Legislation and Practices Regarding Digital Tachograph Cards

Dear Members,

Within the scope of the digital tachograph application, the regulations made in the relevant legislation and regulations are periodically communicated to our Chambers through various channels. In accordance with the letter dated 24.04.2026 received from the General Directorate of Security of the Ministry of Interior, it is considered that informing our Chambers about the amendments made to the Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 by the Law No. 7574 dated 12/02/2026, published in the Official Gazette No. 33181 dated 27/02/2026 and titled "Law Amending the Highway Traffic Law," will be significantly beneficial.

With the amendment made to Article 31 titled "Mandatory Equipment in Vehicles" of the aforementioned Law, the procedures and principles regarding the use and preservation of tachograph driver cards have been redefined; administrative sanctions and legal liabilities have been reinforced for cases where drivers of vehicles required to have a tachograph do not use a driver card, or use a card belonging to someone else, defective, or invalid.

According to the new provisions, cardholders are personally obligated to prevent their cards from being used by third parties; deterrent financial sanctions have been foreseen for both the driver and the vehicle owner in case of violation of these rules. During the implementation process of the said law amendment, it is considered that legal and administrative liabilities may arise for our Union and Chambers if the tachograph driver cards produced and provided to the sector by our Union are improperly or unlawfully possessed/used in the field. Considering all these aspects, to avoid any loss of rights and liabilities, the relevant parts of the law text mentioned above and attached must be meticulously considered during the card application phase.

Annex - Article 31 of the Highway Traffic Law No. 2918 - Provisions on digital tachograph and criminal liabilities Article 31 – (Amended: 12/2/2026-7574/6 Article) According to their types, characteristics, and purposes of use;

• It is prohibited for drivers of vehicles required to have a tachograph not to use a tachograph driver card or to use a defective or invalid tachograph driver card belonging to themselves or another driver by inserting it into the tachograph device.

➢ Drivers who do not comply with this provision shall be subject to an administrative fine of 75,000 Turkish liras, and drivers who fail to comply two or more times within one year from the date of the last violation shall be subject to an administrative fine of 150,000 Turkish liras each time, and the driver's license shall be revoked for thirty days. The driver's license of drivers who fail to comply two or more times within one year from the date of the last violation shall be revoked for ninety days each time. Drivers who do not comply with this provision shall be prohibited from driving tachograph-equipped vehicles until the necessary conditions are met.

• Tachograph driver card holders are obliged to take necessary measures to prevent their tachograph driver card from being used by others.

➢ Those who do not comply with this provision shall be subject to an administrative fine of 75,000 Turkish liras each time. • The vehicle operator is obliged to take necessary measures and conduct inspections regarding the presence, usability, and compliance of the equipment specified in this article, including the tachograph, taximeter, and speed limiter, regardless of whether the driver is themselves, and to ensure that the driver complies with the rules specified in this article.

➢ Vehicle operators who do not comply with this provision shall be subject to an administrative fine of twice the amount determined for the driver based on the registration plate.