20. 10. 2026

Tachographs and drivers’ working time: what applies from 26 July 2026

Since 26 July 2026, a new version of the Regulation on working time and rest time of drivers of wheeled vehicles, approved by Order No. 1727 of the Ministry for Development, has been in force. The rules have been brought closer to European ones: the requirements for tachographs and for downloading and storing their data have changed. We explain who is affected and what a carrier should check.

In short:

• the rules apply to the carriage of goods by vehicles over 3.5 t and the carriage of passengers by buses (more than 9 seats including the driver);
• the tachograph must be in working order and undergo a periodic inspection on time — every two years;
• new trucks for international transport first registered after 30 June 2026 must be fitted with a G2V2 smart tachograph;
• data from the tachograph vehicle unit must be downloaded at least once every 90 days, and from the driver card once every 28 days;
• there are exceptions for the period of martial law.

Who the rules apply to

The Regulation applies to carriers and drivers during:

• domestic and international carriage of goods if the maximum technically permissible mass of the vehicle, including the trailer, exceeds 3.5 t;
• domestic and international carriage of passengers by vehicles designed for more than nine people including the driver;
• international carriage of passengers by taxi or on order by vehicles with 6–9 seats including the driver.

The Regulation does not apply to a number of transport operations — in particular, by vehicles of the security and defence forces, ambulances, emergency services, certain operations within 100 km of the base, and other cases defined by the Regulation.

How long you may drive

• daily driving time — no more than 9 hours, twice a week — up to 10 hours;
• weekly — no more than 56 hours;
• in any two consecutive weeks — no more than 90 hours;
• after 4 hours 30 minutes of driving — a break of at least 45 minutes (it can be split into 15 and 30 minutes).

Tachograph requirements

Working order and periodic inspection

The vehicle must be fitted with a working tachograph that has undergone a periodic inspection or calibration on time. Under the Instruction on the use of tachographs, tachograph service points carry out periodic inspections every two years. They check, in particular, that the tachograph is installed and working correctly, the integrity of the seals, the absence of manipulation devices, and the tyre size.

If the tachograph is faulty or damaged, the carrier must have it repaired at a tachograph service point before the vehicle leaves on a trip.

G2V2 smart tachograph

Trucks for international transport under the Agreement between Ukraine and the EU on the carriage of freight by road that were first registered in Ukraine after 30 June 2026 must have a G2V2 smart tachograph.

Downloading and storing data

The carrier must:

• download data from tachograph vehicle units at least once every 90 days;
• download data from driver cards at least once every 28 days;
• store downloaded data and tachograph charts for at least 24 months;
• provide access to this data at the request of Ukrtransbezpeka.

Exceptions during martial law

For the period of martial law and for three months after it ends, the Regulation does not apply to:

• territories where hostilities are (were) taking place or that are temporarily occupied;
• the carriage of goods to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the carriage of military personnel by vehicles rented with a driver;
• domestic transport that businesses carry out on their own account for their activities, if it lasts no more than 4 hours 30 minutes, as confirmed by primary documents.

What a carrier should check

1. The date of the last periodic inspection of the tachograph on each vehicle — no more than two years have passed since then.
2. The integrity of the seals and the presence of the inspection plate on the tachograph.
3. The data download schedule: vehicle units — once every 90 days, driver cards — once every 28 days.
4. For new trucks used in international transport — the presence of a G2V2 smart tachograph.

You can have the tachograph inspected and calibrated at Centr Avto laboratories — details on the tachograph calibration page. Booking by phone: 098 500 5252.

FAQ

How often must a tachograph be inspected?

A periodic inspection of the tachograph is carried out every two years.

Who must install a G2V2 smart tachograph?

Trucks for international transport under the Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, first registered in Ukraine after 30 June 2026.

How long must tachograph data be stored?

Downloaded data and tachograph charts — at least 24 months.

Do the rules apply during martial law?

Yes, but with exceptions: they do not apply to combat zones and occupied territories, transport for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and short (up to 4.5 hours) domestic transport on own account.

Source: Order of the Ministry for Development No. 1727 of 12.12.2025 and the Regulation on working time and rest time of drivers, Instruction on the use of control devices (tachographs) (in Ukrainian)