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Institute of Transport Administration

Educating Transport Management since 1944

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Annual Test: Tachograph Seal Clarification

4 Jun 2025

DVSA want to ensure that rules are applied consistently during a heavy vehicle annual test.

To make sure this happens, they're providing you with clarification on tachograph seals when testing HGVs and PSVs.

Tachograph seal 'snap off' section

1C tachograph seals have a `snap off` section which must be completely snapped off by the tachograph centre carrying out the tacho calibration/repair.

If this section has not been completely snapped off, the tachograph is deemed not to be sealed in accordance with the regulations.

Therefore, it will be a failure at MOT (annual test). The vehicle must attend an authorised tachograph centre to be re-calibrated before presenting it for a retest. The requirement for this will appear of the failure certificate.

Retesting

Once presented for retest, our assessors will check for a new calibration as well as the correct installation of the 1C tacho seal. If a new calibration has not been completed, then the vehicle will fail the retest.

Any 1C tacho seal that has not been completely snapped off, DVSA will contact the tacho centre that fitted the seal and give guidance of the requirements.