EU Tachograph Changes in 2026: Is Your Fleet Affected?
From July 2026, EU tachograph rules will apply to a much wider group of vehicles. If your fleet travels internationally, even occasionally, these changes could affect your company – and non-compliance can be costly. Read on if you operate vehicles with a maximum permissible mass of 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes!
In this article, we explain what changes for fleets in 2026, who is affected, and what fleet managers should do to remain compliant without disrupting operations.
New tachograph rules for 2026
The 2026 update is part of the EU Mobility Package. It extends tachograph requirements to a wider range of vehicles involved in international transport.
From 1 July 2026:
Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight* between 2.5 t and 3.5 t used in EU-wide international transport or cabotage will fall under tachograph rules
These vehicles must be equipped with a second-generation smart tachograph (Smart Tachograph v2)
The same EU driving and rest-time rules that apply to heavy goods vehicles will apply to this category
Authorities will be able to perform remote checks of tachograph data. If they find any infringement, big tachograph fines can be applied.
This change removes a long-standing distinction between trucks and lighter commercial vehicles when operating across borders.
Even occasional cross-border trips are enough to trigger full compliance obligations. From a regulatory perspective, a van that crosses a border a few times per year is treated the same,, as one that operates internationally every week.
Even if your van is empty, you still need a tachograph if you set out on a trip across borders to fill it and use it commercially.
*Gross vehicle weight is the maximum total weight of a vehicle when it is fully loaded with passengers, cargo, any additional equipment, trailers, etc.
What if the vehicle exceeds 2.5 t only after loading or attaching a trailer?
The 2026 tachograph rules still apply in this situation. What matters is the actual vehicle weight during international transport, including any load or trailer. If a vehicle crosses a border below 2.5 t but then loads cargo or attaches a trailer and exceeds 2.5 tonnes on the return trip, that journey falls under tachograph regulations.
In short, even if the vehicle is usually below the threshold, exceeding 2.5 t at any point during an international trip triggers the new tachograph requirements.
New responsibilities for fleet operators
Starting July 1 2026, expanded tachograph requirements increase companies' responsibilities.
Fleet operators must ensure that:
Smart tachographs are correctly installed, calibrated, and inspected
Driver and vehicle data is downloaded within legal deadlines
Records are stored securely for the required retention period
Drivers are trained to use the tachograph correctly
Driving schedules allow compliance with EU driving and rest-time rules
As for the EU driving and rest-time rules, here are the key requirements that previously applied only to trucks, but from 1 July 2026 will also apply to vans and other light commercial vehicles:
Daily driving limit: 9 hours (can be extended to 10 hours twice a week)
Weekly driving limit: 56 hours
Two-week driving limit: 90 hours
Breaks: At least 45 minutes after 4.5 hours of driving (can be split into 15 + 30 minutes)
Daily rest: Minimum 11 uninterrupted hours (can be reduced to 9h under certain conditions)
Weekly rest: Minimum 45 uninterrupted hours (reduced to 24h under specific rules)
If you fail to comply with these regulations, you risk getting a tachograph fine, with some of them reaching 30 000 EUR. That’s why it is essential that your managers and drivers know how to comply with new tachograph regulations coming into effect in 2026.
What drivers will need to do differently
Drivers operating vehicles affected by the 2026 tachograph rules will also face new obligations.
They must:
Carry a valid tachograph driver card
Ensure activities are recorded correctly, including non-driving work
Make manual entries when required
Cooperate during roadside checks and inspections
Follow EU limits on driving time, breaks, and rest periods
Where fleets actually fail during inspections
If you haven’t dealt with tachograph regulations before, inspections can be more challenging than expected. In many cases, violations don’t come from obvious rule-breaking, but from incomplete or poorly organised records.
forgotten or incorrect manual entries,
gaps in driver activity history,
mismatches between tachograph data and salary calculations,
inability to clearly reconstruct activities during an inspection.
Even when drivers follow driving and rest-time limits, unclear or fragmented records can still result in fines. That’s why having accurate, complete, and easily accessible tachograph data is essential during inspections.
Tachogram turns data into usable records
One thing to bear in mind – raw tachograph files are not designed for daily decision-making. They are technical data sets.
And when tachograph data is processed manually, errors multiply. Each manual step introduces risk. That’s why combining a remote download tool and the tachograph analysis software Tachogram is a great option.
Tachogram supports all vehicles subject to tachograph regulations, including trucks, vans, and light commercial vehicles.
It is mandatory to store tachograph data for 1-2 years (institutions advise storing for 2 years). Tachogram is an excellent place for that since we are not charging extra for the data storage – it's included in the price plan!
If the 2026 tachograph rules apply to your fleet, it’s not enough to install the required devices. You also need a reliable way to turn tachograph data into clear, consistent records that stand up during inspections and help avoid fines – and the easiest way to achieve it is by joining thousands of satisfied Tachogram users!
Prepare your fleet before July 2026
Early preparation reduces both cost and disruption.
Fleet managers should:
Review their fleet to identify vehicles and drivers affected by the new rules
Analyse international transport patterns, even if cross-border trips are rare
Plan installation and calibration of smart tachographs in advance
Train drivers and administrative staff on correct tachograph use
Establish clear processes for data downloads and storage
The longer you wait, the bigger the risk of workshop bottlenecks, rushed training, and compliance errors.
Avoid last-minute pressure and set up everything in time – implement digital tachographs and start using Tachogram to avoid serious tachograph fines in 2026 and beyond!
