Exemptions from the Mobility Package Tachograph Rules for Vans

Tachograph in a Van from 1 July 2026 

Does Carrying Your Own Goods Exempt You from the Mobility Package Rules?

From 1 July 2026, under Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006, the rules on driving time, breaks, rest periods, and the use of tachographs applies to international transport of goods carried by vehicles or vehicle combinations with a maximum mass of more than 2.5 tonnes.

However, this does not mean that every van weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes will automatically need a tachograph.

This is why many businesses are asking the question:

Does a company owner who drives their own van abroad to deliver their own goods to a customer need a tachograph?

The answer is: it depends.

Simply carrying your own goods is not enough to determine whether the rules apply.

When does the exemption apply?

The regulation provides an exemption, but only if all three of the following conditions are met.

The transport must be:

• non-commercial,
• carried out for the company’s own purposes or the driver’s own purposes,
• driven by a person whose main job is not driving.

This is very important. If even one of these conditions is not met, the exemption does not apply.

Does carrying your own goods mean the transport is non-commercial?

No.

This is one of the most common misunderstandings. Many business owners believe that because they do not provide transport services and only carry their own goods, their transport is automatically considered non-commercial.

In practice, it is not that simple.

Control authorities may examine several factors, including:

• the real purpose of the transport,
• the sales and delivery conditions,
• how the transport costs are charged to the customer.

Even the company owner may not qualify for the exemption

Another important condition is often overlooked.

The person driving the vehicle must not have driving as their main occupation.

The fact that the company owner is behind the wheel does not automatically mean this condition is met.

If the owner only occasionally delivers goods and normally works in sales, production, or company management, the exemption is more likely to apply.

However, the situation may be different if most of their work consists of regularly carrying out international transport.

What should you check before deciding whether a tachograph is required?

Before making a decision, it is important to consider:

• the type of business,
• the type of goods being transported,
• the purpose and legal basis of the transport,
• how the transport is charged to the customer,
• how often these transports are carried out,
• the driver’s actual job responsibilities.

Only after analysing all these factors can you determine whether the exemption applies.

Summary

The most important point is that carrying your own goods does not automatically exempt a business from the tachograph rules.

Every case should be assessed individually. The exemption is available only if all the conditions set out in Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006 are fulfilled.