Approved tachograph centre special notice 01-26
Published 29 June 2026
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
© Crown copyright 2026
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1. Full smart tachographs version 2
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been made aware that technicians are still fitting transitional smart tachographs to vehicles registered after 24 December 2025.
Any tachograph fitted to a newly registered vehicle after 24 December 2025 must be a full smart 2 tachograph.
Vehicles found to be fitted with an incorrect tachograph may result in disciplinary action or prosecution.
Any centre that has fitted an incorrect tachograph must inform DVSA of the issue. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
2. Tachograph software upgrades
Technicians are reminded that a vehicle unit software upgrade does not always require a tachograph calibration.
Software upgrades may be carried out separately where a calibration is not due.
3. Equipment calibrations
Centres, technicians and tachograph equipment calibrators are reminded that all equipment calibrations must be undertaken in line with the relevant specification and requirements.
DVSA has been made aware of occasions where an approved tachograph centre has had an alteration made to equipment calibration settings without the proper calibration process being carried out. This may have been undertaken without a calibration technician attending the site.
Any instances of this will be investigated, and any calibrations undertaken following such an adjustment may be rendered void.
In addition, centres are reminded that all equipment calibration certificates must be signed and dated, with the name of the calibrating technician clearly stated.
Three-monthly quality control checks must ensure that this is the case, and it is recommended that quality controllers or designated managers check that the documentation issued is completed correctly at the time of calibration to avoid complications. Any equipment calibrations without a signature will be considered void during DVSA audit.
DVSA is maintaining a watching brief on this matter and may audit equipment calibrations, and may move to further regulate this issue, if confidence in these processes is undermined.