Tachograph and Taxi Receipt Rolls: Which Roll Fits Your Unit?
The DiscountTillRolls.ie TeamDigital tachographs and taxi meter printers both use narrow thermal rolls, but they are not interchangeable. Tachograph rolls must be approved for your specific tachograph, such as the Continental VDO DTCO 1381, Stoneridge SE5000 or Actia SmarTach, and the approval mark is printed on the paper. Most Irish taxi meter printers, including the Cygnus PT74, Digitax F1 Laser, Aquila and ATA models, take a 57x45mm thermal roll, while Hale and Mattig TPD printers take 57x35mm.
Here is how to match the roll to your unit, and why the cheapest box is a false economy for both.
In this guide
- Which tachograph rolls do I need?
- Why must tachograph paper be approved?
- Which roll does my taxi meter printer take?
- How many spare rolls should I carry?
- FAQ
Which tachograph rolls do I need?
Match the roll to the make and model of the tachograph in the cab. The model name is on the front of the unit.
| Tachograph | Approval mark | Our pack |
|---|---|---|
| Siemens VDO DTCO 1381 | E1 84 | 18 rolls |
| Continental DTCO 1381 | Printed on roll | 18 rolls |
| Stoneridge SE5000 | E5 0002 | 18 rolls |
| Actia SmarTach STD | E2 25 | 18 rolls |
| Actia SmarTach STD II | E2 30 | 18 rolls |
| Actia SmarTach ADR | E2 29 | 18 rolls |
| Efkon EFAS-3 | e1 200 | 18 rolls |
Each pack is 6 boxes of 3 rolls, 18 rolls in total, at €47.99 ex VAT. That works out at about €2.67 a roll. Not sure which you have? Browse the full tachograph rolls range or send us a photo of the unit.
6 boxes of 3 approved thermal rolls for digital tachographs.
Why must tachograph paper be approved?
A tachograph printout is a legal record of driving and rest times. Under EU rules, the paper used in a digital tachograph must be type-approved for that unit, so the printout is readable and lasts as long as the record needs to be kept. The approval mark printed on the back of the paper is what an inspector checks.
Generic thermal paper might physically fit, but it is not approved, can fade faster, and could leave a driver unable to produce a valid printout at a roadside check. For a few euro saved per box, it is not worth the risk.
Which roll does my taxi meter printer take?
| Taxi printer | Roll | Box of 50 |
|---|---|---|
| Cygnus PT74, PT73 | 57x45mm thermal | €31.99 |
| Digitax F1 Laser | 57x45mm thermal | €31.99 |
| Aquila | 57x45mm thermal | €31.99 |
| ATA Cool Blue, ATA Power Print 2.0 | 57x45mm thermal | €31.99 |
| Able AP1310 | 57x45mm thermal | €31.99 |
| Hale and Mattig TPD-01, TPD-02 | 57x35mm thermal | €26.75 |
| Digitax F3 | Digitax F3 thermal roll | €31.99 |
| Dot matrix meter printers | 57x40mm bond plus ERC09 ribbon | €24.99 |
Taxi rolls look a lot like card machine rolls, but a 57x45mm roll will not close in a card terminal built for 57x40mm, and a thermal roll prints nothing on a ribbon printer. Always match the printer, not just the width. All prices ex VAT, correct at time of writing.
Thermal receipt rolls made for the Cygnus PT74.
How many spare rolls should I carry?
- Tachographs: carry enough approved rolls to produce any printout you might be asked for on the road. Most operators keep at least one full box of spares in the cab, and never set off on a long run with a roll near its end stripe.
- Taxis: passengers regularly ask for a printed receipt, especially business customers. Keep a few spare rolls in the glovebox so a busy Friday night never catches you out.
Store spares somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. A dashboard in summer is the worst place for thermal paper.
Frequently asked questions
Do tachograph rolls have to be approved?
Yes. Paper for a digital tachograph must be type-approved for that unit, and the approval mark is printed on the roll.
What size roll does a Cygnus PT74 taxi printer take?
The Cygnus PT74 takes a 57x45mm thermal roll.
Can I use card machine rolls in my taxi printer?
Usually not. Most taxi printers take 57x45mm, which is bigger than the 57x40mm card machine roll, and some take 57x35mm. Match the roll to your printer.
How many tachograph rolls are in a pack?
Our tachograph packs contain 18 rolls: 6 boxes of 3 rolls.
Why are my taxi receipts fading?
Thermal paper fades with heat and sunlight. Keep spare rolls and receipts out of the sun and away from the dashboard.
Keep the meter and the tacho printing.
Approved tachograph rolls and taxi rolls, dispatched same day from Dublin 12 when you order before 1pm.
Shop taxi supplies →Looking for tachograph rolls? Shop them here.