From Spain to Germany with goods: the survival guide to Europe’s most demanding regulations

German road transport legislation is one of the strictest and most rigorous in all of Europe. For Spanish hauliers crossing the country with goods, ignorance of its rules can result in extremely high fines. Germany is not just any transit country; it is a territory where every kilometre is regulated with millimetric precision. The basis of the whole system is the StVO (German Highway Code), but heavy goods vehicles are subject to additional layers of federal and European regulations.

The objective is clear: maximum road safety, environmental protection and guaranteed rest for drivers. Therefore, before putting a wheel on German soil, every haulier must know that their driving will be monitored, controlled and, in the event of an infringement, punished with a firm hand. Preparing is not an option, it is an obligation.

The first major obstacle that the Spanish lorry driver encounters is strict traffic restrictions. Germany imposes a general driving ban for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes on Sundays and public holidays, from 00:00 to 22:00, on the entire road network. In addition, during the summer period (1 July to 31 August), there is an additional restriction on Saturdays from 07:00 to 20:00 on major motorways and federal roads. National holidays such as New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, German Unity Day and Christmas also involve a total ban. But be careful, because there are regional holidays in states such as Bavaria or North Rhine-Westphalia that also prohibit traffic.

Only very specific types of transport are exempt from these restrictions: perishable goods (milk, meat, fish, fruit and vegetables), combined rail-road transport, emergency services or empty vehicles linked to such transport. Any other operation requires a special authorisation that is only granted in emergency cases. Planning the route to avoid coinciding with these restrictions is not a piece of advice; it is a requirement.

Beyond the time restrictions, the Maut toll system is another minefield for hauliers. Since December 2023, all trucks over 7.5 tonnes must pay a kilometre-based toll on motorways and on most federal roads, the amount of which depends not only on weight and axles, but also on CO₂ emissions. Diesel trucks bear a much higher economic burden than zero-emission vehicles, which remain exempt until June 2031. The toll can be paid using the Toll Collect on-board unit (OBU), via the Internet or with mobile applications such as Toll Now, but the haulier must ensure that his system is registered and working properly before starting the journey. Furthermore, any German city may have its own low-emission zone (Umweltzone), for which it is mandatory to display the green environmental badge (Umweltplakette). The red and yellow badges are no longer valid as of 2025, and driving without one or with an incorrect one carries a fine of 100 euros.

Fines in Germany are, without a doubt, one of the aspects most feared by international hauliers, and with good reason. The financial penalties are high and, in many cases, accompanied by points on the central Flensburg register, which can lead to the withdrawal of the driving licence. Speeding, for example, is severely penalised: in urban areas, exceeding the limit by between 21 and 25 km/h costs 80 euros and one point; if exceeded by more than 70 km/h outside built-up areas, the fine amounts to 680 euros and two points. But there are specific offences for lorries that are particularly costly: failure to comply with driving and rest times can mean 160 euros and one point for the driver, and up to 480 euros for the company; overloading exceeding 20% is punished with 425 euros and one point for the driver, and 850 euros for the company; using a mobile phone while driving carries 150 euros and one point; not carrying the second-generation digital tachograph (mandatory from August 2025) is sanctioned with 1,500 euros; and not using the turning assistant (mandatory to protect cyclists and pedestrians) leads to a fine of 100 euros for the driver and up to 300 euros for the company.

For the driver of a heavy vehicle engaged in international transport, scrupulous respect for driving and rest times is sacred. European regulations, set out in Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, establish a daily rest of at least 11 hours, which can only be reduced to 9 hours a maximum of three times between two weekly rests. The regular weekly rest is 45 hours, although it can be reduced to 24 hours once every two weeks, provided that it is subsequently compensated. The second-generation digital tachograph is the control tool, and its correct use is vital: data must be downloaded every 28 days for the driver’s card and every 90 days for the vehicle. The German authorities, especially the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM), carry out spot checks on the roads and at control centres, and any manipulation of the tachograph or falsification of records may be considered a criminal offence.

Finally, one must not forget other specific rules for heavy vehicles that complete the demanding German legal framework. Lorries have reduced speed limits: 80 km/h on motorways and 60 km/h on conventional roads. Overtaking bans for lorries are frequent on many motorway sections, and non-compliance is prosecuted with fines and points. In winter, lorries over 3.5 tonnes are required to fit tyres with 3PMSF marking (snowflake symbol) on the steering and drive axles. And, of course, the mandatory equipment for any vehicle circulating in Germany includes a reflective vest, warning triangles and a first-aid kit. In short, driving a lorry through Germany is an exercise in discipline, planning and knowledge. The Spanish haulier who ignores these rules will face not only financial penalties, but also the paralysis of his operation and the loss of his driving licence. The only way to travel safely on German motorways is to know the rules, respect the schedules, keep the vehicle in perfect condition and, above all, drive with the awareness that every infraction will be detected and punished.