Tacho Card FAQs - your handy guide!

What is a tacho card?

Tachograph cards are plastic cards, resembling a driving licence, that are used in the haulage and transport industries. They contain chips that can transmit and store data wirelessly. There are two main types of tacho card:

• Driver cards - these are used by drivers, and store any data that their vehicle's tachograph unit records.
• Company cards - these are used by business owners, managers, and/or administrators to manage, protect, and oversee data downloaded from the driver cards.

Who needs a tacho card?

If you drive a vehicle weighing over 3.5 tonnes for a living, chances are you'll need a driver card, as that vehicle is legally required to use a tachograph. If you oversee any vehicles that use a tachograph, then you'll need a company card in order to be compliant with the surrounding tachograph laws and regulations.

The specific requirements and exceptions when it comes to who needs a tacho card (AKA, "who needs to install a tachograph and observe tachograph regulations") are far too in-depth to cover in this quick FAQ page. We'll link our guide to who needs a tachograph card once we've written it!

How to apply for a tacho card:

You can apply for a tachograph card online using the government portal, or apply by post. Here's a link to the government portal: apply for a tachograph card

The DVLA has compiled a PDF of their advice and information for if you are applying for a company card, which you can read by clicking here.

How much is a tacho card?

It costs £32 for your first tachograph card, and £19 to renew or replace a card. It is also possible to switch your card from a non-GB to a GB card, and this costs £32 as well.

How long does a tacho card take to arrive?

Tachograph cards are usually issued and posted within 24 hours, when applied for online. Yours should arrive within a couple of days, tops.

If you've applied by post, tacho cards can take up to 10 days to arrive due to postage times.

How long is a digital tachograph card valid for?

Driver cards and company cards are both valid for 5 years before they expire. You can renew your card online using the government portal.

Can I still drive without a tacho card?

It is possible to drive without a tachograph card under strict circumstances, although this is the exception. You can drive without a tacho card, but:

• You should inform your supervisor immediately, because your ability to work has been compromised if you no longer have a driver card.
• Inform the DVLA and apply for a new card. The DVLA has a duty to provide driver cards within 5 days of receiving an application.
• It is only possible to drive for 15 days without a tacho card, and during this time you must take manual printouts of your vehicle's tachograph data at the start and end of every shift. You should write your name and the date on each printout, as this will make them much easier to sort through and inspect.
• You must retain these printouts for inspection for 28 days.

What is the fine for driving without a tacho card?

The law maintains a distinction between drivers who knowingly drive without a tachograph card, and those who do so accidentally.

For serious violations, such as driving using another's tacho card, or serially driving without a card, the maximum sentence is 2 years in prison, let alone a fine.

When this happens, the driver's employer will also face scrutiny, and could have their licence suspended or completely revoked.

For the driver, the maximum fine for negligent tachograph record-keeping and breaching the various working-time rules is £2,500. For more serious offences, such as tampering with the tachograph unit and falsifying records, the maximum fine is £5,000.

How to get a replacement tacho card:

To get a replacement for a missing or damaged tacho card, a new one must be applied for with the DVLA. It will cost £19, and arrive within 5 days of applying.

If you find your old tacho card after applying for a new one, you must post the old card to the DVLA with an explanatory letter, as it is against the law to have multiple cards.

How to insert a tacho card:

The tachograph card should be inserted into Slot 1 on the tachograph unit, with the chip facing upwards, and going in first. If a second driver is present, their card can likewise be inserted into Slot 2.

How to download a tacho card:

To perform a vehicle download, the ignition must be on, and a driver card must be inserted. From there, there are two ways of getting your download.

You can perform a manual download by connecting an analogue downloader (such as a Digidown unit, available in our online shop), and wait in the cab for the download to be completed. This takes at least a few minutes for each vehicle, and time quickly adds up if you've got a lot of vehicles that need downloading.

That's why the other option exists: TachoMagic's automatic remote downloads!

Our automatic downloader device means you'll never have to do another manual download again. Once installed in a vehicle, it regularly transmits your vehicle data to our servers, where we analyse it and send it on to you. Click the button below to find out more!