Driving and Rest Times
How many hours a driver may drive per day and per week, and how long breaks and rests must be — the AETR rules.
Driving Times
Time spent at the wheel — loading, waiting and breaks do not count.
Daily driving
9 hoursAt most 9 hours may be driven between two rest periods. This may be extended to 10 hours no more than 2 times a week.
Continuous driving
4.5 hoursAfter 4.5 hours of driving, a break of at least 45 minutes is taken. The break may be split in two: first 15, then 30 minutes.
Weekly driving
56 hoursTotal driving in one week may not exceed 56 hours.
Two-week driving
90 hoursThe total for two consecutive weeks may not exceed 90 hours: after a 56-hour week, 34 hours are left for the next.
Rest Periods
Uninterrupted time the driver may freely dispose of.
Daily rest
11 hoursIn every 24 hours, at least 11 hours of uninterrupted rest are taken.
Split daily rest
3 + 9 hoursDaily rest may be split in two: first at least 3, then at least 9 hours — 12 hours in total.
Reduced daily rest
9 hoursDaily rest may be reduced to 9 hours no more than 3 times between two weekly rests.
Weekly rest
45 hoursOnce a week, at least 45 hours of uninterrupted rest are taken; it starts no later than the end of 6 days after the previous weekly rest.
Reduced weekly rest
24 hoursWeekly rest may be reduced to 24 hours; the missing time is made up in one block by the end of week 3 after it. At least one of any two consecutive weekly rests must be a full one.
Two drivers
9 hoursWith two drivers on board, each takes at least 9 hours of daily rest within 30 hours.
Good to Know
Who the rules cover and how time is counted.
Who is covered?
Drivers of goods vehicles with a maximum weight above 3.5 t. Türkiye, the EU countries, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan are parties to the AETR.
How is a week counted?
A week starts at 00:00 on Monday and ends at 24:00 on Sunday. The weekly and two-week driving limits are added up by this calendar week.
Tachograph
The vehicle’s tachograph records driving, breaks and rest. The driver card is personal; no one may drive on another person’s card. Records are requested at roadside checks.
!Enforcement and fines differ from country to country. On journeys within the EU, the additional rules of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 also apply — for example, a regular weekly rest may not be taken in the vehicle cab.
Sources: AETR — European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged in International Road Transport; EU — Regulation (EC) No 561/2006.
Legal weight and dimension limits: Maximum Weights and Dimensions · Vehicle inner dimensions: Vehicle and Trailer Types
Other sections of the reference