When do vehicles over 2.5 tonnes need a tachograph?

From 1 July 2026, vehicles exceeding 2.5 tonnes performing international freight transport in the EU must use a smart tachograph, as required by EU Regulation 2020/1054.

Which vehicles are affected by the 2.5 tonne tachograph rule?

All vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes (vans, light trucks, flatbeds) used for international freight transport in the EU are affected. This includes Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Crafter, Renault Master, and similar vehicles.

What app can I use to read my tachograph driver card?

TachoData is a mobile app for Android and iOS that reads your driver card via USB card reader, Bluetooth, or front download device. It provides infringement reports based on EU 561/2006, attendance sheets, and deadline tracking.

Do I need a tachograph for my van from July 2026?

Yes, if your van exceeds 2.5 tonnes gross mass and you perform international freight transport in the EU, you will need a smart tachograph installed and a valid driver card from 1 July 2026.

TachoData - Tachograph App for Drivers

Direct tachograph download allows you to download data directly from the tachograph via Bluetooth, without any additional device. This feature works with Gen 2.2 smart tachographs.

Enabling the feature

Open the Settings menu of the application
Find the "Direct tachograph reading" option
Turn the feature on

Supported tachographs

Direct download works with the following Gen 2.2 smart tachographs:

VDO

DTCO 4.1
DTCO 4.2

Stoneridge

SE5000-8

Advantages

No additional device needed (card reader, front device)
Works while driving
Secure connection via Bluetooth

Slower connection

Direct Bluetooth download is slower than using a USB card reader or a front device. The full download may take several minutes.

Possible issues

Tachograph not responding

In rare cases, the tachograph may not respond after download. In this case, turn off the ignition and wait at least 2 minutes, then restart the vehicle. The tachograph will recover afterwards.

Known limitations of Bluetooth download

It is important to be aware that Bluetooth tachograph download is treated as a secondary function by both major manufacturers (VDO and Stoneridge). While the standard is supported, the implementation does not reach the same maturity as their primary download paths (front-download device, card reader). The following summarises the currently known tachograph-specific limitations.

Stoneridge SE5000 Smart 2

Both diagnostics and download work as intended. In rare cases, however, the tachograph may enter a communication state in which every other function continues to work, but Bluetooth communication does not recover on its own. When this happens, communication can only be restored by cutting the tachograph's power supply — that is, by de-energising the vehicle.

VDO DTCO 4.2 — earlier program release

On early VDO DTCO 4.2 tachographs that still run an earlier program release, Bluetooth download did not work. The feature only becomes usable after the tachograph's firmware has been updated at an authorised service centre. If your tachograph is affected, ask your service workshop for guidance.

VDO DTCO 4.2 — current program release

On VDO DTCO 4.2 tachographs running the current program release, the download function works reliably, but diagnostics over Bluetooth are currently not supported. The same communication freeze described for Stoneridge can occur here as well, with the same recovery procedure: cutting the tachograph's power supply.

These limitations originate on the manufacturer side. With every release, TachoData strives to provide the best possible support for the changing manufacturer implementations. If you observe any of the behaviours above, please send us an issue report — it helps in our discussions with the manufacturers and in identifying the problem more quickly.

Direct Tachograph Download