Tachograph obligation from 1 July 2026 for 2.5–3.5 t light commercial vehicles

The EU Mobility Package extends tachograph, driving-time and rest-time rules to vans used in international haulage.

According to Cartis Fleet Management’s summary, from 1 July 2026 light commercial vehicles with a permissible gross weight between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes fall under the tachograph rules previously known from heavy goods vehicles, provided they carry out international haulage or cabotage for hire or reward. Purely domestic use and own-account transport are generally unaffected.

Affected vehicles need a second-generation, version-two smart tachograph (Smart Tachograph 2 / G2V2); drivers need a driver card and companies a company card. EU driving and rest-time rules also apply: a maximum of 9 hours’ daily driving, a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours, and at most 56 hours per week.

Cartis recommends a seven-step preparation: fleet review, assessment of how vehicles are used, scheduling installation, applying for cards, driver training, adjusting transport planning and setting up tachograph data management.