Types of Driver Cards for Tachograph: A Complete Guide
Main types of Tachograph cards
There are four types of Tachograph cards in the EU:
1. Driver card
- Personal, named.
- Validity period — 5 years.
- Stores data on trips, rest periods, violations.
- Mandatory for drivers of categories C, CE, D, DE.
A driver’s card is a personal digital record of their work: it records all activities for each day and usually stores information for about 28 days. But that’s not all — the digital Tachograph itself, into which the card is inserted, stores data for almost a year. Thus, the last 365 days can be easily viewed directly on the device screen or downloaded via special equipment. All these elements of the digital system form a complete and transparent control model, in which it is important to understand what types of Tachograph cards exist and how each of them is used.
The information from the card is available to the driver and the company: it can be displayed on the Tachograph screen, printed via the built-in printer, or read using a card reader. Any attempts to “bypass” the system will not go unnoticed.
Technically, the vehicle can move without a card, but this is a violation of the rules. The Tachograph will automatically record all trips without a card. A driver can only have one personal card, which is valid for five years.
2. Company card
- For carriers.
- Allows reading and locking data in the Tachograph on behalf of the company.
A company smart card is a key tool for a transport company, issued by the competent authority of the state where the company is registered. It is needed not only to safely download data from the Tachograph memory, but also to protect all company information from prying eyes.
The card records information about the working and rest time of drivers on different vehicles — this is convenient for internal control and planning the company’s work. Most often, the company card has a bright yellow color and contains basic information about the company that manages the transportation.
Before a vehicle starts operating on the road, the company enters its data into the Tachograph via the card: simply insert it into the device and follow the prompts on the screen. The card can store up to 230 records of actions related to blocking and downloading data, and it does not have a specific validity period established by the regulations.
3. Workshop card
- For authorized services.
- Used for installing, configuring, and calibrating the Tachograph.
A workshop card is a red smart card that is intended for specialists working with digital Tachographs. It is usually issued to certified workshops or their employees who install, activate, calibrate, inspect, and download data from Tachographs. Every change made to the system is securely recorded and can be used in the future.
The card stores information about its owner, as well as data about the last 88 calibrations performed with it. A special feature of this card is that it is equipped with a personal PIN code, which is issued only once, and the card is valid for exactly one year. A workshop can have several such cards at once, so that working with Tachographs is flexible and efficient.
4. Control card
- For police, ITD, and other supervisory authorities.
- Intended for checking Tachograph data.
In order to monitor compliance with the rules of working with digital Tachographs, law enforcement officers use a special control smart card. It is necessary during inspections to ensure that companies and drivers comply with the law, including directives on working time and traffic regulations. With this card, you can check how driving and rest time is distributed by reading data directly from the driver’s card or downloaded from the Tachograph.
The control card gives the police and other authorized employees full access to all digital Tachograph data, even if the company has activated protective locks. It is usually highlighted in blue and can store up to 230 inspection records. The regulation does not establish a specific period of validity, which makes the card a universal tool for regular control and supervision.
5. Temporary driver card
Among all existing types of driver cards for Tachographs, the temporary card occupies a special place, as it was created specifically for employees from countries outside the EU/EEA. This card is issued once and is valid for no more than 185 days, making it a convenient tool for temporary employees.
If a driver from abroad performs professional freight or passenger transportation on the territory of the Netherlands, the presence of a temporary card is mandatory. It is a personal Tachograph card and performs three key functions: it certifies the identity of the driver with a photograph, provides access to the digital Tachograph, and records working and rest time.
The validity of the card is tied to the work permit or driver’s license, but in any case cannot exceed 185 days. This allows you to safely and legally control the working time of foreign drivers, ensuring compliance with rules and regulations on the road.
National and international cards
- National — valid only in the issuing country (rarely used).
- Standardized EU cards — suitable for work in all European Union countries.
💡 Important: A Polish driver card is suitable for working in all EU countries.
What a driver’s card looks like
- Size of a bank card.
- Front side: name, surname, date of birth, card number, issuing country, validity period.
- Back side: chip with data.
- A photograph is mandatory.
Validity period and replacement of a driver’s card
- The card is valid for 5 years.
- It is best to apply for a replacement 60 days before the expiration date — this will reduce the risk of operational downtime.
- The state fee in 2025 is — 172 PLN.
- Production time — up to 10 business days from the date of application.
In case of loss, damage, or theft of the card, the procedure for obtaining a new one is similar to the standard issuance.
How to Obtain a Driver Card in Poland
1. Prepare documents:
- Passport or ID card.
- Driver’s license.
- Photo 35×45 mm.
Driver’s responsibilities when working with a card
Before starting off, the driver is obliged to insert their card into the Tachograph — without this, the device simply will not start recording working time. If the vehicle is on a trip with two drivers, then there must be two cards: each is inserted into its own slot. After that, a PIN code is applied, and then the Tachograph will ask you to indicate the type of activity and the point of departure — all this is necessary for the correct accounting of working time.
When the trip is completed, the card must be removed. The device will ask you to confirm the stopping point in order to correctly close the shift. If inspectors require it, the driver must provide access to the Tachograph or print out the necessary data for verification.
But the responsibilities are not limited to using the card on the road. It is important to observe storage rules: keep the card in a protective envelope, do not leave it in plain sight, and do not allow damage. This is a personal document, so it must be inaccessible to unauthorized persons. Another point is timely replacement. You should not wait until the expiration date: it is recommended to order a new card at least one month before the expiration of the previous one, so as not to be left without a document in the midst of work.
What a driver is strictly prohibited from doing
When working with a Tachograph, the driver must remember a number of strict prohibitions — it is they that ensure the correctness of data and safety on the road. First of all, it is unacceptable to use a device whose validity period has already expired: such a device is not considered valid and does not keep correct records. It is equally forbidden to work with a Tachograph that is damaged, defective, or into which someone has tried to make changes.
You cannot get behind the wheel without your own smart card — this is the main personal identifier of the driver. During movement, it is also strictly forbidden to pull out the card: the device will instantly lose part of the data, and this is already a violation. Any attempts to interfere with the operation of the Tachograph, falsify information, or hide real indicators are considered a gross violation. Deleting records from the device’s memory or from the card itself is also unacceptable.
All these rules exist not for the sake of formality: they guarantee that the equipment works correctly, and the accounting of driving and rest time remains honest and transparent — both for the driver, for the employer, and for the controlling authorities.
Responsibilities of the vehicle owner
The owner of the vehicle fleet bears no less responsibility than the drivers themselves. They must regularly — approximately every four weeks — download data from driver cards in order to keep correct records and identify violations in a timely manner. Another important task is to monitor that none of the employees go on a trip without a personal card: such a trip is automatically considered a violation and carries risks for the company.
In addition, the owner is obliged to monitor the validity of their drivers’ cards. As soon as the document ceases to be valid, the Tachograph will simply refuse to recognize it. Therefore, it is better to apply for a new card in advance — at least thirty days before the expiration of the old one. This avoids situations when the driver is ready to work, but the document is temporarily absent and the vehicle remains standing.
Rules for storing and using the card
A driver’s card is their personal work tool, so it should always be at hand. During a document check, the inspector has the right to ask to present it, and the driver is obliged to immediately show the card along with the rest of the papers.
It is equally important to regularly transfer data from the card to the company’s accounting system. This should be done approximately every 28 days so that the information is not lost or overwritten. The download can be performed either by the driver themselves or by an employee of the vehicle fleet, using a special reader. This is a simple procedure, but without it, correct accounting of working time becomes impossible.
When a driver’s card is subject to replacement
A driver’s smart card serves a limited period, and sometimes it has to be renewed ahead of schedule. The reason for applying for a new card may be the expiration of the current one — the Tachograph will simply stop recognizing it. Replacement is also required if the card has started to work incorrectly, has been damaged, or has been lost or stolen.
In addition, a new card will be needed in cases where the driver’s personal data has changed — for example, the last name or other information that must be up-to-date in the system. In such situations, applying for a new card is a mandatory procedure in order to continue working without violations.
How StarTruck Can Help
At StarTruck, we issue and replace Tachograph cards for drivers in Poland and the EU
Our services:
- Consultations on choosing and obtaining a Tachograph card.
- Assistance with filling out and submitting documents.
- Support until the ready card is received.
- Additionally: CODE 95 registration, chip cards, medical certificates, and psychological tests.
📲 Leave a request on the website startruck.pl — we will issue a Tachograph card quickly, without errors, and with delivery throughout the EU.
Understanding the types of Tachograph cards helps to avoid mistakes when applying and working. A driver’s card is the key to legal and safe work in international transportation.
Timely replacement and proper storage of the document — ensure that your trips will proceed without fines or downtime.
