A rule change is set to be introduced for drivers from July 1 in a huge shake-up. The Department for Transport has confirmed, on or after 1 July 2026, a smart tachograph 2 must be fitted into goods vehicles with a gross weight of 2,501kg or over, undertaking international journeys for hire and reward. If the vehicle is undertaking an international journey for the driver or company’s own account and driving does not constitute the main activity of the driver, there is no requirement to
fit a tachograph. In addition, if the vehicle weighs over 2.5 tonnes and less than 3.5 tonnes and is operating only within the UK, then there continues to be no requirement to fit a tachograph into the vehicle. READ MORE Air conditioning for four million homes in UK after government warning A tachograph is a device fitted to commercial vehicles (like HGVs, buses, and coaches) that automatically records the vehicle’s speed and distance, as well as the driver’s activity, driving time, and rest periods. Its
primary purpose is to ensure road safety and enforce legal limits on drivers’ working hours. If the vehicle is newly registered with effect from 24 December 2025, then a full smart tachograph 2 must be fitted. If the vehicle is registered before this date, then a transitional smart tachograph 2 may be fitted. VDO Fleet said: “The new second version of the smart tachograph has been installed as standard in new commercial vehicles weighing 3.5 tons or more since August 2023. “And also most vehicles
in the existing European fleet have already been retrofitted with devices like the VDO DTCO 4.1 and higher. From July 1, 2026, the tachograph obligation will also apply to a completely new vehicle class: vans and light commercial vehicles. “If their maximum permissible weight, including trailers or semi-trailers, exceed 2.5 tons and they are used in cross-border freight transport or cabotage, they will have to record their driving data with tachographs in future. “This presents both fleet operators and drivers with completely new tasks and
challenges.” The DfT confirmed alternative fuel vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes do not need to adhere to tachograph rules. But this will only apply if the vehicle is not already exempt under the zero emission rule for vehicles between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes, it is powered by natural gas, liquefied gas or electricity and it is used to carry goods within a 100-kilometre radius of the operator’s base. The rules will only apply to vehicles operating solely within England, Scotland and Wales, with different
rules applying in Northern Ireland.
DfT, tachograph 2, smart tachograph 2, drivers, goods vehicles, international journeys, hire and reward, cabotage, vans, light commercial vehicles, VDO Fleet, England Scotland Wales, Northern Ireland
So basically van drivers get taxed with tech now? Cool.
I don’t get it… if it’s “only within the UK” then why are they making it a whole big mandate. My cousin said it’s for everyone over 2 tons. Idk who to believe.
“On or after 1 July 2026” like that means they’ll just start enforcing early anyway. Also they say alternative fuel vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes don’t need tachographs but then there’s like a bunch of exemptions so it’ll still end up being required for half the trucks lol.
Tachograph 2 sounds like the government spying harder. It’s weird they’re calling it “road safety” while everyone’s already getting written up for stuff. And if you register after 24 Dec 2025 you need it full smart, but older ones can get a “transitional” one… so what, like a fake smart one? Never makes sense.