Van tachograph fine by country: what it costs in 2026
Van tachograph fines by country in 2026: up to EUR 30,000 in France, EUR 1,500 in Germany and 12,000 PLN in Poland for a van without a compliant device.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
A van caught without the required smart tachograph on an international or cabotage (temporary domestic haulage) run faces country-specific fines: up to EUR 30,000 and a year in prison in France, EUR 1,500 in Germany, and 12,000 PLN in Poland, plus possible vehicle immobilisation until fixed.
Since 1 July 2026, vans and light trucks of 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes must carry a second-generation smart tachograph on international or cabotage runs under EU Regulation 2020/1054 ( check whether your van needs a tachograph for the full scope and exemptions, or read Sweden's domestic-vs-international rule for how a purely domestic run avoids the obligation). What changed since August 2026 is enforcement: inspectorates have started issuing real fines, according to trans.info's country-by-country update .
How much is the fine for a van without a tachograph in the EU?
The fine depends on which country's roadside inspectors stop the vehicle, and the range is wide. France applies the harshest penalty: up to EUR 30,000 and up to one year in prison for failing to have the control device installed at all, under Code des transports Article L3315-4 , plus immediate vehicle seizure. A missing driver card falls under the separate, lighter Article L3315-5. Poland fines the operating company 10,000 PLN and the transport manager a further 2,000 PLN, a combined 12,000 PLN , and can withhold the registration certificate. Germany's fine sits lower, at EUR 1,500 per inspection, but repeat findings compound quickly for fleets running regular international routes.
Which countries fine vans hardest for a missing or non-compliant tachograph?
| Country | Fine for missing or non-compliant tachograph |
|---|---|
| France | Up to EUR 30,000 and up to 1 year imprisonment (Code des transports Art. L3315-4); vehicle can be seized |
| Poland | 12,000 PLN total (10,000 PLN company plus 2,000 PLN transport manager); registration certificate can be withheld |
| Romania | 9,000 to 12,000 RON (approximately EUR 1,800 to 2,400); vehicle can be detained until the fault is fixed |
| Germany | EUR 1,500 per inspection |
Romania fines a non-compliant vehicle 9,000 to 12,000 RON under national enforcement rules, MoziMap reports . A van registered in Ukraine is not covered by a separate Ukrainian international-transport fine schedule, since Ukraine sits outside EU Regulation 2020/1054. A Ukrainian-flagged van caught without a compliant tachograph is fined under the rules of whichever EU country stops it, so the France, Germany, Poland and Romania figures above apply directly depending on the route.
What happens after the fine - can the van keep driving?
Rarely without conditions. France and Romania both allow the vehicle to be immobilised or detained until a compliant tachograph is fitted. Poland withholds the registration certificate instead, so the van can often continue briefly while the company retrofits, but the transport manager's personal fine still applies. Track driver activity with the Logifie Driver Assistant app , which does not replace the legal tachograph requirement but does give an operator early warning that a vehicle is running international routes without one fitted.
Frequently asked questions
Is a van fined the same amount as a truck for a missing tachograph?
No. Most national fine schedules for vans in the 2.5 to 3.5 tonne bracket sit at or below the equivalent heavy-truck penalty, since the obligation only started on 1 July 2026. France is the exception, applying the same severe penalty, up to EUR 30,000 and a year in prison, to both vehicle classes.
Can a tachograph fine be paid on the spot, or does it go to court?
It depends on the country. Poland and Germany typically issue an administrative fine that the operator settles directly, while France's Article L3315-4 penalty is a criminal offence referred to court, particularly for repeat or deliberate non-compliance.
Does the fine apply if the van is only doing cabotage, not a full international trip?
Yes. Cabotage counts as part of international transport under EU Regulation 2020/1054, so a 2.5 to 3.5 tonne van performing cabotage inside another EU country is subject to the same tachograph requirement, and the same fine schedule, as one doing a full cross-border run.
What if the tachograph is fitted but not used correctly, rather than missing?
Fines still apply, though inspectors and courts generally treat incorrect use, such as a missing driver card or unrecorded activity, as a separate and often lighter offence than having no device installed at all. France, for example, treats a missing driver card as a lighter offence under a separate article.
Confirm which of your vans fall under the international tachograph rule before an inspector does. Get a free compliance-aware freight quote and keep every route documented.
