Understanding tachograph laws and regulations can challenge fleet managers, but compliance is crucial to avoid penalties. At first glance, the rule seems straightforward: if your vehicle's total weight is 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) or less, you don’t need a tachograph, whether you're driving within the UK or across Europe.
However, if your vehicle exceeds this weight, you are legally required, with some exceptions, to install a tachograph. It’s important to consider the Gross Train Mass (GTM) – the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer when fully loaded.
Only vehicles registered before May 1, 2006, can use an analogue tachograph, while newer vehicles must be fitted with a digital model that encrypts driver speed and journey time data. There are some exceptions to the rules, such as if your vehicles primarily operate off public roads, they don’t require a tachograph.
More relevant to many fleets, if you use vehicles with a maximum combined weight of 7.5 tonnes and stay within a 100km (62 miles) radius of their base, you won’t need a tachograph if:
• The vehicle is powered by liquid gas, LPG, or electricity
• The vehicle is transporting materials, equipment, or machinery for the driver’s own use, and driving is not the primary activity of the driver.
Although tachographs aren't required in these cases, drivers must still adhere to domestic rules on drivers’ hours.
As of August 21, 2023, all newly registered vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with these advanced tachographs, which use satellite positioning. These tachographs help enforce EU rules on driving and rest times by recording driver mileage, speed, and rest periods, while also logging when the vehicle is being loaded or unloaded. They also include anti-tampering features.
Additionally, vehicles that were previously equipped with an analogue or non-smart digital tachograph must be retrofitted with a smart tachograph by December 31, 2024. Vehicles with a smart tachograph version 1 must be upgraded to version 2 by August 18, 2025.
Legislation concerning the use of electric vehicles (EVs) weighing 4.25 tonnes is also evolving. Electric vans typically have a higher mass than their petrol or diesel counterparts due to the weight of the powertrain and battery.
In 2018, flexibility was introduced, allowing drivers with a standard (category B) licence to operate these heavier, zero-emission vehicles, with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 4.25 tonnes, which exceeds the usual 3.5-tonne limit.
In May 2024, the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) indicated that new legislation would be introduced by the end of the year. However, following a change in government in July, these updates are now being considered by the new administration.
The rules governing tachographs are complex, but one simple guideline holds true. If your vehicle weighs over 3.5 tonnes, you must ensure a tachograph is fitted unless an exemption applies.