Do you ever cross the border in a truck but don’t have a smart tachograph yet? Then pay attention: since August 2025, using Smart Tacho 2 has been mandatory for all trucks and buses carrying out international transport within the European Union. This second-generation digital tachograph stems from European legislation aimed at improving road safety, ensuring fair competition, and making it easier for authorities to enforce the rules. In this article, we explain everything about the new Smart Tacho 2: what it is, when you need to have this new system fitted in your vehicle (retrofit), and the latest developments, such as the introduction of OSNMA functionality.
Smart Tacho 2 (also called the second-generation smart tachograph) is an advanced version of the digital tachograph installed in trucks and buses to record drivers’ driving and rest times. The data recorded is used to check whether drivers comply with the law. The predecessor of Smart Tacho 2, Smart Tacho 1, was introduced in 2019 as the first “smart” tachograph. With the introduction of new EU legislation, there was a need for an even more accurate and advanced system. This led to the development of Smart Tacho 2 in 2023.
With the arrival of Smart Tacho 2, several new features have been added. So there is a significant difference between the old digital tachograph, Smart Tacho 1 and the new Smart Tacho 2. Below we list the most important new features of Smart Tacho 2:
In the latest tachograph with the new driver card (Gen 2, version 2 card), a country code is automatically registered when crossing a national border. At the start and end of the shift, the country code still has to be entered manually, but border crossings are now recorded automatically. Stopping at the border is therefore no longer necessary. Please note: older driver cards (such as the G2V1 from the Smart Tacho 1 period) also work in Smart Tacho 2, but in that case a stop at the border is still required for manual entry of the country code.
Thanks to the new DSRC technology, Smart Tacho 2 can remotely transmit certain data while driving. This means inspectors can check data without having to stop the vehicle. This allows them to select vehicles more efficiently for inspection. As an owner or fleet manager, you can also remotely read tachograph data yourself using special software. This makes it easy to keep track of your drivers’ driving and rest times, which helps you comply with the law and prevent violations.
Smart Tacho 2 includes stricter security measures to prevent fraud and manipulation. New encryption methods have been implemented, and from the end of 2025 OSNMA technology is also supported for extra protection against misuse of GPS/GNSS signals. (OSNMA stands for Open Service Navigation Message Authentication—more on that later.)
Thanks to improved GNSS functionality (satellite navigation), Smart Tacho 2 can record even more accurate location data. This helps, among other things, with the automated registration of border crossings and contributes to reliable trip records.
Smart Tacho 2 has an additional input option that allows you to indicate that you are loading or unloading. Using this is not mandatory, but it can help you record your activities more accurately. In any case, it remains mandatory to correctly record all your activities (for example: break, availability, work, etc.).
One of the most important new features of Smart Tacho 2 is that it can be read remotely by authorities. Remote reading is possible thanks to the built-in DSRC interface. This means trucks on the road will not always have to stop for checks anymore. Via a short-range connection, the tachograph can transmit certain data—such as exceeding maximum driving time—to inspectors while the vehicle drives past. This allows enforcement officers to quickly see whether there may be violations and only stop suspicious vehicles for a more extensive inspection. In addition, as an owner or fleet manager you can now also download tachograph data yourself remotely using special software. This makes it easy to keep track of your drivers’ driving and rest times. This helps to comply with the law and detect potential violations at an early stage.
Important changes have recently been implemented in tachograph rules. Since August 2025, all heavy vehicles (trucks and buses) driving internationally must be equipped with Smart Tacho 2. This applies to both new and older vehicles. If you drive internationally as a driver and do not meet this requirement after that date, you risk substantial fines and, in the worst case, even a driving ban. Let’s take a closer look, because the deadline to switch to Smart Tacho 2 differs per vehicle type:
New vehicles registered after 21 August 2023: must be factory-fitted with Smart Tacho 2 (from that date, the requirement applied immediately to newly registered trucks).
Vehicles with an analogue or old digital tachograph: no later than 31 December 2024, this must be replaced with Smart Tacho 2. This concerns vehicles that still had an analogue tachograph or a first-generation digital tachograph.
Vehicles with Smart Tacho 1: no later than 18 August 2025, this must be replaced with Smart Tacho 2. This applies to trucks that already had a first-generation “smart” tachograph (introduced in 2019).
New vehicles registered after 24 December 2025: must be equipped with an OSNMA Smart Tacho 2 (tachograph with OSNMA functionality). From that date, the older transition version without OSNMA is no longer permitted in newly put-into-service vehicles (see further below for an explanation of OSNMA).
Light commercial vehicles (2.5 t - 3.5 t) in international transport: from 1 July 2026, the tachograph requirement will also apply to these vehicles, which must then be fitted with Smart Tacho 2. This follows from the Mobility Package and concerns vans carrying out cross-border transport or cabotage.
From the end of 2025, there is a new development for Smart Tacho 2: the introduction of OSNMA. OSNMA stands for Open Service Navigation Message Authentication and is an additional security feature of the European Galileo satellite navigation system. This technology guarantees the authenticity of received navigation signals and protects against possible manipulation (GNSS spoofing). With OSNMA, the tachograph can therefore verify whether GPS/GNSS signals are genuine and have not been falsified. The transport sector is the first industry in which this technology is legally mandated.
The current version of Smart Tacho 2, often called the transition Smart Tacho 2, did not yet have OSNMA functionality. Although OSNMA was already included in the technical specifications of Smart Tacho 2, this feature was not yet operational at its introduction in 2023. For that reason, OSNMA was missing from the transition version. In July 2025, the European Commission announced that OSNMA would be activated and made mandatory: from 24 December 2025, all tachographs in newly registered vehicles must have OSNMA functionality on board. This means a transition Smart Tacho 2 will no longer be sufficient in new trucks after that date—an OSNMA Smart Tacho 2 must be installed.
Good news for existing vehicles: tachographs (Smart Tacho 2) that were already installed in vehicles before 24 December 2025 fall under a transitional arrangement. They do not have to be mandatorily updated and may continue to operate as a transition Smart Tacho 2. In other words, if you already had a Smart Tacho 2 installed before the end of 2025, it will meet the requirements for now, even if it lacks OSNMA. If you still choose to upgrade a transition tachograph to OSNMA, make sure the workshop is well aware of the differences between the two versions. Tachograph suppliers have provided instructions on this to approved workshops. In many cases, existing Smart Tacho 2 devices can be made suitable for OSNMA via a software update—discuss this with your tachograph specialist if you want to upgrade voluntarily.
If you’re not familiar with the new tachograph, recognising it can be a challenge. How do you know if your vehicle has Smart Tacho 2? You can look at the specifications and markings on the device itself, such as the model or version number and the available functions. A Bluetooth symbol usually indicates a second-generation (smart) tachograph. It is also possible to ask an approved workshop whether your tachograph meets the new requirements.
Smart Tacho 2 from VDO (Continental) can be recognised by the model or version number DTCO 4.1. On VDO tachographs, there is often a Bluetooth logo on the front; this is a clear indication that it is a Smart Tacho 2. In addition, you can (have the device) removed to check the nameplate. If the top or sticker says “VDO R4.1”, then it is a VDO Smart Tacho 2.
Tip: From the end of 2025, VDO has also released OSNMA variants. In the tachograph’s software menu, this is distinguished by the version designation: an OSNMA version is shown as DTCO 4.1a or 4.1b, while the transition version is called 4.1aT or 4.1bT. You can also find this difference on the physical device, but for that you need to remove the tachograph (a specific code block is absent or present on the circuit board depending on the variant).
Smart Tacho 2 from Stoneridge is known under version SE5000-8.1. With this model, it is harder to see from the outside whether it is a Smart Tacho 2, because there is no clear symbol or identifying feature on the front panel. Here you will also need to remove the tachograph and check the label. If the top says “SE5000-8.1”, this means it is a second-generation Smart Tacho 2 from Stoneridge.
Tip: In the Stoneridge tachograph menu, you can also see whether it is an OSNMA model. From certain software versions, a “T” is shown on the info screen if it is a transition Smart Tacho 2. If there is no “T”, then it is an OSNMA Smart Tacho 2. In addition, the OSNMA variant from Stoneridge requires the use of an external GNSS antenna for optimal signal reception—something to keep in mind during installation.
Are you the owner of a truck or another tachograph-required vehicle? Then it’s essential to know where you can purchase a Smart Tacho 2. Smart Tacho 2 is available from certified suppliers and tachograph specialists. Always purchase the device from a reliable party, because there are strict legal requirements for the tachograph and its calibration. Installation must also be carried out by an approved workshop that is qualified to fit and calibrate tachographs. Preferably buy the latest generation (with OSNMA) so you are fully up to date and compliant with the latest requirements.
Mike (Manager Inspection at BAS World) adds: “We inspect all our trucks for the tachograph type, so the customer always knows whether they still need to replace their tachograph.” In other words, when buying a truck through BAS World, you get insight into whether the tachograph is already a Smart Tacho 2 or whether you still need to plan a conversion.
The costs of a Smart Tacho 2 can vary, depending on the supplier and the type of vehicle the system is installed in. In general, the costs including installation are between €1,700 and €2,200. That may seem like a high investment, but compared to high fines (and a possible driving ban), Smart Tacho 2 can pay for itself quickly. So if you purchase another truck, check whether it already has a Smart Tacho 2. If not, you should include the costs of a retrofit in your budget.
Do you want to quickly and easily purchase a new Smart Tacho 2 for your truck(s) or company vehicles? Order a Smart Tacho 2 with OSNMA functionality directly from BAS Parts—available directly from stock.
Have you found a new or used truck at BAS World and want to be sure which tachograph is installed (or which upgrade is needed)? Check the vehicle information on the listing page or contact us.
