Ban on heavy goods vehicles in Croatia 2025
13 August '25
Reading time 5 minutes
Croatia, especially during the summer season, struggles with heavy tourist traffic, forcing local authorities to introduce restrictions on heavy goods vehicles.
In 2025, truck bans will be in force on specific dates set by regulations, mainly during the holiday season and around Christmas. In this article, you will find detailed information on when to take into account driving restrictions in Croatia and on exceptions for certain types of transport.
Table of contents
When are driving restrictions in force in Croatia?
Public holidays with restrictions in 2025
Exceptions to driving restrictions for heavy goods vehicles
Truck traffic restrictions in Croatia
Croatian regulations on traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles focus primarily on the summer season, when traffic on the entire road network β especially on tourist routes β increases dramatically.
In order to ensure road safety and traffic flow, restrictions are always imposed on public holidays and the days preceding them.
When driving bans are in force β general rules
Driving bans in Croatia apply to several categories of vehicles:
- trucks β and vehicle combinations with trailers β with a maximum permissible weight (MPW) of over 7.5 tonnes,
- vehicles over 14 metres in length,
- tractors, construction machinery, horse-drawn carriages and driving school vehicles,
- all other vehicles that cannot reach speeds higher than 40 km/h.
The most important restrictions apply during the holiday season β from 15 June to 15 September:
- on Saturdays from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,
- on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Additional restrictions are also introduced:
- on Good Friday and the day before public holidays β from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.,
- on public holidays β from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m..
Important: If a public holiday falls on a Friday or Saturday, the ban also applies on Sunday from 12:00 to 23:00.
However, if the holiday or the last day of a public holiday falls on a Sunday or Monday, additional restrictions apply on Friday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Truck driving bans in Croatia on public holidays (2025)
In Croatia, on national holidays and the day before a public holiday, there is a ban on truck traffic. As a rule, restrictions are introduced on the public holiday from 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on the day before from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
National holidays during which restrictions apply on Croatian roads in 2025:
| DATE | NATIONAL HOLIDAY | DRIVING RESTRICTIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | New Year’s Day | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 6 January | Epiphany | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 20 April | Easter | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 21 April | Easter Monday | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 1 May | Labour Day | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 30 May | Statehood Day | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 19 June | Corpus Christi | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 22 June | Day of Anti-Fascist Resistance | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 5 August | Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans’ Day | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 15 August | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 1 November | All Saints’ Day | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 18 November | Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Homeland War and Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Vukovar and Ε kabrnja | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 25 December | Christmas Day (1st day) | 14:00 β 23:00 |
| 26 December | Christmas Day (2nd day) | 14:00 β 23:00 |
Planning routes through Croatia
When planning transport through Croatia, especially during the holiday season or around Christmas, it is worth checking the applicable truck driving restrictions carefully. These restrictions vary depending on the day of the week, vehicle type and region, which can significantly affect transport times and operating costs.
To avoid fines, unnecessary stops or delays, it is best to use the HOGS Maps tool. It is an intuitive platform that allows you to quickly and accurately check where and when traffic restrictions apply.
With the help of HOGS Maps you can:
β Verify current driving restrictions in Croatia and throughout Europe.
β Select the optimal route, taking into account the restrictions in force.
β Estimate travel costs and optimise your transport plan.
β Avoid unexpected stops and gain control over delivery times.
Thanks to HOGS Maps your journey through Croatia will be better planned, more cost-effective and definitely less stressful.
Try HOGS Maps for 14 days free of charge!
Exceptions to traffic restrictions in Croatia
Although Croatian regulations introduce seasonal and holiday restrictions on heavy goods vehicles, there are a number of exceptions that allow certain categories of transport to travel even during these periods.
Privileged vehicles
The restrictions do not apply to escorted vehicles and those with official right of way. Vehicles belonging to the Ministry of the Interior, the Armed Forces and road maintenance and clearance units are not subject to any restrictions.
Post, press, water, emergencies and media
The exception also applies to transport related to the delivery of postal items, press, drinking water and equipment necessary in emergency situations, such as breakdowns or disasters. The restrictions also do not apply to radio and television vehicles.
Fuel, cement and asphalt
The exemption from the restrictions also applies to the transport of cement, asphalt and motor fuels, with the exception of the section of the SR2 road between VaraΕΎdin and Dubrava KriΕΎovljanska, where additional regulations have been introduced.
Perishable goods
Vehicles transporting perishable goods, including fresh meat, dairy products, fish, fruit, vegetables, livestock and poultry, are treated in the same way, but they must also comply with special rules when travelling on the aforementioned section of the SR2 road.
In justified cases, it is also possible to obtain an individual travel permit, provided that the transport is considered necessary for public safety or if its delay could cause serious material damage.
Summary
In 2025, Croatia continues to apply seasonal and holiday traffic bans for trucks, especially during the holiday season and on public holidays. These regulations are intended to improve road safety and traffic flow, especially on routes leading to popular tourist regions.
The restrictions apply to specific days of the week and times of the day, and violations may result in penalties. Fortunately, many important categories of transport, such as medical transport, food transport and emergency services, are exempt.
A well-planned route, taking into account the calendar of restrictions, is essential for efficient transport through Croatia. To this end, it is worth using tools such as HOGS Maps, which help you avoid downtime and unforeseen difficulties.
Would you like to learn more about driving restrictions in different European countries? Read also:
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