Do you also provide transport services outside the Netherlands, and does the permitted maximum mass of your commercial vehicle reach or exceed 2,500 kg? Then this change may be important for you.
New obligation from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, commercial vehicles with a permitted maximum mass of 2,500 kg or more that are used for international transport or cabotage must be equipped with a second-generation smart tachograph (SMT2).
Currently, tachographs are not mandatory for vehicles with a permitted maximum mass below 3,500 kg.
Exemption for own-account transport
Is transporting goods not your main business activity? For example, are you a handyman using the vehicle to travel to your clients? In that case, the vehicle is used for own-account transport, and you may be exempt from this obligation.
Who does this apply to?
The new rules apply to:
- transport companies operating abroad;
- professional hauliers operating abroad;
- entrepreneurs who make deliveries abroad using a vehicle weighing 2,500 kg or more, such as a van.
What should you do?
- Check which of your vehicles must be equipped with a tachograph.
- Check whether a national or European exemption applies to you.
- Make an appointment as soon as possible with an RDW-approved workshop.
- Apply in time for all required tachograph cards, including the company card and driver card.
- Make sure that you and your drivers understand how to use the tachograph and are familiar with the European driving-time and rest-period rules.
When will the change take effect?
The amendment is part of the European Mobility Package and will enter into force on 1 July 2026.
You can find the original information at the following link:
https://ondernemersplein.overheid.nl/wetswijzigingen/tachograaf-smt2-verplicht-boven-2500-kg/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTDNYtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesLbN1KnMVR0UNUy1Ijk5X5cEfdnvw0jdm154nQVrEro9Mqci0VnOlU_gzZg_aem_AJC0cX71ZUTIj75RE2BRvw