The digital tachograph is mandatory in much of road transport, and it works with a smart card without which the device cannot record activity properly. Drivers and companies nearly always have the same questions: which card do I need, who has to carry it, when does it expire and what do I do if I lose it? Here we go through them in practical terms.
In this article
What the digital tachograph is and what it is for
The tachograph is the device in the vehicle that automatically records driving and rest times, speed and distance. The digital version stores that information in its own memory and on the card inserted into it. Without a card, or with one that is not valid, the record is wrong and the fine arrives at the first roadside check.
It does two jobs: making sure the rest periods that protect the driver and everyone else are respected, and giving the authorities hard-to-tamper evidence of what the vehicle has done.
Who must have one
As a general rule, goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with more than nine seats including the driver must have one. That covers lorries, tractor units and coaches. There are exceptions for certain uses, so check with the vehicle's technical sheet and the type of service in front of you.
Since 1 July 2026, vans over 2.5 tonnes used for international transport or cabotage must also carry a smart tachograph, and their drivers need a card. If your van crosses the border with goods, this affects you.
The four types of card
| Card | Who it is for | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| Driver card | The person driving. It is personal and non-transferable. | 5 years |
| Company card | The company that owns or leases the vehicles. Used to download and protect the data. | 5 years |
| Workshop card (called «test centre» card by the Generalitat) | Authorised workshops that fit, calibrate and inspect tachographs. | 1 year at most |
| Control card | Police and transport inspectors. Not something a private person applies for. | Set by the authorities |
A self-employed haulier with a transport licence who drives their own lorry needs both: the driver card to drive and the company card to download and keep the vehicle's data.
How much it costs in the Valencia region
The Generalitat's fee for issuing a tachograph card is €32.47 in 2026. It is the same for a first card, a renewal and a replacement after loss or theft. If the card stops working because of a defect, the replacement is free of charge.
How to apply, step by step
In the Valencia region the cards are issued by the Generalitat's Regional Transport Services (in Valencia, at Calle Gregorio Gea, 27). It is not a matter for the Traffic Headquarters. The application is online only, through the Generalitat's e-government site.
- Log in with a digital certificate or Cl@ve, or ask a gestoría to do it with a signed authorisation.
- Gather the documents: a driving licence of the right class, a colour JPEG photo at 600 dpi and 25 x 32 millimetres, a scanned signature and, if the authorities cannot check it themselves, proof of residence in the province.
- Pay the €32.47 fee and attach the receipt.
- Submit the application. The card is collected at the issuing office or sent to the address you give.
Renewal: when to apply
The driver card expires after five years and cannot be extended. The Generalitat accepts the application at most 30 working days before expiry, and EU rules require it at least 15 working days before so that the new card arrives in time. So the right window is between 30 and 15 working days before the date on your card.
You cannot drive with an expired card. There is no grace period: under the rules, it is an invalid card.
If it is lost, stolen or stops working
- Apply for a replacement within seven calendar days. For loss or theft, with the police report or a declaration; if it is damaged, handing in the original.
- The Generalitat issues the new card in about five working days, with the same expiry date as the old one.
- In the meantime you may drive for up to 15 calendar days without a card, printing a tachograph ticket at the start and another at the end of each working day, with your details and signature. Keep them: you may be asked for them at a check.
Fines
Penalties are set out in Spain's Land Transport Act (LOTT). These are the ones we see most often with the card:
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Not inserting the card, using it incorrectly or using another driver's card | €2,001 to €4,000 |
| Not carrying the driver card or the required printouts on board | €1,001 to €2,000 |
| Vehicle without a tachograph, or with one that is not used or not approved | €2,001 to €4,000 |
| Tampering with the tachograph to alter its records | €4,001 to €6,000 |
If you pay within 30 days of notification, the fine is reduced by 30%. Bear in mind that liability does not always lie with the driver alone: the company has its own duties to download and keep the data, and it is penalised too.
If you also run professional transport, you will want to read about the transport card and when it is mandatory, a different document from the tachograph but just as necessary for working legally.
How we do it at Equus Capital
Miguel Agüera, a lawyer and registered gestor administrativo, handles the application, renewal and replacement of tachograph cards for drivers and companies, with the authorisation the Generalitat requires, and keeps track of the dates so the renewal goes in within the right window. If your card has been stolen or has stopped working, we deal with the replacement and tell you how to keep driving until the new one arrives without risking a fine.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tachograph card cost in Valencia?
The Generalitat fee is €32.47 in 2026, for a first card, a renewal and a replacement after loss or theft. If it is replaced because it stopped working, there is no fee.
Where do you apply for a tachograph card in the Valencia region?
Online only, through the Generalitat e-government site. The Regional Transport Services handle it; the Valencia office is at Calle Gregorio Gea, 27. It is not a Traffic Headquarters procedure.
How early can I renew it?
The Generalitat accepts the application from 30 working days before expiry, and EU rules require it at least 15 working days before. The best time is within that window.
Can I drive with an expired card while the new one arrives?
No. An expired card is not valid and there is no grace period. The 15-day rule with printed tickets only applies to loss, theft or a faulty card.
What do I do if I lose my card or it is stolen?
Apply for a replacement within seven calendar days with the police report or a declaration. Until it arrives you may drive for up to 15 calendar days, printing a ticket at the start and end of each working day with your details and signature.
How long does it take to arrive?
For a replacement, the Generalitat issues it in about five working days. It is collected at the issuing office or sent to the address given.
Does my van need a tachograph?
Since 1 July 2026, yes, if it weighs more than 2.5 tonnes and is used for international transport or cabotage. For domestic transport, the general rule still applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes.
Does a self-employed haulier need both a driver card and a company card?
If they hold a transport licence and drive their own vehicle, yes: the driver card to drive and the company card to download and keep the data.