Hungary – Gellért hill and Citadel — traffic of coaches 2026 (last updated: 8 April 2026)
On 5 April 2026, the renovated Citadel on the top of Gellért Hill was inaugurated to the public in Budapest, which awaits visitors with a completely renewed exterior after almost half a decade of reconstruction. This is the highest geographical point near the Danube, from which visitors can enjoy a beautiful view of the entire city. Coaches can only use the designated roads and streets for traffic, elsewhere a prohibitory sign prevents entry. The bus parking lot at the Citadel is scheduled to be opened in the next few days. In connection with Gellért Hill, tourist companies and operator of coaches must apply for an entry permit on the internet interface of the TOBI system.
The boundary of the area affected by the entry restriction: Hegyalja út – Alsóhegy utca – Villányi út – Bartók Béla út – Szent Gellert rakpart.
Entry is possible from the following locations:
• Hegyalja road – Sánc utca
• Alsóhegy street – Somlói utca
• Villányi road – Szüret utca
• Bartók Béla road – Ménesi út
• Bartók Béla road – Kemenes utca
• Szent Gellért embankment – Kelenhegyi út
! There is a complete ban on coaches from streets not listed on the list, and it is not possible to enter even with a permit !
Prior registration is required to use the TOBI system. For newly added coaches for the system, a one-time vehicle registration fee (HUF 2540 gross) must be paid. A gross cost reimbursement of HUF 2,540 must be paid per collection contribution. The permit is issued for one day during the period between 06:00 in the morning and 22:00 in the evening. For the planned road, the request for a collection permit must be submitted at least 2 days in advance. An entry permit may not be requested in advance for a date longer than 14 days. In the case of transport to the Citadel, the address "1016 Budapest, Szirtes út 34" or "1016 Budapest, Szirtes út 34" must be provided. Entry permits cannot be obtained for streets marked with the sign "No entry by bus" (where there is no additional sign "Except with a permit", such as Orom utca).
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Hungary – Nighttime traffic restrictions lifted on the holiday of Easter 2026 (last updated: 31 March 2026)
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at nights of Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (3rd, 5th and 6th of April 2026).
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Good Friday, 3 April 2026
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Easter Monday, 6 April 2026
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
driving restriction in Hungary: calendar for the whole year of 2026 »
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Closure and card usage suspension at all MOL petrol stations in Hungary! (last updated: 30 March 2026)
It is important to note for those driving on Hungarian roads that structural reorganizations are underway at the largest domestic oil company (MOL Plc.) affecting the entire company group. In connection with this, IT systems also need to be adjusted, therefore — due to technical reasons— all MOL petrol stations in Hungary will be closed for a few hours on the night of March 31 to April 1, 2026, and the acceptance of MOL cards will also be suspended on the same night!
Attention!
! MOL card acceptance will be suspended from 22:00 on March 31 (Tuesday) to 05:30 on April 1 (Wednesday);
! MOL's entire Hungarian petrol station network will be closed from 23:00 on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 to 01:00 on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. On-site shops will also be closed during this time.
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Fuel price cap in Hungary introduced (last updated: 10 March 2026)
The government of Hungary has announced that due to the current economic crisis and the shortage of supply, a fuel price cap will be introduced in Hungary: a liter of gasoline cannot cost for more than 595 HUF, while the price of diesel cannot exceed 615 HUF per liter. The fuel price cap will be available only for Hungarian citizens, hauliers and farmers, thus, for those vehicles which have a Hungarian plate number and a Hungarian registration certificate. Foreign vehicles can still buy fuel at Hungarian petrol stations for the market price.
The fuel price cap has been introduced by 12:00 am, 10th of March, 2026, and it aims to help Hungarian citizens, residents and companies. Products bought on the protected price cannot be resold for third individuals or companies that are not entitled to purchase fuel on such a price. In case of the violation of this ban, a fine can be issued from 500,000 HUF up to 15,000,000 HUF.
Source: Government of Hungary, MKFE
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Modification of mandatory transit route network over 20 tons (last updated: 4 March 2026)
As we wrote (see our article on the 2nd of January 2026 below) new rule applies to heavy goods vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 20 tons in international transit traffic from 1 January 2026. These vehicles crossing the Hungarian state border must travel on a motorway, expressway or route designated as a transit route until they cross the Hungarian state border again by road. There is a little change as from 1 March 2026 concerning road Nr. 55 between Baja and Kisszállás.
Heavy goods vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 20 tons can use other roads (within the distance that is strictly necessary) only when they are going to their Hungarian premises or to a Hungarian loading and unloading point related to a given transport task.
The transit route network may only be left to a parking space for the purpose of taking a rest period, for the access to which the vehicle does not use a public road leading to a residential area.
The new rule was created to protect the public from the noise and emissions of transit freight traffic and to reduce the number of accidents in populated areas.
map of the transit route network in Hungary from 1 March 2026 »
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Hungarian toll increase planned for March 2026 cancelled (last updated: 27 February 2026)
Although negotiations between the transport industry associations and the ministry have broken down, the Ministry of Construction and Transport has indicated that would not implement the previously planned March toll increase. As a fortunately result, from March 1, 2026 Hungarian tolls will remain at the same level as heavy goods vehicles have been paying since January 2026.
The ministry’s toll hike plans sparked outrage among industry players at the end of 2025, which is why the ministry and professional associations sat down at the negotiating table. After several problematic negotiation episodes, it became clear at the end of February that the ministry would not implement the previously planned March toll increase, so transport and haulage companies will not have to count on a next toll increase in Hungary from March 1, 2026. The relevant legislation was published in the Hungarian Gazette on February 27, 2026.
Planned increasing toll for March has not yet been stopped in the fee calculator, but the fee calculator will be updated shortly.
further information of Hungarian toll and e-vignettes »
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Driving restrictions in Hungary — March 2026 (last updated: 25 February 2026)
Winter exemption for less polluting international vehicles still in effect on the 1st of March in Hungary..
According to many years of practice, the winter exemption for EURO 3-4-5-6 heavy-duty vehicles operating in international traffic will continue on our roads until March 1 in 2026. As the police confirmed: the free winter driving (EURO-3-4-5-6 in international traffic) is still in effect on March 1 (Sunday), but from the weekend of March 7–8, the truck ban will apply to both domestic and international traffic, as well as to all environmental category vehicles! In March, in Hungary, the traffic restrictions for trucks exceeding the maximum permissible gross weight of 7.5 tons will begin at 10:00 PM on Saturdays and will last until 10:00 PM on Sundays. Our national holiday on March 15 will not change this, as it falls on a Sunday this year.
Driving ban in Hungary — timetable of the whole year of 2026
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How to enter the area of Buda Castle by coach? — 2026 (last updated: 6 January 2026)
Coaches registered abroad and in Hungary, just as before, will be able to drive op to Buda Castle in 2026 with an entry permit. The permit may be applied for after a prior registration through the district’s organization responsible for city management. The permit can be requested on the application called BABU (Buda Castle Bus Entry Route Planner) launched in March 2025. Ignoring BABU registration is considered a violation of the law and bus operators entering without a valid entry permit can expect a fine of 100,000 HUF.
Please find the steps to obtain an entry permit below:
1.) Create a user account for your company on the BABU platform on babu.budavar.hu. Important to notice: due to an IT system change, from January 1, 2026, both new and old users will need to register, which means that even those bus operators who had previously registered in the system will have to register again.
2.) Register individual tourist coaches or buses and upload photos of the vehicles' valid registration certificate. There is a one-time fee of 5,000 HUF which is charged per vehicle. Make sure to enter the plate number precisely, because the system does not allow to change the plate number afterwards. If the bus service provider decides to send another vehicle to the castle instead of the bus registered previously, the plate number of the replacement bus must be entered on the BABU platform as well.
3.) The registered vehicles and their electronic data will be approved by the Buda Castle City Management Service.
4.) After the vehicles have been registered, the permit applications for the actual trips can be submitted through the ‘Requests’ section in BABU’s menu.
Further information:
HILTON — Entry to Hilton Hotel will be granted from January 1, 2026 in the BABU system as well. While applying for the permit, one should select ’Individual request’ from the menu and upload a certificate issued by Hilton.
DÓZSA GYÖRGY SQUARE — The large bus parking lot on Dózsa György Square, located on the western side of the castle, is still in operation, but the parking arrangement has changed since autumn 2025. Coaches and buses can park with a difference of 90⁰ angle compared to the one before, but still at an angle. Tour guides can escort their groups from there upon the stairs and next to the small sports field in order to arrive at the lifts on Dózsa György Square. It is important to note that the city management is planning to renovate the stairs, so a possible closure may be expected in 2026.
PROFESSIONAL DIALOGUES — In general, the city management is open for any discussions with professional associations and organizations in Hungary, which can lead to further changes in order to facilitate the castle’s tourism and coach traffic.
Link to BABU’s website:
https://babu.budavar.hu/en//login
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New weight restrictions on Hungarian main roads (last updated: 2 January 2026)
The Hungarian government’s new effort to redirect heavy goods vehicle traffic to motorways and expressways (see our announcement about new transit corridors below). This process has led to weight restrictions have been being introduced on some main roads since the summer of 2025.
In the first days of 2026, a summary map has been published on the road operator’s website, providing a useful tool for transport operators and truck drivers to view all of Hungary’s weight restrictions on one common map.
SEE THE MAP OF WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS HERE! »
Sharp increase in Hungarian road tolls is not expected in January (last updated: 2 January 2026)
There has been a change in the 2026 Hungarian road tolls! Associations of the Hungarian transport-logistic sector and the ministry jointly reviewed the road tolls planned for 2026, and an agreement was reached after long negotiations. From January 1, 2026, the infrastructure tolls for main roads and expressways in Hungary will increase only by the August inflation rate, by 4.3%. There will also be another significant toll increase, from the 1st of March 2026 (another 30% increase is expected).
The ministry's toll increase plans sparked outrage among industry players at the end of 2025, which is why the ministry and professional associations sat down at the negotiating table. Our information from December 15, 2025 (below) has therefore changed! From 1 January 2026, the infrastructure components of tolls will increase only by 4.3% for main roads and motorways, while external cost charges will remain unchanged. As from March 2026 another 30% increase is expected.The toll calculator (below) does not yet include the March 2026 increases!
new table from 1 January 2026 »
the toll calculator is available again! »
Toll charge to increase in two stages from 2026 »
further information (Hungarian Toll Service Agency) »
Mandatory transit route network over 20 tons (last updated: 2 January 2026)
A new rule applies to heavy goods vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 20 tons in international transit traffic from 1 January 2026. These vehicles crossing the Hungarian state border must travel on a motorway, expressway or route designated as a transit route until they cross the Hungarian state border again by road.
Heavy goods vehicles exceeding a maximum gross weight of 20 tons can use other roads (within the distance that is strictly necessary) only when they are going to their Hungarian premises or to a Hungarian loading and unloading point related to a given transport task.
The transit route network may only be left to a parking space for the purpose of taking a rest period, for the access to which the vehicle does not use a public road leading to a residential area.
The new rule was created to protect the public from the noise and emissions of transit freight traffic and to reduce the number of accidents in populated areas.
map of the transit route network in Hungary from 1 January 2026 »
further information on our website »
Company transformation and IT shutdown on New Year's Eve at the NÚSZ (last updated: 30 December 2025)
From January 1, 2026, the toll collection and toll control tasks of the Hungarian National Toll Payment Service company will be transferred to the Hungarian Public Roads Nonprofit Zrt. This will bring toll collection and road operation under one organization. The transfer of the business line and the significant company transformation inevitably bring with it the need to switch IT systems, which is why on the night of December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026, the toll balance topping up will be suspended, and Hungarian e-vignettes will not be available for purchase. The sale of ccassional route tickets will be unavailable.
The several-hour transition will affect both those using the e-vignette system and those using the usage-based toll system. The exact time of the IT maintenance:
from 23:15 on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 » to 14:15 on Thursday, January 1, 2026
Toll roads can only be used for a fee during the IT downtime! Everyone will have to arrange to buy their road use authorisation in advance!
It is important to note in connection with the company transformation that toll payers will no longer receive their invoices from the Hungarian Public Roads Authority (NÚSZ), but from the Hungarian Public Roads Nonprofit Zrt. – Toll Branch (address: 1134 Budapest, Váci út 45. Building B).
Driving restrictions and public holidays in Hungary — 2026 (last updated: 23 December 2025)
List of public holidays and calendar of driving restrictions of goods transporting vehicles over 7.5 t have been already available for 2026 here!
Transport operators and truck drivers can see these useful information here:
day-by-day calendar 2026 » general rules of traffic restriction in Hungary »
The Hungarian toll calculator is available again (last updated: 19 December 2025)
The toll calculator of the Hungarian National Toll Payment Service (NÚSZ) is working again, and now it includes the toll rates for 2026, and new weight restrictions introduced during the last couple of months.
The updated version of the toll calculator helps with planning transport operations, routes and haul charges in order to negotiate with consignors and partners.
website of the toll calculator »
Toll rates in Hungary — 2026 (last updated: 15 December 2025)
The Ministry of Construction and Transport in Hungary has announced the toll rates in Hungary for 2026. The distance-based toll must be paid in the HU-GO system by vehicles with a maximum weight exceeding 3.5 tons.
In accordance with the decree, from 1 January 2026 the infrastructure charge of motorway will increase by 4,3% with the rate of inflation in August this year. The main change is the radical increase of the infrastructure charge of main roads (54%), which, as a result, caused a convergence of the main road and the motorway prices. The external cost charge (air pollution + noise pollution and CO2 emissions as well) will remain unchanged. The 2026 toll rates can be found in the chart below, prices are gross and meant in HUF.
TOLL RATES IN HUNGARY AS FROM JANUARY 2026 »
The new toll rates will be charged from 1 January 2026, and the toll road network will be extended from 1 July, 2026. As it has been announced on the official website of the National Toll Payment Services (NÚSZ), the toll calculator is currently unavailable due to technical reasons.
information about the toll calculator »
Source: National Toll Payment Services Plc., Hungarian National Journal,143/2025.
Winter exemption for less polluting international transporters (last updated: 4 November 2025)
According to many years of practice, the winter exemption for less polluting vehicles operating in international traffic on Hungarian roads will also start from November 4 this year. This means that from the second weekend of November until March 1, weekend and public holiday truck bans do not restrict empty or loaded EURO 3-4-5-6 trucks operating in international traffic on the Hungarian road network. However, for more polluting and/or domestic vehicles, the truck ban is generally valid from 10:00 PM on Saturdays to 10:00 PM on Sundays throughout the winter.
Source: Gov. decl. 190/2008; Article 2; par. 3
Shorter driving ban on the national holiday of 23 October 2025 (last updated: 21 October 2025)
The Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming national holiday of 23 October 2025.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
23 October 2025 (Thursday) 06:00 » 22:00
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Changes to the entry of empty livestock transporters into Hungary (last updated: 5 September 2025)
From 15 September 2025, empty livestock transport vehicles arriving in Hungary from Serbia can only enter at Röszke, while those arriving from Ukraine can only enter at Záhony — the National Food Chain Safety Office (NÉBIH) informed our association. The measure serves to prevent the spread of animal diseases. The new entry order will be in force for at least one month, until 15 October 2025, but after experience, it is possible that the new system will be extended or finalized for another period.
As the authority announced, the new entry regime only applies to the control of those intending to enter Hungary with empty livestock vehicles, but it applies not only in connection with the latest foot-and-mouth disease, but to all Hungarian and foreign livestock vehicles returning empty engaged in the transport of farm animal species.
The inspection of live animal transport vehicles is carried out at the veterinary border offices by the veterinary authority staff there. The authorities will redirect to Záhony and Röszke those empty animal transport vehicles which intend to enter Hungary from other places along the serbian and ukrainan borderline. Furthermore they also check whether transport companies have complied with their cleaning and vehicle disinfection obligations.
The provision serves to prevent the introduction of animal diseases that threaten the animal health status of Hungary and cause serious economic damage.
Source: Directorate of Animal Health, Animal Protection and Veterinary Medicinal Products of the National Food Safety Office
Widening of the M1 — practical traffic information (last updated: 4 September 2025)
Please inform your colleagues and drivers!
On September 1, 2025, the large-scale work began, in which the 78 km long section of the M1 motorway between km 16 (intersection of M0) and km 94 (Concó exit) will be widened from 2x2 to 2x3 lanes. In order to inform Hungarian and foreign road users, a website in 12 languages has been launched, providing those interested with up-to-date practical information.
The construction work is planned to last several years till 2028-29. The lane expansions were carried out in such a way that the 2x2 traffic lane will be provided to road users throughout.
In order to provide reliable and fast information to road users, MKIF Hungarian Concession Infrastructure Development Co. launched a separate website on the expansion of the M1 motorway in the first days of September. This website contains all traffic information: possible closures of junctions and rest areas, current diversions with a map and the technical rescue procedure, the availability of emergency parking bays, and the current traffic schedule. The constantly updated website is available in Hungarian, Slovak, Ukrainian, Romanian, Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian, Polish, Turkish, Bulgarian, English, German, and Russian here:
https://development.mkif.hu/m1
A separate animation has been created to illustrate the work processes, the individual construction phases, and the changes in traffic schedule:
Shorter driving ban on the national holiday of 20 August 2025 (last updated: 19 August 2025)
The Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming national holiday of 20 August 2025.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Wednesday 20 August 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 16-17 August 2025 (last updated: 16 August 2025)
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 16-17 August 2025.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
15:00 pm. » 22:00 pm. Saturday 16 August 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 17 August 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 9-10 August 2025 (last updated: 8 August 2025)
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 9-10 August 2025.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
15:00 pm. » 22:00 pm. Saturday 9 August 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 10 August 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 26-27 July 2025 (last updated: 25 July 2025)
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 26-27 July 2025.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
15:00 pm. » 22:00 pm. Saturday 26 July 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 27 July 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Obligatory notification in Hungary for lubricants and certain tobacco products (last updated: 22 July 2025)
Starting on the 20th of July 2025 (for transit shipment through Hungary) all transport operators carrying lubricants, dried tobacco or fermented tobacco will be a necessary to send a notification at the national taxation authority of Hungary (NAV) by filling the NAV_J32 document. The rule applies to every freight transport companies regardless the country of origin and the notification should be sent in Hungarian, English, German or French.
The rule had already been in force before regarding lubricants, but from the 20th of July, 2025 it will also apply for dried and fermented tobacco. The document can be sent online by filling the NAV_J32 form on NAV’website, but in some particular cases (e.g. excise duty) the notification must be sent only by post on a paper document. In this case, the document should be sent to the competent customs directorate based on the county of entry, exit or the place of delivery (or in case, to the Airport Directorate).
Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 5-6 July 2025 (last updated: 3 July 2025)
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 5-6 July 2025.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
15:00 pm. » 22:00 pm. Saturday 5 July 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 6 July 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Hungary has lifted the restrictions imposed due to the FMD (last updated: 13 June 2025)
After no new cases were detected since April 2025, thus on June 6, 2025, Hungary lifted the protective measures that the national chief veterinarian had ordered in the first days of March to curb the “foot-and-mouth disease” epidemic spreading among even-toed ungulates. It is important that many countries still have protective and preventive restrictions against our country in international trade.
On June 6, 2025, the protective and observation zones established around the outbreaks in Northern Transdanubia were therefore lifted, and the animal epidemic bans were lifted.
However, it is important for companies transporting and hauling live animals operating in international traffic to know that measures that were implemented against our country in the spring may still be in force in many EU and third countries. Although the gates have been opened for intra-EU trade, it is always necessary to find out about the position of the given authority before transport operations, as it cannot be stated that the export of susceptible live animals and/or products of animal origin derived from them is permitted to all EU Member States or third countries. In some cases, they may require vehicle disinfection or a two- or three-week observation obligation for the transported animals, etc.
continue to the thematic page of the NÉBIH (continuously updated) »
Hungary – Opened night windows on the holiday of Pentecost 2025 (last updated: 4 June 2025)
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at nights of Whit Sunday and Monday (8th and 9th of June 2025).
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Whit Sunday, 8 June 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Whit Monday, 9 June 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Hungary – Opened night window on the holiday of 1st of May 2025 (last updated: 30 April 2025)
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at night on the upcoming Thursday of Labour Day (1st of May 2025).
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Labour Day, 1 May 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Hungary – driving restriction on the weekend of the Easter holiday 2025 (last updated: 16 April 2025)
For heavy goods vehicles over 7,5 t a traffic restriction will be applied on the upcoming weekend of Easter 2025.(Due to the strong traffic of civil passenger cars this weekend there will be no free night windows for lorries!).
Prohibited driving time over 7,5 t will be applied as follows:
22:00 am. Maundy Thursday, 17 April 2025 » 22:00 pm. Good Friday, 18 April 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
22:00 am. Holy Saturday, 19 April 2025» 22:00 pm. Easter Monday, 21 April 2025
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Usual exceptions can be found in this regulation »
calendar of traffic ban for the whole year of 2025 »
Restrictions and disinfection points along the Hungarian border (last updated: 9 April 2025)
Along the Slovakian-Hungarian borderline 10 infected nodules are affected by foot and mouth desease. Hungarian nodules are located in Győr-Moson-Sopron county, Western-Hungary. Along the Slovak-Hungarian border disinfection gates have been set up on the Hungarian side of the border from Rajka to Esztergom. Freight of animals (susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease) forwarding in the direction of Slovakia during the Hungarian and Slovakian borderline can be accomplish only border crossing point of Sahy - Parassapuszta! The transport of animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) is prohibited in the areas of Győr-Moson-Sopron County and the Komárom, Tata and Esztergom districts of Komárom-Esztergom County.
Additionally, there are disinfeection points at the motorways from Hegyeshalom to Bőny in order to stop the spread of the virus from the county to other regions. The minister of agriculture in Hungary, István Nagy asks every road transport operator to follow the rules carefully to be able to cope with the epidemic efficiently.
Slovakia » closed all its small borders with Hungary on the 7th of April 2025. Vehicles are being disinfected at major border crossings. Due to the new domestic outbreaks, disinfection points were set up at all border crossings from Rajka to Esztergom at the initiative of Hungary with the assistance of the Hungarian Armed Forces. There is continuous congestion on the western section of the M1 motorway. Austria » bans traffic over 3.5 t at twenty-one small Austrian-Hungarian borders from April 5 to May 20 2025. Serbia » disinfects vehicles at the Röszke border crossing. Slovakia temporarily reinstated border controls on the Austrian and Hungarian border sections from April 7. It is recommended to use major border crossings!
Important! Businesses transporting and hauling live animals should coordinate with their customers and livestock farms nationwide, and should check the NÉBIH website for current commercial information, which may include stricter or more relaxed measures at any time depending on the country! The map of infected area can be seen here »
Foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary: restrictions are being relaxed
As we wrote earlier, on March 7, 2025 (see below), foot-and-mouth disease broke out in a northeastern Hungarian settlement, located in Győr-Moson-Sopron county. Hungary therefore introduced an export ban for even-toed ungulates (artiodactyls such as pigs, sheep, goats, cattles and bisons). However, on March 18, 2025, the rules became easier: the national chief veterinarian authorized the export of the animals in question from Hungary to other member states of the European Union (the exception is the affected from Győr-Moson-Sopron county, where bans are still in force).
Exports to third countries are still not possible in the event that the designated country applies a ban. Many third countries only allow the export of products that have undergone certain treatments. Information on bans and product restrictions in third countries can be found on the website of the Hungarian Food Authority.
Important! Businesses transporting and hauling live animals should coordinate with their customers and livestock farms nationwide, and should check the NÉBIH website for current commercial information, which may include stricter or more relaxed measures at any time depending on the country!
Foot-and-mouth disease in Hungary — restrictions on animal, meat and milk transport!
After 52 years, a sudden outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was reported in Hungary, which endangers mainly artiodactyls such as pigs, sheep, goats, cattles and bisons. The infectious and serious disease had already shown up in Northern-Germany this january, but in the 7th of March, 2025, FMD was also detected in a farm near Győr, Western-Hungary. The chief veterinarian of Hungary orders restrictions and quarantine for the region of Transdanubia, Western-Hungary and for Pest county.
Therefore, the export of artiodactyl-kind domestic animals including ruminants like cattles and pigs is strictly forbidden. Apart from livestock, products made of such animals, for instance milk, meat and leather goods are also banned to be transported from Hungary to countries mentioned on the Hungarian Food Authority website (list is continuously updated).
If the disease occures in a farm, all the animals should be slaughtered, because medical cure is not possible for this major and viral illness. FMD is not harmful for people, but it can cause a serious damage for farmers and animal keepers. Transport operators intending to transport such animals must discuss the details of the operation assignment with their clients and the farms!
Official announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture in Hungary (in Hungarian) »
Official website of Hungary’s National Food Chain Safety Office (Nébih) »
Actual trade information regarding the spread of FMD (in Hungarian) »
Hungary – HU-GO route ticket limited up to 120 minutes from February 2025 in Hungarian e-toll system
There will be important changes regarding the e-toll system in Hungary from the 1st of February, 2025. Those who did not use an on-board unit (OBU) so far had the opportunity to purchase a route ticket which was valid for a whole calendar day before. However, the validity period of the ticket will be limited up to 120 minutes in the future. In addition, from the 1st of January, 2025 the ticket can only be bought through the online platform of HU-GO, the Hungarian e-toll system.
We would like to draw the attention of those international hauliers who have used the route ticket up to one day so far that the ticket will be valid only for two hours. It means that it is not enough to purchase a ticket in order to use a certain route, but the haulier should mind the validity period and in case purchase a new ticket if the previous one expires.
Although it seems to be complicated and inconvinient to buy more than one ticket in order to finish longer transport operations, this solution forces the participants to follow the rules and makes it impossible to use the same route ticket for multiple journeys. The changes do not affect the terms of using OBU devices in Hungary.
Another significant change is the fact that the route ticket can only be purchased through the HU-GO e-toll system and it is not possible to buy it in the stores at petrol stations. The electronic route ticket does not require any registration – it is suficient to use a credit card in order to purchase it.
A particular attention should be paid for time of purchase, therefore, the haulier needs to check whether the payment of the route ticket has been successful, given that the purchase of a route ticket can only be made online by bank card on the hu-go.hu website. In general, the National Toll Payment Services recommends the use of an on-board unit (OBU) for the payment of tolls for the road use of vehicles exceeding the maximum authorized total mass of 3.5 tons, given its much greater flexibility than that of the route ticket.
Official statement on the web site of the National Toll Payment Services Plc. in English »
You can find the contact details of our audited toll declaration operators at toll-charge.hu.
Detailed information on the toll payment methods available in the HU-GO system can also be viewed at our website toll-charge.hu.
Hungary – HU-GO penalty alert restart!
National Toll Payment Services Plc. has responded to the request of the carriers by making the fine alert function available again. The functionality of the relaunched fine alert is temporarily different from the previous version.
We urge our customers to take advantage of the fine alert function, activate the service, check the email address set in their profile for current accounts and prevent the accumulation of toll fines (error of an on-board unit, an incorrect toll declaration due to incorrect user settings; e.g. wrong vehicle category, EURO code or number of axles, or a depleted balance)!
Further information (hu-go.hu) »
Open call of MKFE for the purchase of simulators for initial and periodic trainings
Hungarian Road Transport Association (MKFE) and its related entity, MKFE Services Ltd. (MKFE Szolgáltató Kft.) announce an open tender for the purchase of simulator equipment suitable for initial and periodic trainings for driver’s certificate of professional competence (GKI).
Deadline of the application: 10 January, 2025.
Hungary – Opened night window on the national holiday of 23 October 2024
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at night on the upcoming national holiday, October 23, 2024.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Wednesday, 23 October 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Flood wave on the Danube – traffic restrictions and road closures in Hungary
Due to the heavy rains in Central Europe, a huge mass of water rushed into the Danube catchment area, which caused a flood wave to start on the river. The flood reached Hungary on September 16, 2024. Many of road sections and bridges along the Danube had to be closed.
The Slovakian-Hungarian border towards Vámosszabadi (road no. 14) is closed, and road closures are to be expected in places on main roads 10 and 11 in the area of Esztergom, Visegrád and Szentendre. The flood wave will reach Budapest on September 21, where the lower quays already had to be closed. Congestion is to be expected in the Hungarian capital, but Budapest is a safe place, and passenger and goods transport runs smoothly. Further info with real-time traffic map here:
Hungary – Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 31 Aug. - 1 Sept. 2024
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 31 August - 1 September 2024.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
15:00 pm. » 22:00 pm. Saturday 31 August 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 1 September 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Hungary – Shorter traffic ban on the weekend of 3-4 August 2024
3 August 2024 (Saturday) will be a workday in Hungary (because of the exchange of rest days around the national holiday upcoming two weeks later). So the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles over 7,5 t will begins only at 22:00 p. m. Saturday:
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
22:00 pm. Saturday 3 August 2024 » 22:00 pm. Sunday 4 August 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
find here the calendar of the traffic ban for the whole year (utinform.hu) »
Hungary – Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 13-14 July 2024
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 13-14 July 2024.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
15:00 pm. » 22:00 pm. Saturday 13 July 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 14 July 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
source: Ministry of Construction and Transport
Hungary – Heat wave! Opened night driving window on the weekend of 22-23 June 2024
Because of the extremely hot weather the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles at night on the upcoming weekend of 22-23 June 2024.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday 23 June 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
HUNGARY – Route authorization break at the end of May!
On May 29-30, 2024 (Wednesday and Thursday), the central and county route authorization (permit requests and the issuing of prior consents) for overload and oversize freights will be suspended for technical reasons in Hungary. The public road authorities ask that the applications requested for the above date in the central or county jurisdiction are submitted by 9:00 a.m. on May 28, 2024 at the latest!
Automata Online permit requests and the issuing of prior consents installed at the measuring station will work, and the measurement and authorization at the measuring stations will also take place as usual.
source: Magyar Közút ÚVR e-Office; https://internet.kozut.hu/en/electronic-customers-support »
Hungary – Opened night windows on the holiday of Pentecost 2024
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at nights of Whit Sunday and Monday (19th and 20th of May 2024).
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Whit Sunday, 19 May 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Whit Monday, 20 May 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Hungary – Opened night window on the holiday of 1st of May 2024
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at night on the upcoming Wednesday of Labour Day (1st of May 2024).
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Labour Day, 1 May 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Hungary – Opened night windows on the weekend of the Easter holiday 2024
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at nights on the upcoming weekend of Easter 2024.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Good Friday, 29 March 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Easter Monday, 1 April 2024
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
E-toll system for buses and coaches as from 1 April 2024
Domestic and international buses and coaches over gross permitted weight of 3,5 tonnes will be introduced into the e-toll system (HU-GO) on the whole territory of Hungary from 1 April 2024. (Lorries have been travelling by HU-GO already for over 10 years.)
What bus operators have to do now:
••• please create a user account of your comany and register your buses on the website hu-go.hu! You can choose from 11 languages.
••• buy or make installed an on-board-unit (OBU) which (also) can be used for Hungarian road toll payment. By the registration a pre-pay account platform will be created automatically. By this way, you will have a contractual relationship with the National Toll Payment Service company.
••• you have to choose an audited toll declaration operator (Hungarian payment supporter service company) from this list. This supporter will transmit the electronic signals of your on board unit for the National Toll Payment Service company.
••• if you want to choose a post-payed method, please make a contract with Kupon Kft.
! VERY IMPORTANT! Do not add an ammount to the OBU device of your buses (which have been already registrated in HU-GO system) until March 31 2024, because until then the system will deduct the toll for every vehicle that passes through, so you paying unnecessarily. It will not be possible to reclaim it! Only add an amount to the device after March 31!
Without HU-GO registration the vehicle can only travel with a route ticket, which is valid for only one way and 24 hours on the day after purchase. The price of one-way ticket is not refundable.
Concerning buses and coaches there are 2 different categories: category of M2 (buses up to 5 tonnes) and M3 (buses over 5 tonnes). The difference in fees and the exact amounts will be announced in a government decree. Further information: hu-go.hu or nemzetiutdij.hu. (The infrastructure charge part of the toll will be determined based on the technically permissible maximum authorized total mass, while the other component, which is the external-cost charge, will be calculated according to the number of axles and the environmental classification.
Buses with a maximum authorized total mass not exceeding 3.5 tons will continue to be able to pay for their road use by purchasing an e-vignette under the user charge system, and will be classified into the D2 vehicle category from 1 April 2024.
TOLL CALCULATOR („at the type of vehicle” choose buses!) »
HU-GO: new structure, categories and toll rates as from 1 January 2024
From 1 January 2024 many changes got into force at HU-GO toll system. Please pay attention for the choose of number of axles! Heavy good transport vehicles of 5 or more axle have to apply category "J5" in HU-GO!
EN: HU-GO - J5 toll category:
The J5 toll category has been introduced into the HU-GO e-toll system, which must be set in case of five- or more axle tolled vehicles. (Only the four-axle tolled vehicles belong to the J4 category.) In order the right toll payment and also to avoid unauthorized road usages and accidental penalties please, set the right category for your vehicle. We ask our Contracted Toll Payers who have five- or more axle tolled vehicles that – in case, if it had not set until 31.12.2023 - set the J5 category immediately on the HU-GO platform or on the on-board unit (OBU), if it is suited for that. More changes happened in the HU-GO e-toll system also, you can find the information about these here!
D: HU-GO - J5 Mautkategorie:
Die J5 Mautkategorie hat in das HU-GO E-Maut System eingeführt, die muss im Fall die mautpflichtigen Fahrzeuge mit 5 oder mehr Achsen eingestellt werden. (Nur die Kraftfahrzeuge mit vier Achsen gehören in die Gebührenkategorie J4.) Für die richtige Mautzahlung, wie auch die unberechtigt Straßennutzung und allfällige Strafe zu vermeiden, bitten wir unsere verträglichen Mautzahler mit fünf- oder mehrachsigen Fahrzeugen – im Fall, wenn die bis zum 31. Dezember 2023 nicht eingestellt wurde - auf der HU-GO-Plattform oder auf dem Bordgerät (wenn das verwendbar darauf) unverzüglich die J5 Kategorie zu einstellen. Mehrere Änderungen sind in das HU-GO E-Maut System auch vorgegangen, Sie finden die Information über diese hier!
Hungary – driving ban during the wintertime 2023
From 4 November 2023 to 1 March 2024 the driving restrictions do not apply for vehicles of EURO 3 or higher emission class, operating in international transport. (For EURO 0-1-2 emission classes and/or domestic traffic there is a driving restriction from 22h00 on the eve of Sundays and public holidays to 22h00 on Sundays and public holidays.)
Hungary – Opened night windows on the weekend of the national holiday of 23 October 2023
For heavy goods vehicles the Ministry of Construction and Transport has lifted the traffic restrictions at nights on the upcoming weekend of the national holiday, October 21-23, 2023.
Prohibited driving time will be applied as follows:
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Sunday, 22 October 2023
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
06:00 am. » 22:00 pm. Monday, 23 October 2023
(driving restriction for all heavy goods transport vehicle over 7.5 t gross permitted weight!)
Hungary – Driving restriction has been lifted for the last weekend of August 2023
Due to the extreme heat, the Ministry of Construction and Transport has completely lifted the traffic restrictions for heavy goods vehicles on the upcoming weekend of August 26-27, 2023.
Hungary – Traffic order during the upcoming World Athletics Championships and the National Holiday
The most significant sports event in Hungary's history to date, the World Athletics Championships will be held in Budapest between 19-27 August, 2023. The celebration of the founding of Hungary also falls at the time of the sports event. During the two occasions a total of almost two hundred road traffic restrictions will come into effect on the city's roads. Traffic will be coordinated by the Budapest Police Headquarters (BRFK).
The venue of the sports event will be the National Athletic Center in the southern part of the city, besides the street running competitions will be held in downtown Budapest. 2.000 athletes from 200 countries, 8.000 sports diplomats, and hundreds of thousands of guests and sports fans are expected to attend this worldwide event. Apart from that, around 1 million participants are expected for the fireworks display on the 20th of August.
It is important to know that the closures and diversions already started on the 3rd of August 2023 for transport companies operating with tourist buses in the capital, as well for small goods vehicles and trucks. The restrictions will last until 15 of September, by which time traffic will return to normal.
Truck traffic in South Pest and Csepel Island:
The National Athletic Center is located to the south of the bridge Rákóczi, between Soroksári street and the Danube (map), where for many years, heavy goods vehicle traffic has had purposeful, permit-free traffic in practice. Mostly through the nearby industrial areas and due to the service of logistics parks and facilities on the northern tip of Csepel Island. As this part of the city will be particularly affected during the competition, truckers in the southern part of the capital should also expect bans and traffic disruptions, especially in the vicinity of Soroksári street, Weiss Manfréd street, Jenő Kvassay Street, Közvághóíd, Rákóczi-bridge.
During the weekend of the national holiday, the ban for trucks will be following:
19 August, 2023 (Saturday) from 3:00 PM - to 20 August (Sunday) until 10:00 PM (the ban applies to all trucks with a maximum permissible total weight of 7.5 t).
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD):
Heavy passenger traffic is also expected on the road leading to Ferihegy airport, as well as on the M0 ring road and the roads leaving from the airport (M3, M4, M5).
Important for drivers of tour buses:
For ten days, a parking ban will come into effect on 21 August 2023 from 00:00 until 31 of August, 24:00 at the bus parking place of square Dózsa György (under Buda Castle). It will also be extremely difficult for buses to drive in the city center, Városliget and Hősök tere will be the scene of continuous restrictions too. On the national holiday of 20 of August, the entire city center and all the downtown Danube bridges will be closed according to the practice of previous years.
traffic restriction concerning the Athletics Games (WITH MAP) »
traffic restriction concerning the national holiday (WITH MAP) »
official website of the World Athletics Championchips »
the official website of St. Stephen's Day »
Coronavirus info:
The Hungarian Government lifted all protection measures against the coronavirus pandemic. As of 7th of March 2022 entry into Hungary is possible without any restrictions.
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BIREG — advance electronic licence registration system in Hungary » general info (office hours): +36 30 128 0421 (languages: HUN, ENG, RUS) |
For HU-GO customers: please check your tax number! »
On the 23rd of June 2021, the control of persons entering the internal borders of Schengen Hungary was lifted from 00:00. According to the provision, it is now possible to enter Hungary in passenger traffic from Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Romania without any restrictions, regardless of citizenship. (Discounts do not apply to air traffic.)
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (24. 06. 2021.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (24. 11. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (13. 11. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (01. 09. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (31. 08. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (14. 07. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (19. 06. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (29. 05. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (20. 04. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (03. 04. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (02. 04. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (27. 03. 2020.) »
Coronavirus info: goods transport in Hungary and Hungarian borders (21. 03. 2020.) »
Toll payment during the epidemic (EN) »
Mautzahlung in Zeiten der Pandemie (DE) »
