Lost, Stolen, Damaged or Malfunctioning Driver Tachograph Card
Using a Driver Tachograph Card is a legal obligation when driving a vehicle that is in scope of EU/AETR regulations and is equipped with a digital or smart tachograph. If the driver operates the vehicle without inserting their card, the system will allow the vehicle to be driven, but the Vehicle Unit (VU) will record that the vehicle was used without a card.
If a driver is unable to use their Driver Tachograph Card due to loss, theft, damage, or malfunction, they may still drive for up to 15 calendar days (or longer if needed to return the vehicle to its premises) by producing two printouts. One printout must be produced at the beginning and another at the end of the day, as long as they don’t change vehicles. However, if the driver changes vehicles, they must take a printout at the start and end of the use of each vehicle.
If a driver has forgotten their card, they must retrieve it before driving. It is not permitted to keep manual records if the driver card has been forgotten.
You must tell the DVLA immediately if your card is lost, stolen, damaged or not working properly.
DVLA
Telephone: 0300 790 6109
Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm
You must also apply for a replacement card within 7 calendar days. It costs £19 to replace a lost or stolen card [1].
Additionally, you must inform your relevant supervisor and/or any agency you are driving for.
All printouts must show the driver’s name or Driving Licence number, manual entries to include periods of other work, availability, and rest or break, and the driver’s signature. The Vehicle Unit (VU) keeps a record of all activities carried out by the vehicle, and you can print out a record whether or not a Driver Tachograph Card is inserted in the VU. If no Driver Tachograph Card is inserted, the VU will allocate all recorded activities to “unknown driver”. Additionally, when analysing the tachograph data, the mileage driven without the driver tachograph card will be identified as a missing mileage.
You must keep the printouts available for inspection on request by the appropriate authorities for the next 28 calendar days. After 28 days, you must provide the printouts to the vehicle operator, who will store them with your records as required by the DVSA.
