Rules for driving and rest times under EU 561/2006 — continuous driving, breaks, daily and weekly driving time, daily and weekly rest — with concrete limits and worked examples (including ferry/train interruption according to art. 9).
Introduction
Driving and rest times are set by EU Regulation 561/2006 and apply to goods transport with vehicles whose permissible total weight including trailer exceeds 3,500 kg. The rules are meant to ensure you do not drive tired. They are built around four things: breaks on the way, daily driving time, daily rest and weekly rest.
Breaks en route
Daily and weekly driving time
| Rule | Value | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Daily driving time | max. 9 h (2× per week up to 10 h) | art. 6(1) |
| Weekly driving time | max. 56 t | art. 6(2) |
| Driving time over 2 consecutive weeks | max. 90 t | art. 6(3) |
Rest periods
| Rule | Value | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Daily rest (regular) | min. 11 h | art. 8(2) |
| Daily rest (reduced) | min. 9 h, max. 3× between two weekly rests | art. 8(2)/(4) |
| Weekly rest (regular) | min. 45 h | art. 8(6) |
| Weekly rest (reduced) | min. 24 h (compensated within 3 weeks) | art. 8(6) |
| Weekly rest no later than after | 6 × 24-hour periods | art. 8(6) |
With double manning, each driver must have at least 9 hours of daily rest within a 30-hour window (Art. 8(5)).
Exceptions and exemptions
Not all driving is covered by EU 561/2006. The regulation itself exempts a number of vehicles (art. 3), and member states can exempt further national transport (art. 13). The most well-known is the craftsman exemption.
- 01National exemption list (art. 13): e.g. certain agricultural, postal and utility vehicles within a fixed radius. In Denmark the list is in BEK no. 4 of 08/01/2025 § 2 — see also the Danish Road Traffic Authority's exemption guidance.
- 02New from 1 July 2026: also for national transport exempted under § 2, the Danish Road Traffic Authority and the police can check the working time rules (the act on working time for mobile workers in road transport and the order for self-employed hauliers). Source: BEK no. 256 of 06/02/2026, which inserts § 24(4) in BEK 4/2025.
- 03The exemptions are exceptions: if in doubt, the main rule applies, and you must use a tachograph.
AETR — driving to and through third countries
If you drive outside the EU/EEA — e.g. to countries that have acceded to the AETR Agreement (UNECE) — the AETR rules apply instead of or alongside EU 561/2006. The rules are very similar (same break and rest time logic), but it is important to know which rule set governs a given trip and that recording happens correctly for the entire route.
Working Time Directive — more than driving time
EU 561/2006 regulates driving time, but total working time is covered by Working Time Directive 2002/15/EC (in Denmark: Act on Working Time for Mobile Workers in Road Transport). This distinguishes between four types of time, each with its own limits in addition to driving and rest time.
- 01Driving time — the actual driving (also covered by 561/2006).
- 02Other work — reading, cargo securing, washing, maintenance, paperwork.
- 03Availability time — waiting time when you don't have control of your time, e.g. ferry or border (does not count as working time).
- 04Break and rest — do not count as working time.
| Limit | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly working hours (average) | max. 48 h over 4 mths (up to 6 mths under collective agreement) | 2002/15/EF art. 4 og 8 |
| Weekly working hours (single week) | max. 60 t | 2002/15/EF art. 4 |
| Working hours for night work | maks. 10 t pr. 24 t | 2002/15/EF art. 7 |
The night period is typically calculated as 00–04 in the Danish implementation. Note: the 48/60 hour work time ceiling sits on top of the driving and rest time limits — both rule sets must be observed simultaneously.
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