Tachograph Card: Applying, Renewing and Replacing Yours

What the driver card does

The card goes into the tachograph when you start a shift and stays there while you drive. It stores your driving, rest and other work activity, so your hours follow you from vehicle to vehicle. The rules on how long you can drive and rest are a separate subject, covered in our drivers hours guide. This page is about the card itself.

Who needs a tachograph card

Most professional lorry drivers, and bus and coach drivers on longer routes, drive vehicles fitted with digital or smart tachographs and need a driver card. Some types of driving are exempt from the rules, and some work falls under domestic rules instead, so if you are unsure, ask your employer or check GOV.UK before you apply. A new driver usually applies once the licence is in place and the first job is lined up.

How to apply

1. 1Check you hold a driving licence that lets you drive the vehicle
2. 2Apply for a digital tachograph driver card through GOV.UK and pay the fee shown there
3. 3Use the same name and address as your driving licence, so the card is sent to the right place
4. 4Allow time for the card to arrive before you are due to start work

Apply as soon as you know you will need the card. Starting a new job without it can delay your first shift.

Renewing your tachograph card

A driver card lasts five years and the expiry date is printed on it. Apply to renew before it runs out, as GOV.UK advises leaving enough time for the new card to arrive. The renewal is separate from renewing your Driver CPC card and from renewing the lorry or bus entitlement on your licence, so keep a note of all three dates.

Lost, stolen or damaged cards

If your card is lost or stolen, report it and apply for a replacement through GOV.UK as soon as possible. If it is damaged or stops working, apply for a replacement too. GOV.UK sets out what you must do to record your activity while you wait for the new card, including taking printouts from the tachograph, so read the official guidance before your next shift.

Changing your details

If you change your name or address, update your driving licence and follow the GOV.UK guidance for your tachograph card. Mismatched details are a common reason for cards going to an old address.

Tachograph training

Knowing how to use the tachograph properly matters as much as having the card: selecting the right mode, making manual entries and dealing with a fault. Drivers hours and tachograph use are part of the knowledge drivers build through Driver CPC. If you need periodic training, our Driver CPC courses in Glasgow are £55 per seven-hour day. For people running an operator licence, tachograph compliance is part of the Transport Manager CPC syllabus.