New Road Transport Rules from July 1: Drivers Face Fines Up to 12,000 Zloty

New regulations mandating tachographs in smaller commercial vehicles will take effect on July 1, 2026, potentially imposing significant fines on drivers and transport companies. The European Union directive requires vehicles weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tons, used for international road transport or cabotage, to be equipped with smart tachographs of the second generation (G2V2).

This expansion of tachograph requirements, currently mandatory for vehicles over 3.5 tons, will affect approximately 40,000 vans and light commercial vehicles in Poland alone. The rules apply to the paid transport of goods internationally and to cabotage operations within a single country by a carrier registered elsewhere. Vehicles used solely for domestic transport within Poland will not be subject to this requirement. The regulations also cover vehicle combinations with trailers if their combined weight exceeds 2.5 tons.

Beyond simply recording driving and rest times, the new G2V2 smart tachographs will also log location and speed, and allow for remote data checks by authorities. For transport companies, the cost of purchasing, installing, and calibrating these devices can exceed 5,000 Polish zloty (approx. $1,250 USD) per vehicle. Experts warn that the Road Transport Inspectorate (ITD) conducts thorough checks, and non-compliance, including using older tachograph models like the G2V1 after the August 19, 2025, deadline for international transport, can lead to substantial penalties.

Fines for driving without a required tachograph can reach 10,000 Polish zloty (approx. $2,500 USD) for the transport company and 2,000 Polish zloty (approx. $500 USD) for the transport manager. Damian Bartnikowski, a TSL industry expert, noted a case where a vehicle operating internationally was found with a G2V1 tachograph, leading to a penalty for using a device that did not meet the required homologation standards for international transport after the specified deadline.

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I received a notification after a road check in international transport. The controlled vehicle was carrying out transport from Norway to Poland and was equipped with a G2V1 smart tachograph. According to current regulations, vehicles carrying out international transport from August 19, 2025, should be equipped with G2V2 smart tachographs. Therefore, the control body considered that transport was being carried out by a vehicle not equipped with the required tachograph with the appropriate type-approval certificate.