International journeys – new drivers’ hours and tachograph rules from 21 April

Legislation has been amended governing drivers’ hours and tachograph rules for international transport journeys.

A UK-wide statutory instrument comes into force on Monday 21 April to fully implement international obligations under the UK/EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, something that UK operators have been expected to comply with since January.

The Drivers’ Hours and Tachographs (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2025 will ratify two main changes:

• First, the legal basis for drivers’ hours and tachograph rules applicable to passenger service vehicles (“PSVs”), irrespective of country of registration, and heavy goods vehicles (“HGVs”), registered outside of the UK and EU, on international transport journeys is being changed. The legal basis will change from the assimilated (EU retained) drivers’ hours and tachograph regulations to the European agreement concerning the work of crews of vehicles engaged in international road transport (“AETR”);
• Second, the instrument will clarify that drivers of in-scope HGVs on international transport journeys between the UK and EU will now need to produce 56 days, instead of 28 days, of tachograph data.

Northern Ireland operators

The DVA guidance, published on NI Direct, will be updated to take into account the changes made by this Statutory Instrument in due course. If you have any queries regarding these changes please email [email protected]

The Statutory Instrument was laid in Parliament on Monday 31 March. It’s published here with the Explanatory Memorandum and the De Minimis Assessment: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2025/402.