G2V2 Tachograph mandatory from 1 July. Who does it affect?
The EU Mobility Package is extending its reach to another transport segment. From 1 July 2026, vans and light commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes operating in international transport must be equipped with a second-generation smart tachograph (G2V2). The requirement applies regardless of whether the vehicle is newly registered or already in use.
For years, light commercial vehicles operated outside the radar of driving time regulations. Some carriers deliberately used vans to bypass rules that applied to heavy goods vehicles – no driving time records, no limits, no oversight. This distorted fair competition and increased the risk of accidents caused by fatigued drivers. The Mobility Package (EU Regulation 2020/1054) closes this loophole across all EU member states simultaneously.
The obligation applies to vehicles meeting both of the following conditions:
- the GVW of the vehicle including any trailer exceeds 2.5 t and does not exceed 3.5 t,
- the vehicle is used for paid international freight transport or cabotage.
Important detail: the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer is what counts. A van with a GVW of 2.2 t towing a trailer that brings the total above 2.5 t is also subject to the requirement.
Exempted are:
- vehicles used exclusively for domestic freight transport,
- transport for own account (non-commercial use).
Any tachograph will not do – only a second-generation smart tachograph (G2V2) meets the requirement. The device must include:
- a GNSS module that automatically records border crossings,
- a remote communication module allowing roadside checks without stopping the vehicle,
- recording of loading and unloading operations.
Installation must be carried out by an authorised workshop certified for G2V2 fitting and calibration.
From the day of installation, van drivers are subject to the full requirements of Regulation 561/2006:
- maximum 9 hours of driving per day (up to 10 h twice a week),
- mandatory 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving,
- requirement to hold a driver card.
The penalties for missing or incorrect tachographs differ by country, but the consequences are significant in all three markets where Malcom Finance operates:
- Poland: a fine of up to 12,000 PLN per vehicle for missing or incorrect G2V2. Inspectors treat a G2V1 tachograph as equivalent to having no tachograph at all.
- Czech Republic: a fine of up to 350,000 CZK for the company, and up to 2,000,000 CZK for violations of working time rules. Drivers face fines of 10,000–50,000 CZK and a driving ban of 3 to 6 months.
- Slovakia: any international journey without a G2V2 tachograph results in a fine and potential vehicle detention – both domestically and in other EU countries, where penalties can be significantly higher.
In all three countries, vehicles may be immobilised abroad until a compliant tachograph is installed – at the carrier’s expense.
Purchasing and installing a G2V2 tachograph represents an upfront cost that must be covered before customers pay their invoices for June shipments. Depending on a country (Czechia, Slovakia, Poland), installation may cost 500-3000 euro per vehicle. Across a fleet of several vans, this can amount to a significant sum arriving faster than incoming payments.
Companies that use factoring to finance their receivables handle this differently: funds from invoices become available before the customer’s payment deadline, allowing sudden costs to be covered without pressure on cash reserves.
- Identify which vehicles in your fleet have a GVW above 2.5 t and operate international routes.
- Book a G2V2 installation slot at an authorised service centre – availability is filling up.
- Ensure drivers have valid driver cards.
- Plan how to cover the upfront costs before customers pay their June invoices.
This change affects thousands of companies across Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia that have until now operated international transport with vans and no tachograph. For many, it is not just a new regulatory obligation – it is the first serious liquidity test of the year. Those who prepare early avoid the fine and the downtime. Those who leave it to the last minute pay twice.
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