The short version: since 1 July 2026, goods vehicles over 2.5 tonnes doing international hire-and-reward work must have a full Smart Tachograph 2 (ST2) fitted. That pulls thousands of vans into tachograph rules for the first time.
Who's in scope
Vans and LCVs 2.5–3.5t crossing borders for hire & reward — now need full ST2
UK-only domestic work at 2.5–3.5t — still out of scope
Own-account transport where driving isn't the main job — may be exempt
The obligations that catch people out
Driver card downloads at least every 28 days
Vehicle unit downloads at least every 90 days
Records kept a minimum of 12 months, available for inspection
Costs and penalties
Budget £1,000–£1,500 per vehicle for hardware and installation. DVSA treats tacho offences as serious: fixed penalties, prohibition notices, vehicle immobilisation — and persistent breaches risk O-licence suspension or revocation.
Check yourself in 30 seconds: our free ST2 checker asks 4 questions and tells you where you stand — haulage.app/os (ST2 tile). No signup.
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