In recent months we’ve been reporting on changes in regulations regarding tachograph replacement, as well as EU member states’ arrangements on transition periods when penalties for lack of new devices are suspended.
On the first day of March, EU member states’ inspection authorities started to fully enforce the tachograph replacement obligation for vehicles with maximum permissible mass of 3.5 ton and in buses in international transport. Even though the first stage of replacement concerning the oldest tachographs ended on 31 December 2024, until now (28 February 2025) a more lenient approach has been used, allowing carriers more time to replace the devices.
Fines amounts
The lack of G2V1 or G2V2 smart tachograph is penalized differently depending on the country, with fines typically reaching up to several thousand euro. Here are the current ticket amounts in selected countries:
- Austria: between EUR 400 and EUR 5,000
- Belgium: EUR 2,640
- Bulgaria: BGN 2,000–3,000 (approx. PLN 6,400)
- Czech Republic: up to CZK 350,000 (approx. PLN 58,700)
- Denmark: DKK 6,000 – driver (approx. PLN 3,370), DKK 12,000 – company (approx. PLN 6,750)
- Estonia: EUR 800 – driver, EUR 3,200 – company
- Finland: the amount of the fine depends on the driver’s salary – starting at equivalent of 10 days of works, reaching up to 25 days
- France: up to EUR 30,000
- Greece: EUR 3,000
- Spain: EUR 2,000
- Latvia: EUR 430–700
- Germany: EUR 1,500
- Poland: PLN 12,000
- Portugal: EUR 1,200–6,000
- Slovakia: EUR 1,659–16,569
- Slovenia: up to EUR 1,500
- Sweden: SEK 20,000 (approx. PLN 7,600)
- Hungary: HUF 800,000 (approx. PLN 8,400)
- Italy: up to EUR 3,464
- United Kingdom: GBP 300 (approx. PLN 1,500)
Importantly, penalties are not limited to fines – failure to replace a tachograph may result in prohibition of further transportation services and its inevitable immediate replacement, necessary to continue the services, may incur large costs and delays. The violation is treated most seriously and may initiate a review of the carrier’s good standing.
Another deadline for tachograph replacement is approaching – don’t wait until the last minute!
Carriers should get ready for yet more changes – starting from 19 August all vehicles carrying out international transport in the European Union must be equipped solely with G2V2 tachographs. This requirement also pertains to relatively new vehicles, registered before 21 August 2023, which often translates into the need for the tachographs to be replaced in trucks and buses which are less than two years old.
Avoid any problems or penalties by planning the replacement process well ahead. Tachograph replacement report, available from Tachoscan software, may assist in identifying vehicles that must be equipped with the new devices.
