In this article, VDO summarise the key new features that come into force in January 2025 related to the tachograph and driver activity records. You will discover the important dates for the installation of the new 2nd generation smart tachographs (VDO 4.1), the documentation requirements that drivers and companies must meet, and the penalties applicable in the UK for non-compliance, as established in the European Mobility Package. Get ready for these important regulatory updates!

 

 

2025 news on the tachograph 

The European mobility package, published more than 4 years ago, incorporated new features in relation to the tachograph device that are about to come into force. 

  • From 31 December 2024: Vehicles carrying out international transport, and having a non-intelligent analogue or digital tachograph installed (prior to 15/06/2019) will be obliged to install a 2nd generation smart tachograph (VDO 4.1).  
  • From 21 August 2025: Vehicles carrying out international transport that have a 1st generation smart tachograph (VDO 4.0 or 4.0e) installed, must replace it with a 2nd generation tachograph (VDO 4.1). 

 

2025 Updates on Driver Activity Records 

  • From 31 December 2024: When a driver is driving a vehicle equipped with an analogue tachograph, he or she must be able to present, at the request of an authorised controller:
    • The current day's log sheets and those used by the driver in the previous 56 days.
    • The driver's card if you have one.
    • Any manual records or printed documents made during the current day and the previous 56 days 
  • When the driver is driving a vehicle equipped with a digital tachograph, he or she must be able to present, at the request of an authorised controller: 
    • 1.- Your driver's card, 
    • 2.- Any manual registration or printed document made during the current day and the previous 56 days  
    • 3.- The record sheets corresponding to the same period referred to in paragraph ii), during which a vehicle equipped with an analogue tachograph has been driven. 
  • Vehicles that have not installed tachograph equipment, and carry out "regular national passenger transport services, or regular international passenger transport services of a distance not exceeding 100 kilometres whose terminals are located at a maximum distance of 50 kilometres as the crow flies from a border between two member states" 
    • The company shall establish a schedule and record of duty which shall include, for each driver, the name, the place where he or she is stationed and the schedule established in advance for various periods of driving, other work, breaks and availability for a period comprising at least the previous 56 days; such indications shall be updated at regular intervals for a period not exceeding one month; 
    • Each driver assigned to such a service shall carry an extract of the service record and a copy of the service schedule. 

 

What's new in 2025 regarding the download and transfer of tachograph and driver card data 

In this case: There are no changes and it remains: 

  • The maximum period for transferring the data must not exceed: 
    • 90 days in the case of the data of the unit installed in the vehicle; 
    • 28 days in the case of driver card data. 
  • The penalties for infractions in relation to the tachograph device, and the records of drivers' activities, are different in each country, we point out the corresponding ones for Spain:
    • Lack of the digital tachograph that must be installed in the vehicle: 
    • Fixed Penalty Fine
    • Immobilization 
    • Loss of good repute applicable in the case of public transport 
  • The lack on board the vehicle of the record sheets of driving and rest times already used for the current day and for the previous 56 days, regardless of the type of tachograph, analogue or digital, that is being used:
    • Fixed Penalty Fine
    • Loss of good repute, only applicable to Public Transport
  • The absence on board the vehicle of the manual records and printing documents of the current day and of the previous 56 days when this is mandatory to present, regardless of the type of tachograph, analogue or digital, that is being used:
    • Fixed Penalty Fine
    • Loss of good repute, only applicable to Public Transport 
  • Not carrying the driver's card on board the vehicle, even if an analogue tachograph is being used, when it is necessary to assess the driving conditions during the previous required period:
    • Fixed Penalty Fine
    • Loss of good repute, only applicable to Public Transport