driver card (tachograph)
A driver card is a personal chip card that identifies a professional driver in a digital tachograph and records their driving time, breaks, rest periods and other work. It is mandatory under Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 for drivers of vehicles subject to EU tachograph rules, and each driver may hold exactly one valid card.
What does a driver card record?
The card stores the driver’s identity and activity data: driving, other work, availability, breaks and rest, plus the registration numbers of vehicles used. Second-generation smart tachograph cards also log border crossings and loading/unloading operations. A first-generation card holds at least 28 days of activity; smart tachograph (Gen2) cards hold 56 days. Once the memory is full, the oldest records are overwritten, which is one of the reasons regular downloads are a legal obligation, not housekeeping. The recorded data is the primary evidence in drivers’ hours enforcement.
Who issues driver cards and how long are they valid?
Cards are issued by the authority of the country where the driver normally resides: in Poland by PWPW, in Germany by the regional driver licensing authorities. A driver card is valid for five years and is strictly personal: driving on someone else’s card, or with two cards, ranks among the most heavily fined tachograph infringements in EU roadside checks. Renewal should be applied for at least 15 working days before expiry to keep an unbroken record.
How often must driver card data be downloaded?
Under Regulation (EU) No 581/2010, transport undertakings must download driver card data at least every 28 days and vehicle unit data at least every 90 days, then archive the files for at least 12 months. Downloads can be done manually with a card reader, or over the air: telematics platforms such as frameLOGIC automate the cadence with remote tachograph download, authenticated by the operator’s company card, so no card ever has to travel to the office.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a driver card is lost, stolen or damaged?
The driver must report it to the issuing authority within 7 calendar days; the authority issues a replacement within 8 working days. In the meantime the driver may continue driving without a card for up to 15 calendar days, making a tachograph printout at the start and end of each shift and signing it.
Is a driver card the same as a tachograph card?
A driver card is one of four tachograph card types defined in EU law, alongside the company card, workshop card and control card. Only the driver card records a person’s daily activity; the company card is used to lock, unlock and download data from the vehicle unit.
Do van drivers need a driver card?
Since 1 July 2026, vehicles over 2.5 t used in international transport for hire or reward fall under smart tachograph rules, so their drivers need driver cards. Vans under 3.5 t operating purely domestically generally remain outside the tachograph obligation.