Tachograph Card Application and Renewal: Driver and Company Card Guide
Every driver of a vehicle with a digital tachograph needs a personal driver card, and every transport undertaking operating such vehicles needs a company card. The EU rules are set out in Regulation (EU) No 165/2014; the application itself is handled by national authorities.
Short answer: A driver card is issued by the competent authority of the Member State where you have your normal residence. It is valid for up to 5 years. Apply for renewal at least 15 working days before it expires; if a card is lost or stolen, apply for a replacement within 7 calendar days.
Types of tachograph cards
| Card | Who uses it? | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Driver card | Drivers of vehicles with a digital tachograph | Up to 5 years |
| Company card | Transport undertakings operating these vehicles | Set by the issuing authority |
| Workshop card | Approved workshops | Up to 1 year |
| Control card | Control authorities | Set by the issuing authority |
Driver card: the EU rules
- Who issues it? The competent authority of the Member State where the driver has their normal residence, meaning the place where they usually live for at least 185 days a year.
- How many? A driver may hold no more than one valid driver card and may only use their own card.
- Validity: No more than five years.
- Moving abroad: If you move your normal residence to another Member State, you can ask for your card to be exchanged for an equivalent one.
Where to apply
| Country | Where |
|---|---|
| Germany | The competent office of the federal state (driving licence authority or an appointed issuing office such as TÜV or DEKRA); cards are produced by the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt |
| Poland | Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych (PWPW), online via info-car.pl or by post |
| Turkey | TOBB's STAUM centre, via staum.tobb.org.tr and the local Chamber of Commerce |
Company card
A company card is issued by the authorities of a Member State to a transport undertaking. It is used to download data from the vehicle unit and to protect the company's data from access by others. Read how to use it in our guide to tachograph data download.
Renewing a driver card
Apply to the competent authority no later than 15 working days before the card expires. If you apply on time, the authority must supply the new card before the old one expires.
Lost, stolen or malfunctioning cards
- Report a lost card in a formal declaration to the competent authority; report theft to the authorities of the country where it happened.
- Apply for a replacement within 7 calendar days.
- Return a damaged or malfunctioning card to the issuing authority.
The authority must supply a replacement card within 8 working days.
After you receive your card
Driver card and vehicle unit data must be downloaded and kept regularly. With Tachograph AI you can analyse the data easily with AI support: driving and rest times, infringements and driver reports appear on one screen.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the tachograph driver card?
The competent authority of the Member State where you have your normal residence (at least 185 days a year).
How long is a driver card valid?
No more than five years.
When should I renew my driver card?
No later than 15 working days before it expires. Some countries also set an earliest date, for example 6 months before expiry in Germany and 2 months in Poland.
What should I do if I lose my driver card?
Report the loss in a formal declaration and apply for a replacement within 7 calendar days. The authority must supply a replacement within 8 working days.
Can I have more than one driver card?
No. A driver may hold only one valid driver card. Companies can hold several company cards.