Road transport aid extension until September 2026: what changes and how to apply

Key data

If you are a freight or passenger road transporter, you have three additional months to benefit from aid linked to the Middle East crisis. The Order HAC/940/2026, published on September 9, 2026, extends the eligible period until September 30, 2026, extending the original deadline that ended on June 30.

The extension is supported by the Royal Decree-law 18/2026, which authorized new extensions of the aid covered in articles 55 and 58 of Royal Decree-law 7/2026. The European Commission has already given the green light through Decision SA.124070, confirming that the extension is compatible with the internal market and state aid rules.

What does this regulation establish?

Order HAC/940/2026 does not create a new aid system: it extends the existing procedure from Order HAC/674/2026 to the new extensions authorized by Royal Decree-law 18/2026. In practice, this means that the entire accreditation framework, documentation, and requirements you already know remain valid.

A relevant detail for planning: the regulation expressly provides that this same framework may be applied to future extensions that are authorized, which provides some visibility on the continuity of the mechanism if the situation in the Middle East requires it.

Economic and operational impact

The direct impact for transport companies is positive: the period during which fuel expenses are eligible for subsidy is extended, without adding additional administrative burden. There is no need to register again, submit new accreditation documentation, or adapt to a different procedure.

The key points from an operational perspective are:

• Eligible expenses: fuel incurred between March 1 and September 30, 2026. The start of the period (March 1) does not change from the original order; what is extended is the closing date.
• No new procedures: the same accreditation framework and requirements from Order HAC/674/2026 remain fully valid.
• Full sector coverage: affects both freight and passenger road transporters.
• European legal certainty: the European Commission's Decision SA.124070 guarantees that the aid will not be questioned for incompatibility with the internal market.

Who does it affect?

• Road freight transport companies (own fleets or leased vehicles).
• Road passenger transport companies (buses, coaches, discretionary and regular services).
• Self-employed workers in land transport by road, both freight and passenger.
• Any operator who had already benefited from the aid under Order HAC/674/2026 and wishes to extend their application to the new period.

Practical example

A freight transport company with a fleet of 15 trucks that had already benefited from the aid under Order HAC/674/2026 for the period until June 30, 2026 can now also include fuel expenses for July, August, and September 2026 in its application, without needing to submit new accreditation documentation or adapt to any different procedure.

Similarly, a self-employed passenger transport worker who did not apply for aid in the first period can do so now covering the complete period: from March 1 to September 30, 2026, provided they meet the requirements established in Order HAC/674/2026.

The key operational point is that you don't have to "start over": the already-known procedure is the one that applies.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if you are already covered by the aid under Order HAC/674/2026. If so, check that your application can be extended to the new period (until September 30, 2026) according to the procedure you already know.
2. Collect and keep receipts for fuel expenses corresponding to the July-September 2026 period, which are now eligible for subsidy.
3. If you have not yet applied for aid, review the accreditation requirements established in Order HAC/674/2026 and prepare documentation for the complete period: from March 1 to September 30, 2026.
4. Stay alert to possible new extensions. Order HAC/940/2026 expressly provides that this same framework may be applied to future extensions that are authorized, so the mechanism could continue beyond September 2026.
5. Consult with your advisor or manager to confirm that you meet the specific accreditation requirements and that expense documentation is properly organized before submitting your application.

Official source

View complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-18874