How do you remove the card from a digital tachograph correctly? Knowing the answer to this question is of fundamental importance from the driver's perspective. Carelessly removing the card from the tachograph can damage it or contribute to errors in data recording. That in turn carries the risk of penalties in the event of an inspection.
In the rest of this article you will learn, among other things, how to take the card out of a digital tachograph, when you can do so, and which common mistakes to avoid. With this information, operating a digital tachograph will become simpler for you and you will be sure you are acting in line with the regulations.
Why does removing the card from the tachograph properly matter?
The driver card is the basic tool that records a professional driver's activity. The digital tachograph records data on driving time, rest, speed and work. Not knowing how to remove the card from the tacho correctly can result in recording errors and even a fine during a roadside check, or problems when settling working time.
When can a driver remove the card from a digital tachograph?
Under the provisions of Article 34 of Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, drivers using digital tachographs are obliged to use driver cards on every day on which they drive. The card should be inserted into the tachograph when the driver takes over the vehicle. It is not removed until the end of the daily working period, unless there are justified, permissible reasons for doing so. So when can a driver remove the card from a digital tachograph? Let's look at the most important situations in which you can take your card out of the recording device.
- At the end of the working day
The most common case. If you have finished driving and do not plan any further journeys that day, you can remove the card. This prevents incorrect activity being accidentally recorded on it (e.g. vehicle movement when another driver moves it).
In practice: after switching off the engine and making sure the tachograph has stopped recording driving, the card can be safely removed. - Before a longer rest
If you are planning, for example, a daily or weekly rest, remove the card from the tachograph and secure it against loss or unauthorised use. - When changing vehicle
If you switch to another vehicle with a tachograph during the working day, you must remove the card from the first vehicle and insert it into the recording device in the second. Otherwise the data will not be consistent, and the working time settlement system may misinterpret it. - For a roadside check or data download
During a check by the road transport inspection or police, or when data is downloaded (e.g. at the transport company), it may be necessary to remove the card so it can be read. Driver card data should be downloaded at least every 28 days.
How to remove the card from a digital tachograph correctly
Wondering how to remove the card from a VDO or other brand of tachograph without damaging it and while avoiding recording errors? For detailed information we recommend reading the operating manual of the recording device in question. As a rule, however, for many commonly used models the explanation of how to remove the card from a digital tachograph will look similar. Below we present general instructions showing how to take the card out of the tachograph, e.g. at the end of the working day.
- Stop the vehicle: the card must not be removed while driving.
- Make sure the activity has been closed correctly: at the end of the working day you should set rest mode and indicate the country where work ended.
- Press the eject button: it is located next to the slot from which the card is to be removed.
- Wait for the message: the tachograph will indicate that the card can be removed.
- Pull it out gently: do not yank or force it.
- Secure the card: it is best kept in a case, away from moisture, sunlight and sources of magnetic fields.
Emergency removal of the card from the tachograph: when might it be necessary?
Sometimes situations arise in which the driver card inserted into the tachograph is not read correctly, or another kind of error occurs. What should be done in such a case? It then becomes necessary to remove the card from the tachograph as an emergency measure and log it in again later. This need may arise, among other things, when:
- a communication error between the card and the tachograph appears while reading information from the card or recording data, e.g. due to dirty contacts: in that case clean the card's contacts and reinsert it into the device's slot,
- a fault occurs in the reader's mechanical system: in that case remove and reinsert the card.
How to take the card out of the tachograph: common mistakes to avoid
When considering how to remove the card from a digital tachograph correctly, it is worth noting the common mistakes to avoid. These include:
- removing the card from the tachograph while driving: this risks data recording errors that may result in a fine,
- failing to close the previous activity before changing vehicle: this causes inconsistencies in the data,
- leaving the card in the vehicle over the weekend: this carries the risk of the driver card being used by someone else.
When and how to remove the card from a digital tachograph: summary
Removing the card from a digital tachograph is a seemingly simple action, but doing it incorrectly can have serious consequences, from damage to the driver card to data recording errors that can be punished with fines. The driver should remember that:
- the card can be removed after finishing work or when changing vehicle,
- removal must be done correctly: with the vehicle stopped and the activity closed,
- the card should be protected and downloaded regularly.
By following these rules you will avoid unnecessary problems and ensure correct data for working time settlements.
Knowing the rules on how to remove the card from a digital tachograph is only one of many competences a driver should master. If you want to learn more about tachographs, we encourage you to read the other articles about them on our blog, including:
- A new era of tachographs: replacement, key deadlines and the most important changes
- How to streamline settling drivers' working time: a guide to remote tachograph data download
- Tachographs in vans: what you need to know about the new regulations
- Tachograph: what it is, how it works, what it is for and who must have one
- How to insert a card into the tachograph: a practical step-by-step guide
- How to change the time on a tachograph: a practical guide for drivers and administrators
- Driving without a tachograph: when is it allowed?
Agata Świerczek
E-marketing Specialist
As a UX/UI design specialist I combine creativity with precise communication. I design intuitive interfaces and engaging digital content, and I write product copy and blog articles that hold attention and support business goals.
