The lack of a Smart Tachograph 2.0 has been punishable since March. An example is the fine imposed on a Bulgarian driver by the police in Bari, Italy, on the first day of this month.
Spain has also started enforcing the new rules strictly. A Romanian transport company was fined €2,001 for failing to install a Smart-Tacho 2.0, and the vehicle was immobilized. According to the Spanish transport federation Fenadismer, this offence is classified among the most serious violations, potentially affecting the company’s reputation and European compliance status. In addition to financial penalties, sanctions such as vehicle immobilization and even imprisonment may apply in some EU countries.
The fines for not having a smart tachograph vary from country to country. Tachograph supplier VDO has gathered information on penalties for this violation in almost all European countries.
Failure to update the tachograph within the required time frame results in high fines and serious penalties.
“In the Atlantic corridor, which runs from Portugal through Spain and France to Germany, fines of up to €70,000 are possible. In France, offenders can even face a prison sentence of up to one year. In the Baltic-Adriatic corridor, which runs from Poland to Italy via the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria, potential fines could be around €46,000, partly because Italian authorities fine both the driver and the transport company. The Slovak police also have the right to retain the vehicle’s documents and license plates until the vehicle is upgraded,” warns VDO.
Below is a summary of fines in various European countries:
Austria
The fine for not having a certified tachograph ranges from €400 to €5,000. The vehicle is immobilized until the issue is resolved.
Belgium
Failure to have an appropriate tachograph results in a fine of €2,640.
Bulgaria
Using a tachograph that does not comply with regulations may result in a fine of 1,500 Bulgarian lev (approx €767), while not having a smart tachograph 2.0 can lead to a fine of 3,000 Bulgarian lev (approx €1534).
Croatia
Fines for lacking a G2V2 tachograph:
- €390 to €920 for the driver
- €1,980 to €3,310 for the transport company
- €920 to €1,980 for a responsible person in the company
Cyprus
The absence of a smart tachograph 2.0 is punishable by a fine of up to €3,417.
Czech Republic
Driving without a tachograph is punishable by a fine of up to CZK 350,000 (approx €13,932 ). The vehicle will be towed to a workshop for installation of the required tachograph.
Denmark
Using an unauthorized tachograph can result in fines of up to 6,000 Danish kroner for the driver and up to 12,000 Danish kroner for the transport company.
Estonia
Failure to install the required device results in fines of:
- Up to €800 for the driver
- Up to €3,200 for the business owner
Finland
Penalties are determined based on the driver’s salary. The minimum fine is 10 days’ wages, and the maximum is 25 days’ wages.
France
Failure to install a compliant tachograph may result in a fine of €30,000 and imprisonment for up to one year. Immediate vehicle seizure is also possible.
Germany
Failure to install a compliant tachograph may result in a fine of €1,500.
Greece
The penalty for failing to install a tachograph that complies with European regulations is €3,000. The vehicle will be immobilized until the fine is paid.
Great Britain
Driving without an appropriate tachograph carries a fine of £300 (approx €357).
Hungary
Failure to install a second-generation smart tachograph within the legal timeframe may result in a fine of 800,000 Hungarian forints (approx. €2000).
Italy
Driving without an approved tachograph results in an administrative fine of between €866 and €3,464. A compliant tachograph must be installed within 10 days.
Additionally, a driving license suspension of 15 days to 3 months may be imposed.
Latvia
Fines range from €430 to €700 for failing to install a tachograph in compliance with regulations.
Lithuania
- €350 to €600 for the driver
- €900 to €1,700 for the responsible legal entity
Additionally, the vehicle cannot continue operating until the tachograph is replaced and its technical condition verified.
Luxembourg
Failure to have an appropriate tachograph may result in legal action. A judge may impose a fine ranging from €251 to €25,000 and/or imprisonment of 8 days to 5 years, depending on the severity of the offence.
Malta
The fine for not having a tachograph installed is €58.23.
Montenegro
Fines range from €2,500 to €6,000.
Netherlands
Lack of an approved tachograph is punishable by a fine of €4,400.
Poland
In Poland, the lack of an intelligent tachograph is heavily penalized. This offence carries an administrative fine of PLN 12,000 (approx. €2860) (PLN 10,000 (approx. €2380) for the transport company and PLN 2,000 (approx. €477) for the transport manager).
Additionally, in cases where the required tachograph is missing, authorities will retain the vehicle’s registration certificate for up to seven days. After this period, if the tachograph is not installed, the vehicle will not be allowed to continue operating.
The Chief Inspectorate of Road Transport emphasizes that failure to replace the tachograph in due time may also lead to a review of the operator’s good repute.
Portugal
Failure to install a second-generation tachograph results in a fine between €1,200 and €6,000.
Romania
Fines range from €1,800 to €2,400. The vehicle may also be seized until the issue is resolved.
Slovakia
If a road check in Slovakia reveals that a vehicle lacks the appropriate tachograph version, the road haulier may face substantial fines.
Violations include:
- Operating a vehicle without a required recording device
- Using an unapproved recording device
- Failing to conduct regular tachograph inspections
- Operating a vehicle with a faulty or damaged control device
Fines range from €1,659 to €16,596. Authorities may also retain the vehicle’s registration certificate and license plates until the issue is resolved.
Slovenia
The fine for not having an approved tachograph is up to €1,500.
Spain
The fine is €2,001.
Sweden
Failure to install the required device to record a driver’s working hours is punishable by a fine of 20,000 Swedish kronor.
Switzerland
Failure to have an appropriate tachograph results in a fine of at least 540 Swiss francs (approx €564).
Additionally, using a non-compliant tachograph may lead to the vehicle being blocked until the fine is paid.
Tachograph replacement schedule
From 1 January 2025, all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes equipped with a first-generation analogue or digital tachograph (installed before 15 June 2019) and used in international transport must have these devices replaced with G2V2 smart tachographs.
By 19 August 2025, vehicles equipped with a first-generation smart tachograph (installed from 15 June 2019) must upgrade to a second-generation tachograph. This requirement applies only to vehicles engaged in international transport.
By 1 July 2026, commercial vehicles weighing 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes used in international transport must also be equipped with a second-generation smart tachograph.