Tachograph in a van from 1 July 2026 – when it is mandatory

What changes on 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, all vehicles used for the international carriage of goods whose maximum permissible mass, including any trailer or semi-trailer, exceeds 2.5 tonnes must be fitted with a second-generation smart tachograph.

The obligation stems from what is known as Mobility Package I – Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which extended the scope of Regulations (EC) No 561/2006 and (EU) No 165/2014 to vehicles with a mass between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes. Until now those were not subject to this obligation.

Who is affected and who is not

Two things are decisive: the mass of the vehicle and the type of transport. The limit counts the maximum permissible mass including any trailer or semi-trailer, so even a lighter van with a trailer crosses the 2.5-tonne threshold easily.

The obligation applies to cross-border carriage of goods – deliveries to customers in another EU member state, for instance. Conversely, vehicles used exclusively for domestic transport within a single member state may continue to operate without a tachograph.

The change also does not affect vehicles designed for the carriage of passengers with no more than nine seats including the driver (category M1) – minibuses, for example, provided they are not carrying goods. It is important, though, that the obligation applies to new and already-registered vehicles alike; it is not tied to the date of first registration.

What the company and the driver must arrange

The vehicle needs a second-generation smart tachograph and the driver needs a digital driver card. Drivers must at the same time observe driving times, breaks and daily and weekly rest periods under Chapter II of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 – that is, the same rules that apply today to drivers of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.

At a roadside check the authorities may examine tachograph records for the day of the check and the preceding 56 days. National transport authorities therefore recommend that drivers who perform both international and domestic transport use the tachograph on domestic journeys as well – otherwise gaps appear in the record of activities.

Exemptions – when a tachograph is not needed

Regulation 561/2006 contains exemptions in Article 3, which apply in all member states, and in Article 13(1), which each member state applies at its own discretion. If a vehicle meets the conditions of one of them, no tachograph needs to be installed and the driver does not have to use a driver card.

In practice the most important tends to be the exemption under Article 3(ha) – vehicles with a mass exceeding 2.5 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes used for the non-commercial carriage of goods on own account, where driving is not the main activity of the person driving the vehicle.

If a vehicle is fitted with a tachograph but a particular journey falls under an exemption, the driver must use the "out of scope" function so that it is clear the journey is not subject to the rules of the regulation.

The driver qualification card is a separate matter

A common misconception is that a tachograph automatically brings with it an obligation to hold a driver qualification card. That is not the case. Under Directive (EU) 2022/2561 the obligation to complete initial qualification and periodic training applies only to drivers holding category C and D licences.

A driver with a category B or BE licence therefore does not need a driver qualification card, even though they must use a tachograph. As this comes from the Directive, the same regime applies across the whole European Union, with national law transposing it in each member state.

What happens if you do not make it in time

Driving without the prescribed tachograph or without a driver card breaches European rules and is dealt with at roadside checks. Inspectors may examine data for the day of the check and the preceding 56 days, so you cannot rely on a single journey going unnoticed.

Penalty levels are set by each state individually and differ substantially between countries. National transport authorities warn directly that fines in some EU countries can be very high, even ruinous – so the risk is not merely administrative.

The second risk is practical: tachographs are fitted by approved workshops and their capacity is limited. The closer to the deadline, the longer the wait. If you know the obligation applies to you, it makes sense to deal with it well in advance rather than in June 2026.

Summary – what you need to know

In short: if a vehicle exceeds 2.5 tonnes including a trailer and is used for the international carriage of goods, from 1 July 2026 it needs a second-generation smart tachograph and the driver needs a digital card. Domestic journeys and transport covered by an exemption fall outside the obligation.

Practical steps: check the mass of the vehicle including any trailer, clarify whether the transport is for hire or reward or on own account, book the fitting well in advance and arrange driver cards.

And one thing to keep an eye on: GPS tracking does not replace a tachograph. They are two systems with different legal standing – the tachograph records driving and rest times under the regulation, while GPS handles the mileage log, vehicle positions and costs. In practice they complement each other and companies with vans generally need both. Have a transport adviser confirm whether your operation falls under the obligation.