Driving law changes launching in weeks will have massive impact on thousands of motorists

New guidance has been released that could have a huge impact on thousands of drivers, with new rules being rolled out within weeks.

Fresh rule changes will be introduced in July that require thousands of vehicle owners and businesses to install certain tachograph devices.

The new rules are part of the Goods Vehicles (Testing, Drivers' Hours and Tachographs etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, which will come into force on June 1, 2026, although tachograph rules will take effect the following month.

Fresh amendments to existing rules will impact zero emission vehicles with a gross weight between 3,501kg and 4,250kg.

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Zero emission goods vehicles, including electric vans and trucks, do not need to adhere to tachograph rules when they are used to carry goods for a business.

It will also apply if their total permitted weight, including any trailer, is more than 3.5 tonnes but less than 4.25 tonnes.

Tachographs are crucial to the motoring industry as they track driving time, speed and distance for professional road users.

Under new guidance from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issued today, alternative fuel vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes do not need to adhere to tachograph rules.

However, this will only apply if:

• The vehicle is not already exempt under the zero emission rule for vehicles between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes
• It is powered by natural gas, liquefied gas or electricity
• It is used to carry goods within a 100-kilometre radius of the operator's base

The rules will only apply to vehicles operating solely within England, Scotland and Wales, with different rules applying in Northern Ireland.

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Any zero emission vehicle weighing between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes used on journeys between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will still require a tachograph and remain in scope of the drivers' hours rules.

The clarifications have been confirmed by the DVSA ahead of new tachograph rules being introduced on July 1, 2026.

This will require a smart tachograph 2 to be fitted into goods vehicles with a gross weight of 2,501kg or over, when undertaking international journeys for hire and reward.

If a vehicle is undertaking an international journey for the driver or company's own account, and driving is not the main activity, there is no requirement to fit a tachograph.

Vehicles weighing more than 2.5 tonnes and less than 3.5 tonnes operating only within the UK are not required to fit a tachograph.

Any newly registered vehicles from December 24, 2025, a full tachograph 2 must be fitted, while a traditional smart tachograph 2 may be fitted if the vehicle was registered before.

Vehicles registered before May 1, 2006, can use any type of tachograph, while those registered between this date and June 14, 2019, must use a digital or smart tachograph.

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