Do I Need a Tachograph? Basic Rules For Goods Vehicles
If your vehicle (and trailer, if applicable) has a maximum weight of over 3.5 tonnes, and is used for transporting any kind of cargo for commercial purposes, then it is legally required to be fitted with a tachograph.
Do I Need a Tachograph? HGV Tachograph Exemptions
There are 30 specific tachograph exemption clauses for HGV's - a few too many to list here. Instead, click here for a PDF copy of the government's tachograph exemption form (which you can download, if necessary). It clearly outlines the different exemptions in place, and that way we don't have to spend 700 words here explaining that steam-powered vehicles don't require tachographs etc. etc.
Do I Need a Tachograph? Heavy Trailers
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, with a combined mass of over 3.5 tonnes, and will be driven for commercial purposes, then your vehicle will need to be fitted with a tachograph.
If this applies to you, and your vehicle doesn't already have a tachograph, use this guide to help with installing one.
Do I Need a Tachograph? Recovery Vehicles
Specialised recovery vehicles with a combined weight of over 3.5 tonnes do not require a tachograph, as they are exempt from tachograph laws - provided they do not operate outside of a 100km radius of their base.
Specialised recovery vehicles are defined as any vehicle with "fitments or other permanent characteristics were such that it would be used mainly for removing vehicles that had recently been involved in an accident or had broken down." (source: the gov.uk website). This definition also extends to light recovery vans that use A-frames or tow dollies, since while towing another vehicle, the combined weight of both will be over 3.5 tonnes.
In order to circumvent the 100km radius rule, many recovery operations use a relay system. Different vehicles operating from different bases take over the recovery mid-journey, ensuring that no individual vehicles exceed their radius.
Do I Need a Tachograph? Horse Boxes
If your vehicle and horse box combined have a Maximum Authorised Mass greater than 3.5 tonnes, and is used for commercial purposes, a tachograph is required.
If your vehicle and horse box combined have a Maximum Authorised Mass greater than 7 tonnes, a tachograph is required, regardless of whether it's being used for commercial purposes.
Do I Need a tachograph? Public Service Vehicles
PSV's (vehicles which carry passengers for hire or payment) have to follow different sets of tachograph rules depending on how many seats they have (including the Driver). Vehicles seating more than 8 people must have a tachograph installed, although there are a few exemptions.
Do I Need a Tachograph? PSV Tachograph Exemptions
There are 12 PSV tachograph exemption clauses, which are presented succinctly on the government's PSV Tachograph Exemption Form, which you can view by clicking here. This will open it in a new window to view, and download if required. A more in-depth breakdown of these exemptions is available on the .gov website, linked here.
Which Tachograph Laws is My Vehicle Subject To?
Now that you've checked whether your vehicle requires a tachograph, here's as good a place as any to see which specific tachograph laws your vehicle must follow.
Goods Vehicles
The flowchart below can be used to determine which sets of tachograph laws apply to your goods vehicles:
Public Service Vehicles
The table below shows the rules that apply to different configurations of vehicle passenger numbers and different journey types:
About TachoMagic
If your vehicle DOES need a tachograph, then chances are you'll also be needing the services of a tachograph analysis bureau to make sense of all the raw data it records. As it happens, TachoMagic (whose website you're on!) has been in the tacho analysis game for decades, and our quick, easy and affordable services are perfect for those who just want to get things done quickly. Visit our Tachograph Analysis page to read more about what we offer in this department.
TachoMagic also offers automatic remote download devices. These easy-install pieces of kit automatically download your driver and vehicle tachograph data, so you'll never have to manually download a tachograph again! (If you've never done this before, it can be a real faff. People don't buy these things for no reason!).
About The Author
Simon Theaker
Simon has over 20 years of dealing with tachograph analysis, and the technologies involved.
His in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience have made him a key behind-the-scenes member of the TachoMagic team.
Through his blogs, Simon hopes to make the lives of Fleet Managers easier, as he shares the answers to some of the most common questions he has received.
