New Requirement for Category B Vans: Tachograph Obligation Starting from 1 July 2026

07.10.2025

Starting from 1 July 2026, Category B van drivers will be subject to the same driving and rest time regulations and tachograph usage requirements as drivers of heavy goods vehicles.

Who Does This Requirement Apply To?

The obligation applies to vans with a permissible maximum mass between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes (including trailers) that perform:

• international carriage of goods, or
• cabotage transport (domestic transport operations within another country).

The requirement does not apply to:

• vans used solely within Estonia,
• vehicles performing own-account transport, where driving is not the driver’s main activity (for example, a construction worker driving materials and tools to a worksite abroad).

Legal Basis

• Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, Article 2(1)(aa)
• Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, Article 3(ha)
• Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, Article 3(1)

What Changes for Companies?

Until now, smaller vans were exempt from driving and rest time regulations. From 1 July 2026, they will be treated as full commercial vehicles under EU social legislation.

For companies, this introduces several new obligations:

• Installation of a tachograph – a modern SMART 2 digital tachograph (VDO or Stoneridge) must be installed in a certified workshop (e.g. Digimeerik OÜ).
• Driver and company cards – each driver must hold a personal driver card, and the company must have a company card (applied for through the Estonian Transport Administration).
• Data downloading and storage – data from the driver card every 28 days and from the tachograph every 90 days. All data must be stored for at least one year.
• Data analysis – companies must verify compliance with driving and rest time rules and document explanations for any infringements.
• Tachograph calibration – tachographs must be calibrated every 2 years.

For Drivers: Driving and Rest Time Rules

Van drivers will have to comply with the same working time rules as truck drivers. For example:

• Maximum continuous driving time: 4 hours 30 minutes
• Daily driving time: 9 hours (up to 10 hours twice per week)
• Weekly driving time: 56 hours
• Total driving time over two consecutive weeks: 90 hours
• Weekly rest period: 45 hours, reducible to 24 hours with compensation
• Daily rest period: 11 hours (can be split 3+9 or reduced to a minimum of 9 hours)

These rules are laid out in Regulation (EC) No 561/2006 and in the Estonian Road Traffic Act (Chapter 5).

Proper tachograph use is crucial — drivers must know how to make manual entries, record the start and end country, and add explanations for deviations. Even small mistakes can result in significant fines.

Practical Steps for Companies

• Check your fleet – identify which vans fall under the new regulation.
• Plan tachograph installation – ensure new vehicles are ordered with tachograph capability; retrofit older ones in a Digimeerik.ee workshop.
• Order necessary cards (driver and company cards).
• Choose a data downloading solution – automatic (remote download) or manual using a Tacho Reader Combo Plus device.
• Establish a working time management system – for example, using TachoScan software, which is also used by enforcement authorities.
• Train your drivers – on driving/rest time rules and tachograph operation.
• Be prepared for inspections – roadside checks by the police (last 56 days) and company audits by the Labour Inspectorate (last 1 year).

Summary

From 1 July 2026, vans between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes engaged in international transport or cabotage will be subject to the same obligations as heavy goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes. This means:

• installation and use of tachographs,
• compliance with driving and rest time rules,
• regular data downloading, archiving, and analysis.

Companies are strongly advised to begin preparations now — plan tachograph installations, train drivers, and implement proper compliance systems. Delaying action could lead to infringements and costly penalties.

Autosert Competence Centre helps companies and drivers comply with the new requirements.

We offer:

• training on driving and rest time regulations,
• tachograph usage courses,
• system setup for working time management and archiving,
• TachoScan software sales and support,
• tachograph installations in cooperation with Digimeerik OÜ.

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