Tachograph Time Change: What Drivers Need to Know
When the clocks go back or forward, do you need to change the time on your digital tachograph? In most cases, there's very little you need to do.
Digital and smart tachographs record driving and rest times using Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which doesn't change with daylight saving time. This means your recorded driving hours, rest periods and infringements remain unaffected by the seasonal clock change.
The only thing you might want to adjust is the local time displayed on your tachograph screen. Here's what you need to know.
When do the clocks change?
In most European countries, clocks change twice a year:
Last Sunday in March: Clocks move forward by one hour as summer time begins.
Last Sunday in October: Clocks move back by one hour as winter time begins.
These changes affect local time, but not the UTC time used by digital and smart tachographs to record driver activities.
Do you need to change the time on your tachograph?
No, you don't need to change your tachograph's UTC time when daylight saving time starts or ends.
Digital and smart tachographs use UTC as their reference time throughout the year. Unlike local time, UTC doesn't move forward or backwards when the clocks change.
Your tachograph has two different time settings:
UTC time: The time used to record driving, rest and other activities. It remains the same throughout the year.
Local time: The time shown on the tachograph display, which can be adjusted to match your local time zone and seasonal clock changes.
For example, in the UK, local time is one hour ahead of UTC during summer and matches UTC during winter.
So, if your tachograph displays a different time from the clock on your phone, it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.
How to change the local time on a digital tachograph
If you want your tachograph display to match local time after the clock change, you can usually adjust it through the device settings.
The exact process depends on your tachograph manufacturer and model, but generally involves:
Opening the tachograph's main menu.
Finding the settings or local time adjustment option.
Adjusting the displayed time to match your local time zone.
Confirming the change.
Some models, including VDO digital and smart tachographs, allow the local display time to be adjusted in 30-minute increments.
Important: Changing the local display time does not change the UTC time used to record driver activities. If the UTC clock itself is incorrect, consult an authorised tachograph workshop rather than attempting to correct it as part of the seasonal time change.
Does the clock change affect driving and rest times?
No. Changing the clocks does not give drivers an extra hour of driving or reduce the amount of rest they must take.
Because tachographs record activities in UTC, the duration of your driving, work and rest periods is calculated independently of changes to local time.
For example, imagine you begin a daily rest period at 22:00 on the Saturday before the clocks go back. If you take 11 hours of uninterrupted rest, your tachograph will record 11 hours, even though the local clock moves back by one hour during that period.
The important thing is the actual time spent driving, working or resting, not how many hours appear to have passed on the local clock.
The usual driving and rest time requirements continue to apply, and drivers must still take sufficient rest.
What should you be careful about when the clocks change?
Although the seasonal clock change doesn't affect the underlying tachograph records, there are a few things worth keeping in mind:
Check the displayed time. If you use local time on your tachograph screen, make sure it matches your current time zone.
Be careful with manual entries. Depending on the tachograph, you may need to enter activities using UTC rather than local time. Check the time reference used by your device.
Complete the required rest period based on UTC. Regardless of the clock change or the time displayed, drivers must ensure they've completed their required rest period. As tachographs record in UTC, the clock change itself doesn't affect how rest is calculated.
Check time differences when travelling. If you drive across countries with different time zones, the difference between local time and UTC can change.
In short, the clock change itself requires little attention, but accurate activity records and sufficient rest remain just as important.
Keep track of your driving and rest times with Tachogram
You don't need to calculate your driving and rest times manually every time the clocks change.
With Tachogram, you can upload your driver card data and see how much driving, working and rest time you have left. The app also helps you identify potential infringements and understand where you may have broken the rules.
That means less time calculating hours and more confidence when planning your next stop, regardless of the season. Sign up for a free trial and check your driving hours with Tachogram!
