Do I need a tachograph for my van? The 2026 rules, plainly
From 1 July 2026 the tachograph net widens to take in some lighter vans — but not all of them. Here's how to tell whether yours is one.
Not every van needs a tachograph. From 1 July 2026, light commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes are newly in scope <strong>only</strong> when they're used for the international carriage of goods or for cabotage — that is, cross-border or domestic-haulage-within-another-country work for hire and reward. If your 2.5–3.5t van does that kind of journey, it must carry a second-generation smart tachograph and you must follow EU 561/2006 drivers' hours rules. Vans kept purely for domestic, own-account or non-commercial use generally stay exempt, as do most vehicles under 2.5t. The trigger is the type of journey, not just the weight.
What changed on 1 July 2026
Until now, the EU/UK drivers' hours and tachograph regime mainly applied to goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. The EU Mobility Package extended it: from 1 July 2026, light commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes are pulled into scope when they carry goods internationally or perform cabotage.
This is a genuinely new obligation for thousands of couriers, trades and delivery firms who have never had to think about a tachograph before. The key word is extended, not universal: the weight band came down, but the activity test still decides whether you're caught.
Who is newly in scope
You're likely in scope from 1 July 2026 if all of the following describe your operation:
- Your van has a permissible maximum weight (vehicle plus trailer) of more than 2.5t and up to 3.5t.
- You carry goods for hire or reward — commercial transport, not personal use.
- Those journeys are international (crossing a border) or count as cabotage (carrying goods domestically within a country that isn't your own).
If that's you, the van must be fitted with a second-generation smart tachograph and the driver must record and respect driving time, breaks and rest under EU 561/2006.
Who stays exempt
Plenty of van work falls outside the new rules. You generally stay exempt if your 2.5–3.5t van is used only for purely domestic journeys, for own-account carriage that isn't hire and reward, or for non-commercial purposes. Vehicles below 2.5t are typically outside the band altogether, and longstanding exemptions (for example certain specialised or non-commercial uses) continue to apply.
Because the line can be fine — a single international run can change your status — it's worth checking each route rather than assuming. When the rules don't apply to a given journey, you don't need a tachograph for it.
In scope vs exempt at a glance
| Your van | In scope from 1 July 2026? |
|---|---|
| 2.5–3.5t, international carriage of goods for hire/reward | Yes |
| 2.5–3.5t, cabotage in another country | Yes |
| 2.5–3.5t, purely domestic own-account use | Generally no |
| 2.5–3.5t, non-commercial use | Generally no |
| Under 2.5t | Generally no |
This table is a guide to the broad pattern, not a legal ruling on your specific operation.
What "in scope" means in practice
Being in scope isn't just about fitting hardware. It means a recurring record-keeping duty: you download driver-card data every 28 days and vehicle-unit data every 90 days, keep it for at least 12 months, and be ready to produce it at a roadside check or audit. You also have to actually follow the drivers' hours limits — and be able to show you did.
That's where a light tool helps. Van Tacho reads your .DDD, .C1B and .V1B downloads, flags drivers' hours infringements in plain language, and keeps your records audit-ready — sized for an operator with a handful of vans rather than an HGV fleet.
Not sure if your records are in order?
Van Tacho reads your van's tacho files, flags drivers' hours infringements and keeps everything audit-ready — a light, low-cost utility for 1–10 vans, not an HGV suite. Get started in seconds.
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Record-keeping and analysis utility for small van fleets. Not legal advice.
FAQ
Do all vans need a tachograph from July 2026?
No. Only 2.5–3.5t vans used for international carriage of goods or cabotage are newly in scope from 1 July 2026. Purely domestic, own-account or non-commercial van use generally stays exempt.
What makes my van in scope rather than exempt?
The type of journey, not just the weight. A 2.5–3.5t van carrying goods for hire and reward on international or cabotage runs is caught; the same van on domestic own-account work generally isn't.
If I'm in scope, what do I have to do?
Fit a second-generation smart tachograph, follow EU 561/2006 drivers' hours, download driver-card data every 28 days and vehicle-unit data every 90 days, and keep it at least 12 months for roadside checks.