EU driving & rest: the limits you must control
Operational guide · Regulation (EC) No 561/2006
Scope
Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 lays down the rules on driving times, breaks and rest periods for drivers of goods-transport vehicles whose maximum permissible mass (MPM), including any trailer or semi-trailer, exceeds 3.5 tonnes.
From 1 July 2026, the scope also extends to vehicles with an MPM exceeding 2.5 tonnes in international transport (Regulation 2020/1054).
Driving limits
| Item | Limit | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Daily driving | 9 h (extendable to 10 h at most twice per week) | Art. 6(1) |
| Weekly driving | 56 h | Art. 6(2) |
| Fortnightly driving (2 consecutive weeks) | 90 h | Art. 6(3) |
Mandatory breaks
After a driving period of 4 hours and 30 minutes, the driver must take an uninterrupted break of at least 45 minutes (Art. 7).
This break may be replaced by:
- A break of at least 15 minutes followed by one of at least 30 minutes, spread over the driving period.
Daily rest
| Type | Duration | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | ≥ 11 h uninterrupted | Within each 24 h period after the start of work |
| Reduced | ≥ 9 h uninterrupted | At most 3 times between two weekly rests |
| Split | 3 h + 9 h (total 12 h) | The 3 h portion first, then 9 h uninterrupted |
Weekly rest
| Type | Duration | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | ≥ 45 h uninterrupted | At least once every 2 consecutive weeks |
| Reduced | ≥ 24 h uninterrupted | Compensated before the end of the 3rd following week |
Two reduced weekly rests may not be taken consecutively: in each period of two consecutive weeks the driver must take at least one regular weekly rest of 45 h (Art. 8(6)).
Driver return
The driver must be able to return to the employer’s operational centre or to their place of residence to take at least one regular weekly rest (or compensation for a reduced rest) within each period of 4 consecutive weeks (Art. 8(8a), added by the Mobility Package).
Limitations of this guide
The following are outside the scope of this explainer:
- AETR scenarios (European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged in International Road Transport).
- National derogations under Article 13 of Regulation 561/2006.
- Multi-manning (crew driving).
- Article 9 (interruption of rest on ferry/train).
- Directive 2002/15/EC (drivers’ working time).
- Technical tachograph rules.
Official sources cited
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