Smart tachographs mandatory in 2025: which vehicles must have them replaced?

The Mobility Package, approved in 2020 by the European Union, is a series of legislative reforms that profoundly reshape road transport throughout the EU. Its objective is to:

• Improve the working conditions of professional drivers.
• Strengthen road safety.
• Combat unfair competition and social dumping.
• Promote more efficient and transparent management of international transport.

These measures affect both heavy and light vehicles, and their implementation has been phased in. The key year is 2025, when the requirement for the new G2V2 smart tachograph becomes widespread, with a final step in 2026 that will also include vans with a GVW between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes.

The regulations establish that the second-generation smart tachograph must be installed:

• All trucks and buses that carry out international transport, regardless of their registration date, before August 21, 2025.
• Vehicles registered from June 2019 onwards, which already have first-generation tachographs.
• Vehicles with analogue or non-smart digital tachographs, which are required to change them from February 2025 if they carry out international transport.
• From July 1, 2026, it will also be mandatory for all vans between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes GVW that cross borders in the EU.

Vehicles that only carry out national or local transport are excluded, unless they suffer a breakdown that prevents the current tachograph from being repaired.

The new G2V2 device incorporates advanced technologies to facilitate controls and prevent tampering. Its main functions are:

• Automatic recording of border crossings.
• Geolocation of loading and unloading operations.
• Remote reading by authorities using DSRC technology.
• Storage of up to 56 days of driver activity, twice as much as current devices.
• Advanced tamper detection.

These improvements allow for more effective roadside controls, reduce fraud, and help ensure that drivers comply with established rest and driving times.

Failure to comply with this obligation can have very serious consequences, especially if you are involved in international transport:

• France: up to €30,000 fine, immobilization of the vehicle and up to 1 year in prison for the driver.
• Portugal and Germany: fines of up to €6,000.
• Italy: fines of €3,600.
• Netherlands: up to €4,400.

Furthermore, since they are equipped with remote reading systems, the controls will be carried out without stopping the vehicle, leaving very little room for non-compliance.

The retrofit process must be carried out in an authorized workshop and includes:

• Removal of the old tachograph.
• Installation and calibration of the new device.
• Data configuration and sealing in accordance with regulations.

Prices may vary depending on the workshop and the type of vehicle:

• G2V2 tachograph: between €700 and €1,200.
• Labor and installation: between €200 and €400.

Some autonomous communities offer aid or subsidies, so it is advisable to check with your local administration. It is also key to make an appointment in advance, as demand is growing rapidly.

1. New rest and driving rules

• The period of activity that drivers must maintain is extended from 28 to 56 days.
• Regular weekly rest periods (more than 45 hours) cannot be taken in the vehicle.
• In teamwork, one driver can rest for 45 minutes while the other drives, if they travel in crew mode.

2. Obligation to return

Drivers must return to their base or residence at least once every 4 weeks, and companies must organize travel to ensure this.

3. Cabotage regulations

After a cabotage operation in a member country, you must wait 4 days before operating again in the same country with the same vehicle.

4. Changes in market access

Companies with vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes now need:

• An international transport licence.
• A real operational base (not just an administrative one).
• Parking spaces for their fleet.

All of this is intended to prevent “social dumping” through the fictitious registration of companies in countries with more lax regulations.

Here's a quick guide to help you adapt without any problems:

• Take stock of your fleet and determine which vehicles need the new tachograph.
• Contact a specialist workshop and request a quote and availability.
• Plan the installation in advance to avoid forced stops.
• Inform your drivers how to use the new device.
• Review your routes and shifts to comply with the new rest and return requirements.
• Ask about possible subsidies or regional support.

The new second-generation smart tachograph is not just a legal requirement. It's a key tool for modernizing transport, protecting drivers, improving traceability, and ensuring a level playing field. Its implementation is a challenge, yes, but also an opportunity to further digitalize and professionalize the sector.