In April 2025, the European Commission issued new guidelines regarding the installation timelines for Smart Tachographs Version 2, stemming from Regulation (EU) 2020/1054.

August 18, 2025 – Obligation to install Smart Tachographs Version 2 in vehicles currently equipped with first-generation Smart Tachographs, which were registered between June 2019 and August 2023 and operate in other EU Member States.

July 1, 2026 – Deadline for the installation of Smart Tachographs Version 2 in light commercial vehicles (over 2.5 tonnes) engaged in international transport or cabotage.

Recommendations for businesses and workshops
DG MOVE specifically emphasizes the need for timely replacement of tachographs, except in cases where the upgrade can be coordinated with the regular biennial tachograph inspection.

This obligation also applies to vehicles that were not originally intended for tachograph installation, such as certain M1/N1 category vehicles. For these cases, technical regulations have provided for special adapters.

Workshops and business entities are urged to exercise additional caution due to potential installation challenges and to actively share best practices.