EC regulation No 561/2006, published in April 2006, replaced the regulation (3820/85) on EU drivers’ hours and made the fitment of digital tachographs mandatory in all new vehicles that require a tachograph as of 1 May 2006. There have been no changes, however, to the basic hours rules or to the vehicles exempted from using a tachograph. Nor is there any requirement to retrofit digital tachographs to existing vehicles. More information on the background to digital tachographs.