PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS
Tachograph & Driver Hours
Master the rules on driving hours, breaks, and rest periods. Stay legal and avoid costly fines.
Max Daily Drive
Max Weekly Drive
Break After 4.5h
THE BASICS
What is a Tachograph?
A tachograph is a device fitted to commercial vehicles that records driving time, speed, distance, and driver activity. It’s the primary tool for enforcing driver hours regulations and ensuring road safety.
All goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles carrying more than 9 people must have a tachograph fitted (with some exemptions).
Types of Tachograph
Digital Tachograph
The modern standard, mandatory in all new vehicles since 2006.
- Records data electronically
- Uses a driver card (smart card)
- Stores data in vehicle unit and on card
- More accurate and harder to tamper with
- Data downloadable for compliance checks
Smart Tachograph 2: Since August 2023, new vehicles must have “smart tachograph 2” with enhanced GPS tracking and DSRC communication.
Analogue Tachograph
Older system using paper charts, found in pre-2006 vehicles.
- Uses wax-coated circular charts
- Stylus records on spinning disc
- Must write details on chart manually
- Charts must be kept for 12 months
- Being phased out as older vehicles retire
Still legal to use in older vehicles, but most fleets have transitioned to digital.
YOUR CARD
Digital Tachograph Driver Card
To use a digital tachograph, you need a driver card — a personal smart card that identifies you and stores your driving data.
Driver Card Details
- Issued by: RSA (Road Safety Authority)
- Valid for: 5 years
- Cost: €35
- Stores: Last 28 days of driving activity
- Processing: Up to 15 working days
Using Your Card
- Insert card before starting any driving activity
- Select correct mode (driving, other work, availability, rest)
- Keep card inserted while driving
- Download data regularly (at least every 28 days)
- Never use someone else’s card
Lost, Stolen, or Damaged?
- Report to the RSA immediately
- Apply for replacement (€35)
- Can drive without card for max 15 calendar days
- Must do manual printouts daily if driving without card
- Printouts must be signed and kept with records
Other Card Types
- Company card: Allows operator to download vehicle data
- Workshop card: For calibration and testing
- Control card: For enforcement officers
Drivers only need the standard driver card.
REGULATIONS
Which Rules Apply to You?
There are different sets of driving hours rules depending on your work:
EU Rules (Regulation 561/2006)
Most common — applies to most professional drivers
Applies to:
- Goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
- Passenger vehicles with 9+ seats
- Journeys in Ireland (domestic or international)
This guide focuses on these rules.
Irish Domestic Rules
Simpler rules for exempt vehicles
Applies to:
- Vehicles exempt from EU rules (see exemptions)
- Some goods vehicles 3.5-7.5 tonnes on short journeys
- Certain passenger vehicles on private hire
Max 10 hours driving per day, different break requirements.
If in doubt: Most HGV and PCV drivers must follow EU rules. Check with your employer or transport manager if you’re unsure which rules apply.
LIMITS
Driving Time Limits
The rules set strict limits on how long you can drive:
| Period | Maximum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous driving | 4 hours 30 mins | Then must take a break |
| Daily driving | 9 hours | Can extend to 10h twice per week |
| Weekly driving | 56 hours | Maximum in any single week |
| Fortnightly driving | 90 hours | Maximum over any 2 consecutive weeks |
What This Means in Practice
Daily Limit
You can drive up to 9 hours in a day, but twice per week (Mon-Sun) you can extend this to 10 hours.
Example: Drive 9h Mon, 10h Tue, 9h Wed, 10h Thu = ✓ Legal (2 extended days)
Weekly Limit
Maximum 56 hours driving in any week. But watch the fortnightly limit too!
Example: Week 1 = 56h, Week 2 must be ≤34h (to stay under 90h)
Fortnightly Limit
No more than 90 hours over any 2 consecutive weeks. This prevents back-to-back heavy weeks.
Example: 50h + 40h = 90h ✓ | 56h + 35h = 91h ✗
BREAKS
Break Requirements
After 4.5 hours of driving, you must take a break before driving again:
Break Rules
- During breaks, you cannot drive or do other work
- Breaks can be used for eating, resting, or personal time
- After a valid break, the 4.5-hour counter resets
- Breaks do not count towards rest periods (different rules)
- If taking a rest period, it counts as a break too
📋 Example Day with Split Breaks
| 06:00 | Start driving |
| 08:30 | Break: 15 mins (2.5h driven) |
| 08:45 | Resume driving |
| 10:45 | Break: 30 mins (4.5h total driven) |
| 11:15 | Resume driving (counter reset to 0) |
| 15:45 | Break: 45 mins (4.5h driven) |
| 16:30 | Resume driving… |
DAILY REST
Daily Rest Periods
Within each 24-hour period (starting from the end of your last rest), you must take a daily rest:
Daily Rest Rules
- Rest must be continuous (or valid split)
- Can be taken in a vehicle if it has a bunk and is stationary
- No other work during rest period
- Availability (waiting time) is not rest
- 24-hour period starts from end of last daily or weekly rest
WEEKLY REST
Weekly Rest Periods
After no more than 6 consecutive 24-hour periods from your last weekly rest, you must take a weekly rest:
📋 Compensation Example
If you take a reduced weekly rest of 24 hours instead of 45 hours:
- Reduction = 45h – 24h = 21 hours owed
- Must add 21 hours to a rest period within 3 weeks
- Compensation must be attached to another rest of at least 9 hours
Example: Take 24h reduced rest → Next week take 45h + 21h = 66h rest to compensate
Typical Weekly Rest Pattern
| Week | Rest Type | Duration | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Reduced | 24h | 21h owed |
| Week 2 | Regular + comp | 45h + 21h = 66h | Paid back |
| Week 3 | Reduced | 24h | 21h owed |
| Week 4 | Regular + comp | 45h + 21h = 66h | Paid back |
⚠️ Weekly Rest Location Rules
Since 2020, if you take a regular weekly rest (45h+) away from base, it must not be taken in the vehicle cab. Employers must provide:
- Suitable gender-appropriate accommodation
- With adequate sleeping and sanitary facilities
- At the employer’s cost
Reduced weekly rests (24h) can still be taken in the cab if it has proper sleeping facilities.
SUMMARY
Quick Reference
| Rule | Standard | Reduced/Extended | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily driving | 9 hours | 10 hours | 2x per week |
| Weekly driving | 56 hours max | — | Hard limit |
| Fortnightly driving | 90 hours max | — | Hard limit |
| Continuous driving | 4.5 hours | — | Then break |
| Break | 45 mins | 15 + 30 split | After 4.5h drive |
| Daily rest | 11 hours | 9 hours | 3x between weekly rests |
| Split daily rest | 3h + 9h (12h total) | — | — |
| Weekly rest | 45 hours | 24 hours | Must compensate |
| Max work before weekly rest | 6 x 24h periods | — | — |
TACHOGRAPH USE
Tachograph Activity Modes
Your tachograph records four types of activity. You must select the correct mode:
Driving
Recorded automatically when vehicle is moving.
Cannot be manually selected — switches automatically.
Other Work
Any work that is not driving:
- Loading/unloading
- Vehicle checks
- Paperwork
- Cleaning
- Supervising loading
Availability (POA)
Periods of Availability — waiting time that isn’t work:
- Waiting at loading bay (not supervising)
- Accompanying vehicle on ferry/train
- Waiting time you knew about in advance
Rest/Break
Time off duty — no work of any kind:
- Breaks during the day
- Daily rest periods
- Weekly rest periods
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to change mode — Manually select other work/POA when you stop
- Using POA incorrectly — If you’re supervising loading, it’s “other work” not POA
- Not recording manual entries — Enter any off-duty activity manually (ferry crossings, etc.)
- Leaving card inserted at rest — You can remove it during weekly rest
PENALTIES
Infringements & Penalties
Breaking tachograph and driver hours rules is a serious offence. RSA enforcement officers and An Garda Siochana can stop and check you at any time.
Minor Infringements
Examples: Slightly exceeding daily driving by minutes, minor recording errors.
Usually a warning or advice.
Serious Infringements
Examples: Exceeding daily driving by 1-2 hours, insufficient rest.
Fixed penalty up to €350 per offence.
Most Serious Infringements
Examples: Driving without card, falsifying records, exceeding limits significantly.
Penalties up to €2,000+, court prosecution, RSA enforcement action.
Example Penalties
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Failing to take sufficient break | €100 – €350 |
| Exceeding daily driving limit | €100 – €350 |
| Insufficient daily rest | €100 – €350 |
| Failing to use tachograph correctly | €100 – €350 |
| Falsifying tachograph records | Unlimited fine + imprisonment |
Employer Liability
Employers (transport operators) can also be prosecuted for:
- Causing or permitting drivers to break rules
- Failing to maintain proper records
- Not downloading tachograph data regularly
Operators can lose their Road Haulage Operator’s Licence for repeated or serious offences.
QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Does “other work” count towards my working time?
Yes. Other work counts towards your total working time (relevant for Working Time Directive), but not towards your driving time limits. You can do other work after reaching your driving limit, but you still need your rest.
Can I do personal errands during a break?
Yes. During breaks and rest periods, your time is your own. You can eat, shop, exercise, or do whatever you like — just no work and no driving.
What if I’m stuck in traffic — does that count as driving?
Yes. Any time the vehicle is capable of moving (engine on, you’re at the wheel), it’s counted as driving time, even in stationary traffic.
Do I need my driver card for every vehicle?
Yes. Your driver card is personal to you. Insert it in whichever vehicle you’re driving. The card stores your data across all vehicles.
How long must I keep tachograph records?
Drivers must keep records for the current day + previous 28 days. Operators must keep records for at least 12 months. Digital data must be downloaded every 28 days (driver card) and 90 days (vehicle unit).
What happens if my tachograph breaks?
You can continue driving for up to 7 days if you make manual records (printouts, annotated and signed). The tachograph must be repaired as soon as possible — within one week if returning to base.
Are there any exemptions from tachograph rules?
Yes, some vehicles are exempt, including: emergency services, vehicles under 3.5t, driving instruction vehicles, and some specialist vehicles. Check the full exemption list if you think you may be exempt.
Can I use a phone app instead of a tachograph?
No. Only EU-approved tachograph devices are legal. Apps might help you plan, but they don’t replace the official equipment.
Plan Your Driving Time
Use our driver hours calculator to plan compliant journeys.