Tachographs: rules for drivers and operators

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1. Overview

Tachographs record information about driving time, speed and distance. They’re used to make sure drivers and employers follow the rules on drivers’ hours.

When you need a tachograph

You must use a tachograph if the vehicle you’re driving comes under EU or AETR rules.

Find out if EU or AETR rules apply to the passenger carrying vehicle or goods vehicle that you’re driving.

Exemptions

You don’t have to use a tachograph if your vehicle isn’t covered by EU rules or if it’s exempt from EU rules on drivers’ hours.

Types of tachograph

There are 2 types of tachograph - analogue and digital.

All commercial vehicles first registered on or after 1 May 2006 must be fitted with digital tachographs. Otherwise you can use an analogue tachograph.

Information from digital tachographs is saved on smart cards so it can be checked later. There are different types of card for:

Further information

Read the guides on drivers’ hours and tachographs for goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles (PCVs). They include the rules on:

  • analogue tachographs - including proper record keeping and filling in ‘centrefield’ entries
  • digital tachographs - including using drivers’ cards, lost, stolen or faulty cards, setting the time and manual record keeping
  • common rules for all tachographs - including ‘multi-manning’ and keeping 2nd driver records, recording other work, rest-days and days off
  • responsibilities of operators - including calibrating and maintaining tachograph equipment
  • what happens if you don’t follow the rules

There are specific rules for tachographs and horse boxes or trailers and tachographs and recovery vehicles.

2. Tachographs in light vehicles

If you use a smaller vehicle (eg a 4x4) for towing, you’ll only need a tachograph if its total weight is more than 3.5 tonnes.

Fitting a tachograph

Read the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) guidance on where you can fit a tachograph unit in a vehicle.

Buying or leasing a vehicle

If you buy or lease a vehicle and it comes under the EU or AETR rules on drivers’ hours you’ll need to make sure it’s designed to have a tachograph fitted.

Phone DVSA if you’ve already bought a vehicle and are having problems fitting it with a tachograph. They can tell you where your nearest Approved Tachograph Centre is.

The Tachograph Centre can give you advice and help you get it fitted. It’s not always possible to fit a tachograph, however.

DVSA
0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

Further help

For further information about fitting tachographs in light vehicles email the DVSA tachograph section.

DVSA tachograph section
tachosection@dvsa.gov.uk