Tachographs and Driver-hours Rules — Staying Compliant

Keeping on top of drivers’ hours and tachograph rules isn’t optional — it’s what keeps drivers legal and operators out of trouble. This post explains which rules apply to which journeys, the core limits, what must be recorded, and the 2024–2026 changes (Smart Tachograph 2 and longer record-carrying for international goods work). Where it matters, we’ve cited the official guidance.

Which rules apply to your journey?

Assimilated rules (previously EU rules) apply to goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes when driving in the UK or to/from/through an EU country.
AETR rules apply to international journeys involving non-EU countries. PSVs (more than 10 seats) running international trips between the UK and EU are to operate under AETR — not the UK’s assimilated rules — which keeps their record-carrying at 28 days (see the 2024 DfT notice).
GB domestic rules apply when neither assimilated nor AETR rules do (most purely domestic operations out of scope of the above).

If you mix scopes in the same day or week (for example, some domestic and some international work), you must follow the combined guidance — notably, GB domestic driving counts as “other work” against EU/AETR rest rules.

Core limits under assimilated (EU) rules (goods & passenger >3.5t)

Daily driving: 9 hours (can extend to 10 hours twice per week)
Weekly driving: 56 hours
Fortnightly driving: 90 hours in any two consecutive weeks
Breaks: 45 minutes after no more than 4 hours 30 minutes’ driving (can be split 15+30, in that order)
Daily rest: 11 hours (can reduce to 9 hours up to 3 times between weekly rests)
Weekly rest: 45 hours (can reduce to 24 hours every other week, with compensation)

GB domestic rules (goods vehicles) — when EU/AETR do not apply

Daily driving limit: 10 hours
Daily duty limit: 11 hours (definitions differ for employed vs self-employed)
Record-keeping: weekly record sheet or tachograph (where used)

Working Time Regulations for mobile workers (drivers & crew)

48-hour average working week (reference period 17 or 26 weeks)
Max 60 hours in a single week (as long as the 48-hour average is maintained)
Night work limit: 10 hours in any 24-hour period unless extended by a workforce/collective agreement
Updated DVSA guidance (9 July 2025).

Tachographs: who must use them and what to record

If you’re in scope of assimilated or AETR rules, you must use a tachograph and keep complete records of driving, other work, breaks/rest, plus annual leave and sickness (manual entries needed for activity away from the vehicle).

How many days of records must drivers carry?

International goods journeys (UK–EU under the TCA): drivers must be able to produce 56 days of records at the roadside from 31 December 2024.
PSVs (more than 10 seats): AETR applies; the 28-day record requirement remains.
DfT/OTC bulletin confirms both points.

Note: GOV.UK still reference 28 days as the general position; the 56-day requirement specifically affects in-scope international goods journeys under the TCA.

Smart Tachograph 2 (ST2) — what changed and what’s next

Newly registered vehicles: ST2 mandatory since 21 August 2023.
Retrofit for vehicles used in international goods transport:
- Analogue or non-smart digital units must be replaced by 31 December 2024.
- Smart Tachograph Version 1 → Version 2 by 19 August 2025 (UK guidance); the European Commission notes 18 August 2025 — one-day difference explained by jurisdictional wording.
Light commercial vehicles 2.5–3.5t in international/cabotage operations: ST2 required from 1 July 2026.

For PSVs, DfT has said it will not enforce the 31 December 2024 ST2 retrofit against UK-registered PSVs on UK–EU journeys while the policy is reviewed; AETR otherwise continues to apply.

Common exemptions & special cases

Some vehicles and operations are exempt from assimilated rules in the UK — always check the exemptions list in DVSA’s GV262 and the GOV.UK summary page before assuming an exemption.

Mixed-scope days: if you switch between GB domestic and assimilated/AETR in the same day or week, domestic driving counts as other work for EU/AETR purposes, and you must respect EU/AETR rest rules.

Penalties & enforcement (short and to the point)

DVSA and EU enforcement bodies check hours breaches, card misuse, missing data/manual entries, and calibration/retrofitting. Failures can lead to roadside prohibitions and fines. Use GV262 and GOV.UK for specifics.

Practical compliance checklist

Confirm which rules apply to each route (assimilated, AETR, or GB domestic).
Verify the tachograph type fitted matches scope and date (ST2 where required).
Ensure the driver can produce the right number of days’ records (56 for international goods; 28 for PSVs).
Capture other work and POA correctly; make manual entries when away from the vehicle.
Track WTR alongside drivers’ hours (48-hour average, 60-hour weekly, night work limits).

How L&T Transport Training helps

As a JAUPT-approved centre for Driver CPC Periodic Training, L&T Transport Services deliver CPC modules including Drivers’ Hours. We also offer tachograph and Working Time Directive training to help drivers and operators stay compliant.