Truck driving ban in Bulgaria 2025

Bulgaria is not only growing in popularity as a tourist destination year by year, but is also becoming an increasingly important hub on the map of international logistics.

Unlike many other European countries, Bulgaria does not impose permanent truck driving bans on Sundays and public holidays. This makes the country more flexible for transport companies, allowing them to plan routes more freely without needing to consider weekend restrictions.

In this article, you’ll find information about truck traffic rules in Bulgaria and the exceptional situations in which temporary restrictions may apply.

What restrictions might we encounter in Bulgaria?

Despite the lack of permanent bans for trucks, drivers in Bulgaria may encounter temporary restrictions resulting from road conditions, infrastructure works, or extreme weather.

Restrictions due to roadworks and adverse weather

Some road sections in Bulgaria may be temporarily closed or limited to trucks of certain categories.

The reasons may include:

• construction or maintenance works,
• adverse weather such as heavy snowfall or strong winds.

All road sections subject to such regulations are always properly signposted – drivers are required to pay close attention to road signs and communications from road authorities. Violating an entry ban on a closed section may lead to penalties.

Driving bans during extreme heat

In previous years, Bulgaria introduced temporary truck bans during heatwaves, in order to protect road surfaces from damage. Similar restrictions may be introduced in 2025 if temperatures reach critical levels.

In such cases, restrictions may include:

• bans on truck traffic during the hottest hours of the day (typically between 12:00 and 20:00),
• selected roads with surfaces particularly vulnerable to damage,
• the implementation of detours or mandatory rest stops for trucks.

To avoid unexpected disruptions, it’s worth regularly checking announcements from Bulgarian road authorities and monitoring weather forecasts during periods of high temperatures.

Summary

Bulgaria stands out among other European countries due to the absence of permanent driving bans for trucks on Sundays and public holidays. This greatly facilitates route planning through the country and eliminates the need to adjust to weekend restrictions.

However, this doesn’t mean there are no restrictions at all. Carriers must be prepared for temporary traffic limitations, caused by roadworks, extreme weather conditions, and the possibility of periodic driving bans during heatwaves.

Always follow road signs and monitor updates from local authorities to avoid fines and delivery delays.

Driving bans in other European countries

If you carry out international transport, be sure to also check driving bans in other European countries to effectively plan your routes:

Driving Ban in Switzerland – read >>>

Driving Ban in Germany – read >>>

Driving Ban in France – read >>>

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Exemptions from driving bans in other EU countries

Although Bulgaria does not enforce permanent truck driving bans, in many other European countries drivers must comply with restrictions in effect on Sundays, public holidays, and during the summer season.

However, there are situations in which it is possible to obtain an exemption from a driving ban, provided that the transport meets specific criteria and the carrier has the proper permit.

What types of transport can be exempt from driving bans?

In most European countries, truck movement during banned periods is permitted if the cargo is essential for the economy, public safety, or health.

The most commonly exempted types of transport include:

• Specialist vehicle transport – such as construction equipment, cranes, industrial machinery, or technical vehicles.
• Transport of agricultural products – including live animals, grain, vegetables, fruit, or milk requiring rapid delivery.
• Towing of broken-down vehicles – roadside assistance companies may be permitted to transport trucks involved in accidents or breakdowns.
• Transport of emergency equipment to disaster areas – in crisis situations (e.g. floods or fires), trucks carrying medical and rescue supplies are usually unrestricted.
• Military transport – vehicles delivering military equipment are typically exempt, especially during exercises or operational deployment.
• Transport of bottled water – due to its critical importance to public health, bottled water deliveries may be exempt from bans.
• Fuel transport – deliveries of liquid or gaseous fuels to gas stations, industrial plants, and strategic infrastructure points are prioritized.
• Postal deliveries – transport of letters and packages, particularly important items such as government documents or express parcels.
• Funeral transport – includes the movement of coffins, urns, and funeral equipment for ceremonies.
• Transport of goods and special food products (including perishable items) – deliveries of fresh food items such as meat, fish, dairy, or frozen products that require constant temperature control.

How to obtain a special permit?

In many European countries, to benefit from an exemption from the driving ban, the carrier must submit an applicationto the relevant road authorities in advance – the processing time can range from a few days to even several weeks. The application should include detailed information about the planned route, type of cargo, and the purpose of the transport.

It’s important to remember that each exemption request is reviewed individually, and failure to comply with the specified conditions may result in hefty fines.

Before planning transport across Europe, it is advisable to check the current regulations in each country and start the application process early to ensure all required documents are in place.