📋 At a Glance
- Vehicles affected: Light commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes
- Operations affected: International goods transport and cabotage in the EU (purely domestic transport remains exempt for now)
- Deadline: 1 July 2026
- Requirement: Smart Tachograph Version 2 (G2V2) installed and in active use
If your vans are used for international goods transport or cabotage in the EU, this becomes mandatory. Operating without a compliant tachograph — or without proper data download and storage — exposes your company to fines during roadside checks and audits.
What the new rules mean for your fleet
For nearly two decades, driving and working time regulations applied mainly to heavy goods vehicles. From 1 July 2026, the same framework extends to light commercial vehicles used in international goods transport and cabotage.
The objective is a level playing field across the EU: reduced driver fatigue, fair competition, and consistent working conditions. For your operation, it means every cross-border journey by a 2.5–3.5 tonne van must be tracked, recorded and archived.
1. Driving time limits
The Smart Tachograph Version 2 records when the engine is running, when the vehicle is moving, and the driver’s activity status.
Under Regulation (EC) 561/2006, the driving time limits are:
- Daily: Maximum 9 hours of driving (extendable to 10 hours, twice a week)
- Weekly: Maximum 56 hours of driving in a single week
- Bi-weekly: Maximum 90 hours of driving over two consecutive weeks
Separately, working time (which includes driving plus other duties like loading, unloading, and administrative tasks) is governed by Directive 2002/15/EC and capped at a 48-hour weekly average, with an absolute ceiling of 60 hours in any single week.
2. Mandatory rest periods
European road authorities — including BALM (formerly BAG) in Germany, DVSA in the UK, and equivalent bodies in other Member States — can audit historical tachograph data to verify that drivers took the required breaks and rest.
- Driving breaks: After 4.5 hours of driving, a continuous 45-minute break is required (or split as 15 minutes + 30 minutes)
- Daily rest: 11 continuous hours every day
- Weekly rest: 45 hours per week — and this rest cannot be taken in the vehicle. The transport company is responsible for arranging proper accommodation
3. Data download and storage
Tachograph data must be downloaded on a recurring basis and stored securely. For heavy goods vehicles, the established cadence is every 28 days for driver cards and every 90 days for vehicle units. Similar obligations apply to LCV operators under the new rules.
Missing or incomplete data — even where the tachograph itself is correctly installed — typically results in fines during company audits.
What you need to put in place
Compliance for an LCV fleet has three parts:
- Tachograph installation. A Smart Tachograph Version 2 (G2V2) must be installed in each in-scope vehicle by a certified workshop. You arrange this locally — most tachograph workshops across Europe and the UK can supply and install the unit.
- Data download. Driver card and vehicle unit data must be retrieved on a recurring basis. This is where TachoSafe comes in.
- Storage, analysis and reporting. Data has to be archived securely and available for inspection. TachoSafe handles this too.
You take care of step 1. We take care of steps 2 and 3 — and everything that follows them.
How TachoSafe covers downloads and compliance?
Manual or remote download — your choice
Once your vans have a working G2V2 tachograph, you need a reliable way to retrieve the data. We offer both approaches:
| Manual download | Remote download | |
| Products | Tacho2Safe, Tacho5Safe+, TachoSafe Connect | RDU 4G, RDU+GPS |
| Best for | Fleets where drivers or managers can physically retrieve data on a schedule | International fleets, multi-country routes, vans that rarely return to base |
| How it works | The device is connected to the tachograph or driver card to perform the download, then data is uploaded to the cloud (via USB, mobile app, or built-in 4G/LTE depending on the model) | A unit permanently installed in the vehicle automatically downloads data from the tachograph over the mobile network |
| Cost profile | Lower upfront, more internal process | Higher upfront, fully automated |
| You manage | Download scheduling and execution | Nothing — it runs in the background |
Your TachoSafe partner will help you choose the right product based on fleet size, route profile, and how much internal capacity you have for managing downloads.
Automated compliance, analysis and reporting
Once the data lands in the cloud, TachoSafe WEB Pro does the work: it analyses the records, flags infringements against EU regulations, calculates working time by country, computes your ERRU reputation score, runs driver attestation reports, and keeps everything audit-ready.
Your tachograph data is stored securely and stays available for roadside inspections, company audits and internal checks. Your team stops chasing vans, driver cards and reports every 28 days — everything is in one system.
A reseller network across Europe and the UK
Around 60 TachoSafe reseller partners support fleets across the EU and the UK. They handle local sales, configuration, training and ongoing support in your language and your time zone. We match you with the right partner based on where your fleet operates.
Why this is cost-effective
Because we manufacture the download hardware, build the software, and distribute through a trained partner network, we offer pricing that’s hard to match if you assemble the post-installation compliance stack from separate vendors. One supplier, one contract, one set of integrations.
Why act now?
Enforcement begins on 1 July 2026. Two reasons to plan early:
Tachograph workshop capacity will tighten. Certified G2V2 installation slots are limited, and demand will spike in Q2 2026 as the deadline approaches. The earlier you book your installations, the more choice you have.
Your download and compliance setup needs lead time too. Choosing the right TachoSafe product, training your team on TachoSafe WEB Pro, and getting your reporting workflow in place all take a few weeks. Starting now means you’re ready to operate on day one — not scrambling in July.
1. Does this apply to my van if I only occasionally cross a border?
Yes. Even occasional international goods transport or cabotage with a vehicle in the 2.5–3.5 tonne range triggers the requirement. The rule is operation-based, not frequency-based.
2. Where do I get the tachograph installed?
Through any certified tachograph workshop in your country. We’ll be happy to advise on what to specify when you book the installation, so the vehicle is ready to work with TachoSafe download hardware and software.
3. What’s the difference between Tacho2Safe, Tacho5Safe+ and TachoSafe Connect?
All three are manual download devices, but with different ergonomics. Tacho2Safe is the classic plug-in downloader with a USB connection to your computer. Tacho5Safe+ adds Bluetooth and mobile-app control, with a compact keychain-friendly design. TachoSafe Connect goes further with built-in 4G/LTE and an integrated SIM, so data uploads to the cloud automatically right after the manual download — no cable or app needed. Your TachoSafe partner can help you pick the right one.
4. When should I go for an RDU instead of a manual device?
When your vans rarely return to base, when you operate across multiple countries, or when relying on drivers and managers to perform downloads on schedule becomes a bottleneck. The RDU is permanently installed in the vehicle and handles downloads automatically.
5. Do I need to retrofit existing vans, or only new ones?
This depends on the vehicle’s registration date and how it’s used. We can help you assess your fleet and identify which vehicles fall in scope.
6. What about vans under 2.5 tonnes?
Vehicles below 2.5 tonnes remain outside the scope of these rules.
7. Is purely domestic transport affected?
Currently no — the 2026 rules apply to international goods transport and cabotage. Domestic-only operations are exempt for now, though Member States can introduce stricter national rules.
8. What if my fleet operates in several countries?
TachoSafe WEB Pro handles compliance reporting across every Member State you operate in, with working time summed by country and infringement detection aligned to EU regulations.
Equip your fleet for 2026
Once your vans have a G2V2 tachograph, TachoSafe takes it from there: Manual download: Tacho2Safe, Tacho5Safe+, or TachoSafe Connect Remote download: RDU 4G or RDU+GPS Secure cloud storage and digital signature validation Audit-ready reporting through TachoSafe WEB Pro — infringements, working time, ERRU score, driver attestations Local support through our reseller partner network across Europe and the UK [Fill out the form to get a custom quote for your fleet]
No commitment required. We will contact you to discuss the best workshop locations and pricing for your fleet.