).
Planning from the Iberian Peninsula
Scenario 1: to Italy via the Brenner (Saturday-Sunday)
Aim: cross the Brenner before Saturday 15:00 (Austrian closure) or after Sunday 22:00 (Italian closure).
Strategy A — fast (two drivers):
- Leave on Friday (08:00)
- First night: rest in Spain or southern France
- Saturday: 600 km to the Brenner, cross before 15:00
- Saturday night: rest north of Innsbruck
- Monday: continue into Italy or central Europe
Strategy B — safe (one driver):
- Weekly rest: the whole of Saturday and Sunday
- Leave early Monday (04:00)
- Monday: cross the Brenner and reach South Tyrol before 22:00
- Tuesday: continue to the destination
Strategy C — diversion:
- Avoid the Brenner
- Go via Switzerland (Gotthard tunnel) — more expensive in tolls (+€50)
- Or via France (Mont Blanc) — only if French restrictions allow
Scenario 2: to Italy along the coast (Monday departure)
- Leave Monday at 04:00
- Italy is blocked on Sunday, so Monday is clear
- Reach the destination by Thursday
- Weekly rest: the following Saturday and Sunday
- Advantage: no pressure, the route is completely open
Fines and penalties
| Offence | Fine | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Driving during the ban | €500 | Base |
| Repeat offence (twice in 12 months) | €1,000 | In-depth investigation |
| False exemption paperwork | €2,000 | For example, “fresh meat” with no certificate |
| Forged document | €5,000 plus seizure | A criminal offence, not just an infringement |
Liability: operator and driver, jointly.
Useful contacts
| Body | Role | Link |
|---|---|---|
| MIT | Ministry of Infrastructure | https://www.mit.gov.it/ |
| Autostrade | Traffic information | https://www.autostrade.it/ |
| Polizia Stradale | Enforcement | Dial 112 in an emergency |
| Aiscat | Motorway concessionaires’ association | https://www.aiscat.it/ |
Final tip: if the Italian trip falls at the weekend, it is best to leave on Monday. It costs a day of waiting, but the route is fully open and there is no margin for error to manage.