Does the tachograph duty apply to my van (2.5–3.5 t)?

Short answer: Yes, but only from 1 July 2026, and only if your van weighs between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes and is used for international transport. The duty does not apply to domestic-only operations or to vehicles under 2.5 tonnes.

When does my van fall under the duty

Under the Mobility Package (Regulation (EU) 2020/1054), the tachograph duty is extended to light commercial vehicles. Two conditions are decisive, and both must apply:

• Weight: your van has a permissible mass between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes.
• International transport: you carry out cross-border transport.

If your vehicle meets both conditions, it falls under the tachograph duty from 1 July 2026. The device that must then be fitted is the second-generation smart tachograph (ST2). If you operate domestically only, or your van weighs less than 2.5 tonnes, this deadline does not affect you.

What ST2 records

The second-generation smart tachograph records border crossings and loading and unloading operations automatically. Actions that previously had to be entered by hand are therefore logged by the device itself. This supports enforcement of driving and rest times and of the cabotage and posting rules under the Mobility Package. For vans, it means the same recording approach that now applies to heavier trucks will apply to them.

Legal basis and preparation

The duty stems from Regulation (EU) 2020/1054 (Mobility Package) and builds on Regulation (EU) 165/2014, which sets the framework for tachographs in road transport. Well before 1 July 2026, check whether your fleet contains vans in this weight class that cross borders, and plan the installation of an ST2 device in good time. Always confirm that your specific situation falls under the correct category before you invest.

Read the main file: Smart tachograph and the Mobility Package. Or take the Transport & Logistics scan.