Stricter rules for horse transportation: new obligations for drivers and vehicles

New regulations for the transportation of horses on German and European roads have been in force since the beginning of the year. Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 7.5 tons that travel with trailers - such as large horseboxes - must be equipped with a digital tachograph from 1 January 2025. These devices not only record driving and rest times, but also border crossings and locations during loading and unloading. Drivers also need a special driver card to document all activities. The technical details are set out in EU Regulation 2016/799. Violations can result in fines of up to 1,500 euros.

At the same time, the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility is warning against overloaded vans. Since 1 July 2024, smaller trucks with a total mass of more than 3.5 tons have also been subject to tolls. Inspections have revealed that many of these vehicles are overloaded in equestrian sports - with potentially serious legal and insurance consequences in the event of an accident. A logistics expert from Halle/Westphalia points out that insurance companies can refuse to pay if a significant overload was the cause of an accident.