Tachographs and Drivers' Hours

Guide summary

You must install and use a tachograph in goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with 9 or more seats. Each driver needs a personal driver card. Download driver card data every 28 days and vehicle unit data every 90 days. Keep records for at least 1 year. Falsifying tachograph records is a criminal offence with up to 2 years in prison.

Install a tachograph in goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
Get a personal driver card for each driver (£32 fee)
Download driver card data every 28 days
Download vehicle unit data every 90 days
Keep tachograph records for at least 1 year
Calibrate the tachograph every 2 years
Do not drive more than 9 hours per day (10 hours twice a week)
Take a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving
Take 11 hours daily rest (can reduce to 9 hours up to 3 times a week)
Penalties include fines up to £2,500 or unlimited in court

Tachographs record driving time, breaks, and rest periods. They are required for goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles carrying 9+ passengers. Falsifying records is a criminal offence with up to 2 years imprisonment.

Tachograph requirements

Recording driving hours and rest periods

Tachographs record driving time, breaks, rest periods, and other work. They're mandatory for most commercial vehicles.

Key requirements:

Each driver must have a personal driver card
Download driver card data at least every 28 days
Download vehicle unit data at least every 90 days
Retain records for at least 1 year (3 years recommended)
Calibrate tachograph every 2 years

Driver card download: At least every 28 days
Vehicle unit download: At least every 90 days
Record retention: At least 1 year (3 years recommended)
Calibration: Every 2 years or after repair
Drivers' hours breach (court maximum): Level 4 fine (£2,500)
Failing to install or use a tachograph (court maximum): Level 5 fine — unlimited in England and Wales, £5,000 in Scotland
DVSA roadside fixed penalties: £50-£300 per offence (up to 5 per encounter)

Driver Tachograph Cards

Digital tachograph driver cards for recording driving time

Application fee: £32
Validity: 5 years
Renewal fee: £19
Replacement (lost/stolen): £19
Processing time: 5 working days (online) or 15 days (post)
Requirement: Must carry card when using digital tachograph
One card per driver: Only one valid card at a time

Drivers' hours rules

Maximum driving and minimum rest periods

Maximum daily driving: 9 hours (can extend to 10 hours twice per week)
Maximum weekly driving: 56 hours
Maximum fortnightly driving: 90 hours
Break after driving: 45 minutes after 4.5 hours driving
Daily rest (normal): 11 consecutive hours
Daily rest (reduced): 9 hours (up to 3 times between weekly rests)
Weekly rest (normal): 45 consecutive hours
Weekly rest (reduced): 24 hours (must compensate within 3 weeks)

Domestic Drivers' Hours Rules

GB domestic rules for vehicles exempt from EU rules

GB domestic rules apply to drivers exempt from EU rules - typically vehicles on journeys under 50km radius or specific vehicle types. Less restrictive than EU rules.

Daily driving limit: 10 hours
Daily duty limit: 11 hours
Break requirement: 30 minutes after 5.5 hours work
Daily rest: 10 continuous hours in 24-hour period
Fortnightly rest: Must include one period of 24+ hours
Record keeping: Written records required (not tachograph)

Tachograph and Drivers' Hours Penalties

Penalties for tachograph and drivers' hours offences

Failing to install or use a tachograph: Level 5 fine — unlimited in England and Wales, £5,000 in Scotland
Falsifying tachograph records: Up to 2 years imprisonment on indictment + unlimited fine
Breaching driving time, break or rest limits: Level 4 fine (£2,500 court maximum)
DVSA roadside fixed penalties: Graduated £50-£300 per offence (up to 5 per encounter, 28-day lookback)
Serious/repeated infringements: Traffic Commissioner public inquiry

Compliance best practices

Download discipline - set calendar reminders for vehicle (90 days) and driver card (28 days) downloads
Record retention - keep all tachograph data for at least 12 months
Driver briefing - ensure all drivers understand break and rest requirements
Infringement management - monitor downloads for infringements and investigate causes

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Road Traffic Act 1988 Primary 1988 · UK-wide Transport Act 1968 Primary 1968 · UK-wide The Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) Regulations 1979 SI 1979 · UK-wide EU Regulation 561/2006 (Drivers' Hours) - Retained EU Law EU Retained 2006 · UK-wide Regulation (EU) 165/2014 (retained) EU Retained 2014 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Drivers' hours and tachographs rules (opens in a new tab)

DVSA

DVSA enforcement sanctions policy (opens in a new tab)

Publication · GOV.UK

EU Mobility Package tachograph provisions (opens in a new tab)

transport.ec.europa.eu

Tachograph card applications (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

Get an MOT (opens in a new tab)

DVSA

Guide to maintaining roadworthiness (opens in a new tab)

Publication · DVSA

Tachographs and Drivers' Hours

Compliance best practices

Legal basis

Official guidance

Related guides in Driver CPC

Goods Vehicle Operator Compliance Checklist

Smart tachograph requirements and transition

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