What Is a Tachograph and Why Is It Required?
A tachograph is a device fitted to commercial vehicles that records the driver's activities — driving, other work, availability, and rest — along with the vehicle's speed and distance. The purpose of the tachograph is to enforce compliance with the EU drivers' hours rules, which set maximum driving times and minimum rest periods for professional drivers. Tachographs are a legal requirement on most goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes used for commercial purposes, and on most passenger-carrying vehicles with more than eight passenger seats.
There are two types of tachograph in use in the UK: analogue tachographs, which record data on a paper chart (tachograph disc), and digital tachographs, which record data electronically on a smart card (the driver card) and in the vehicle unit. All new vehicles registered after May 2006 must be fitted with a digital tachograph. Smart tachographs — a newer generation of digital tachograph with GNSS positioning and remote communication capabilities — have been required in new vehicles since 2019 and in all vehicles from 2024.
Who Must Use a Tachograph?
The tachograph rules apply to drivers of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight and passenger vehicles with more than eight passenger seats, when those vehicles are used for commercial purposes. There are a number of exemptions, including vehicles used by emergency services, vehicles used for driving instruction, vehicles used for non-commercial purposes, and vehicles operated by farmers for agricultural purposes. The full list of exemptions is set out in EC Regulation 561/2006 and the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Keeping of Records) Regulations 1987.
The Driver Card
Every professional driver who is required to use a digital tachograph must hold a valid driver card. The driver card is a smart card issued by the DVLA that stores the driver's personal data and records their driving and rest activities. A driver card is valid for five years and must be renewed before it expires. Driving without a valid driver card is a serious offence.
To apply for a driver card, complete a DVLA D777B application form and submit it with a passport-style photograph and the application fee (£32 in 2026). The driver card is typically issued within 15 working days. Drivers who have lost or had their card stolen must apply for a replacement immediately and must not drive a vehicle requiring a tachograph until the replacement card is received, unless they have obtained a written authorisation from the DVLA.
How to Use a Digital Tachograph
| Action | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Start of shift | Insert driver card into slot 1. Enter country of start. Select manual entry mode to record activities since last withdrawal of card (if required). |
| Driving | Tachograph automatically records driving when the vehicle is in motion. No manual input required. |
| Other work | Select the 'hammer and spanner' symbol on the tachograph mode switch when performing other work (loading, paperwork, vehicle checks). |
| Availability | Select the 'bed' symbol when waiting at a customer's premises or on a ferry where the driver can rest but must be available. |
| Rest / break | Select the 'bed' symbol when taking a break or rest period. The tachograph will record this as rest time. |
| End of shift | Withdraw driver card. The tachograph will prompt you to enter the country of end and the odometer reading. Store card securely. |
EU Drivers' Hours Rules: Key Limits
The EU drivers' hours rules (EC Regulation 561/2006) set the following key limits for HGV drivers. These rules apply in the UK as retained EU law following Brexit.
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Daily driving limit | 9 hours (extendable to 10 hours twice per week) |
| Weekly driving limit | 56 hours |
| Fortnightly driving limit | 90 hours over any two consecutive weeks |
| Daily rest | Minimum 11 hours (reducible to 9 hours up to 3 times per week) |
| Weekly rest | Minimum 45 hours (reducible to 24 hours, but reduced rest must be compensated) |
| Break after 4.5 hours driving | 45 minutes (can be split into 15 minutes then 30 minutes) |
Tachograph Offences and Penalties
Tachograph offences are taken extremely seriously by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the courts. Offences range from relatively minor technical breaches (such as failing to record a manual entry) to serious criminal offences (such as tampering with the tachograph or using a fraudulent driver card). The penalties reflect the severity of the offence.
| Offence | Maximum Penalty |
|---|---|
| Driving without a tachograph | £5,000 fine |
| Driving without a driver card | £5,000 fine |
| Exceeding daily driving limit | £5,000 fine (roadside fixed penalty £300) |
| Insufficient daily rest | £5,000 fine (roadside fixed penalty £300) |
| Tachograph tampering / fraud | Unlimited fine, imprisonment, loss of operator licence |
| Failing to keep tachograph records for 28 days | £5,000 fine |
Record Keeping Requirements
Drivers must keep their tachograph records (driver card data and any analogue charts) for a minimum of 28 days and must be able to produce them at the roadside on request from a DVSA enforcement officer. Operators must retain tachograph records for a minimum of 12 months. Failure to produce records at the roadside is an offence, and failure to retain records for the required period is a serious compliance breach that can affect the operator's licence.
Digital tachograph data must be downloaded from both the driver card and the vehicle unit at regular intervals — at least every 28 days for driver card data and every 90 days for vehicle unit data. Many operators download data more frequently as part of their compliance management processes.
Tachograph Training at GS Driver Training
Understanding how to use a tachograph correctly is a core component of the Driver CPC qualification and is covered in depth during our HGV training courses. All students at GS Driver Training receive practical instruction in tachograph operation as part of their course, ensuring they are fully compliant from day one of their professional driving career. For more information about our courses, visit our HGV Class 2 training page or HGV Class 1 training page, or call us on 01252 447808.
