Tachograph

A tachograph card is a smart card intended for use in a digital (including smart) tachograph. Tachograph cards allow the identification of the card holder and the storage of data.

There are four types of tachograph cards:

• driver card,
• company card,
• workshop card,
• control card.

Driver card

The driver card enables the driver to be identified, and it can be used to record information about the driver’s working and rest time, as well as the speed and mileage of the vehicle. A driver card is valid for up to five years.

Company card

A company card is a tachograph card issued to the owner of a vehicle fitted with a digital tachograph or to their representative. The card enables the vehicle owner to be identified and can be used to read, print and copy the data stored in the tachograph locked by the owner or their representative, relating to the driver’s working and rest time. A company card is valid for up to five years.

Workshop card

A workshop card is issued to a company that is competent in their field. The card enables the identification of the person designated by the company as the holder of the card. The card allows a digital tachograph to be tested and technically inspected and the data stored therein to be copied. A workshop card is valid for up to one year.

All types of cards can be applied for at the Estonian Transport Administration’s e-service and ordered to be delivered by post to your home or office address. Applications for cards are also accepted and processed by the service bureaus of the Estonian Transport Administration. The card will be issued within one month of receipt of the application with all the necessary documents by the Estonian Transport Administration.

The fastest way to get your card is by post. If the applicant has not received the card by unregistered letter within ten working days of the date of the application, the applicant must inform the Estonian Transport Administration and the card will be cancelled. A new card will be issued against the applicant’s signature at the Estonian Transport Administration. If the card is not picked up at the service bureau, it will be kept for six months. After this deadline, the card will be destroyed. A new application is required to receive a new card.

Applying for a driver card

A driver card may be applied for by a natural person resident in Estonia who:

• holds a valid licence to drive a motor vehicle in a category where the use of a tachometer is compulsory. Applications based on a foreign driving licence can only be filed at a service bureau;
• does not have a valid driver card (issued in any country) or workshop card;

• has a valid identity card/resident card issued in Estonia;
• has a photograph and a signature image up to five years old in the motor register or the identity documents database;
• has paid the state fee (can be paid during the application process).

Applying for a business card

A company card can be applied for by a company that has been entered in the commercial register and uses or intends to use a motor vehicle fitted with a digital tachograph. A representative of the company applies for the card.

A company card can be applied for by a company registered in Estonia.

During the application process:

• an identity document of the company representative and a document proving the right to represent the company are presented (if the application is filed at a service bureau);
• the state fee is paid.

Applying for a workshop card

A workshop card can be applied for by a company entered in the commercial register that has been recognised by an accreditation body as competent in its field. In Estonia, the accreditation body is the Estonian Accreditation Centre. If there is no information in the motor register on the workshop’s professional competence, such information must be submitted in advance to the Estonian Transport Administration at info@transpordiamet.ee.

A workshop card is applied for by the company’s representative in the name of a natural person employed by company, who will be the holder of the card. The holder must have their permanent residence in Estonia and may not hold a valid driver card or a workshop card in the name of the same workshop.

The following details and documents are required during the application process:

• the card holder’s first name, surname and personal identification code;
• the date of the employment or other contract with the holder and term of the contract;
• the holder’s confirmation of the application for a card in their name;
• a document certifying the right to represent the workshop, an identity document of the representative, and an identity document of the holder (only when applying at a service bureau);
• the consent of the holder, if a photograph and a signature image from the identity documents database are to be used on the workshop card;
• the payment of the state fee (can be paid during the application process).

You can renew a digital tachograph card issued in Estonia. The renewal of a driver card issued abroad is considered as the first issue of the card and can only be applied for at a service bureau.

To renew a card that is about to expire, an application/request must be submitted at least 15 working days before the expiry date. In such case, a new card will be issued before the expiry date of the card being renewed.

You can apply for the renewal of a card up to three months before the expiry date. The new card will be valid from the day after the expiry date of the previous card. Thus, for a certain period, the driver will have two driver cards, but each can only be used during the term of validity indicated on the card. Cards can be renewed at the Estonian Transport Administration’s e-service or service bureaus. Only driver cards issued in Estonia can be applied for/exchanged at the e-service.

Issuance of a new card due to a change in the administrative data on the card is considered as an exchange of the card. Exchanges can only be requested at service bureaus, where the card to be exchanged must also be returned.

Card theft, loss or destruction

In the event of loss of the card, the card holder must inform the Estonian Transport Administration in writing, unless the person has moved to another Member State. In such case, the loss of the card issued by the Estonian Transport Administration must be reported to the competent authority of the Member State of residence.

In the event of card theft, the card holder must notify the competent authority of the Member State where the theft occurred. In Estonia, the competent authority is the Estonian Transport Administration.

If the card is lost, stolen or destroyed, the card holder can apply for a replacement card. This can be done at the e-service of the Estonian Transport Administration. The previous card will be cancelled at the moment of application. If a lost card is later found, it cannot be used and must be rendered invalid. The use of a invalidated card is punishable.

A replacement card will be issued within five working days of the identification of the data submitted in the case of a workshop card and within eight working days in the case of a driver card.

A replacement card will be valid until the expiry date of the card it replaces, unless there is less than one year left until the expiry date of the card it replaces.

The replacement of a driver card issued abroad is deemed to be the first issue of the card in Estonia.

If found, the card must be returned to the Estonian Transport Administration.

Malfunctioning cards

A person may apply for a replacement card in place of a card issued in Estonia if the card malfunctions, by submitting a written explanation of the malfunction to the Estonian Transport Administration. In addition, the malfunctioning card with a chip that is not physically damaged must also be submitted. Such a replacement can only be applied for at a service bureau and the malfunctioning card must be surrendered at the time of application.

In the case of a malfunctioning workshop card, the Estonian Transport Administration will issue a replacement card within five working days of receiving a detailed request to that effect. In the case of a driver card, a replacement card will be issued within eight working days.

A replacement card will be valid until the expiry date of the card it replaces, unless there is less than one year left until the expiry date of the card it replaces.

Cancellation of cards

The Estonian Transport Administration cancels a card if:

• it turns out that false information was knowingly provided when applying for the card, which affected the issuing of the card. For example, comparing data with the card issuing authorities in other countries shows that the person already had a valid driver card. In addition, if a person has applied for a new card via the e-service because the old one has been lost, but it later turns out that the previous card was confiscated from another person by the police. In such case, a new card will not be issued until six months have elapsed since the cancellation;
• the card is fake. Also in the event of a fake card, the Estonian Transport Administration will not issue a new card until six months have elapsed since the cancellation;
• a driver is using a card that is not his. The card the driver used will be cancelled. The driver whose card was used will not be issued a new card until one month has elapsed since the cancellation. Such cancellation will be effected after the decision on the offence proceedings has entered into force, when the police has delivered the card to the Estonian Transport Administration. This is usually 15 days after the decision is announced;
• the card holder has made a request to that effect.

A lost, stolen or malfunctioning card is invalid from the date of a relevant entry in the motor register based on a written notification.

Returning the card

The card must be returned to the Estonian Transport Administration within five working days if the card has been cancelled for any of the following reasons:

• false information was knowingly provided upon application, which affected the issuing of the card;
• the card is fake.