Drivers of goods vehicles used internationally with a gross weight of 2,501kg or more are now required to have a smart tachograph 2 fitted, effective from 1 July 2026. Failure to comply can result in being pulled over and issued a £300 roadside fine.
New Tachograph Requirements
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) confirmed that from 1 July 2026, a smart tachograph 2 must be fitted into goods vehicles with a gross weight of 2,501kg or over when undertaking international journeys for hire and reward. However, if the vehicle is undertaking an international journey for the driver or company's own account and driving does not constitute the main activity of the driver, there is no requirement to fit a tachograph.
Additionally, vehicles weighing over 2.5 tonnes and less than 3.5 tonnes operating only within the UK continue to have no tachograph requirement. For newly registered vehicles from 24 December 2025, a full smart tachograph 2 must be fitted; vehicles registered before this date may use a transitional smart tachograph 2.
Penalties and Impact
Ryan Yu, VP Product at Samsara, commented: "Professional drivers handle immense cognitive overload on the road, managing everything from severe weather to tight delivery windows. They shouldn't be penalised by complex compliance math." He added that as new regulations bring tens of thousands of international LGVs into scope, drivers unfamiliar with strict hours logging face potential roadside fines of £300 per offence, which can snowball up to £1,500 due to the 28-day historical audit window.
Yu noted that the rule will "meaningfully increase road safety, but it might discourage new drivers and even prompt early retirement for some at a time when the UK is already struggling with a logistics talent shortage."
Exceptions and Exemptions
Tachograph rules do not apply to zero emission goods vehicles (such as electric vans or trucks) when used to carry goods for a business and their total permitted weight, including any trailer, is more than 3.5 tonnes but no more than 4.25 tonnes. The DVSA also clarified that for vehicles registered before 24 December 2025, a transitional smart tachograph 2 may be fitted instead of the full version.
