Smart tachograph. EU Commission FAQs on second-generation smart tachographs.

Please be advised that FAQs containing questions and answers regarding the provisions pertaining to First Mobility Package tachographs – Regulation (EU) No 1054/2020 have been published on the European Commission’s website, providing further details on the operational aspects of certain topics listed below:

• the requirements for manually recording border crossings and the criteria for determining the first available stop;
• the deadlines and conditions for the mandatory retrofitting of the second-generation smart tachograph;
• the management of tachograph cards during the transitional period up to 2028;
• cases where the retrofitting requirement does not apply, and the handling of cards issued by non-EU AETR countries.

With regard to border crossings, drivers are reminded of their obligation to manually enter the country code after each crossing; this requirement was introduced by Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 and is intended to facilitate checks on cabotage and posting. The Commission clarifies that the entry must carried out at the ‘first possible stopping point’, which means the nearest stopping point that is actually accessible, taking into account traffic and safety conditions, after crossing the border. For example, hard shoulders are not considered valid; however, drivers are permitted to continue to the next lay-by if the nearest one is congested or inaccessible. This is a temporary measure, intended to be phased out once the second-generation smart tachograph (GEN 2 - 4.0), which automatically records border crossings, is fully rolled out.
With regard to the retrofit, the key deadlines have been confirmed: 31 December 2024 for vehicles fitted with analogue or non-smart digital tachographs, and 18 August 2025 for those already fitted with the first generation of smart tachographs. Vehicles registered from 21 August 2023 must already be fitted with the second-generation system, whilst from 1 July 2026, the requirement will also apply to light commercial vehicles weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes used in international or cabotage operations. The following exemptions are also stipulated: in particular, this requirement does not apply to vehicles operating exclusively within the AETR (non-EU), unless they undertake operations entirely within the Union.