Is a digital logbook recognized by the tax office?

Yes, both in Germany and Austria the electronic logbook is recognized by the tax office. Germany The German Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) has elaborated on the requirements for a proper driver's logbook in the following rulings: Rulings of 09.11.2005 VI R 27/05, BFHE 211, 508, BStBl II 2006, 408. Ruling of 01.03.2012 (VI R 33/10, BStBl. II, 2012, p. 505 Austria The Federal Fiscal Court (BFG) summarized the requirements for a proper driver's logbook as follows, for example, in the ruling of 25.11.2015, RV/7101452/2010: the records in a driver's logbook must be complete and correct the logbook must be kept in a timely and continuous manner the logbook must have an orderly and closed external form the logbook must be change-proof

Digital logbook for small and large fleets

Tax office-compliant logbook: certified & recognized

Keeping a logbook not only takes time, but also requires consistent tracking. Especially when drivers are working under time pressure, the exact recording of journeys is often neglected. But this is a thing of the past. With our digital logbook, which is based on state-of-the-art GPS technology and is legally compliant in Austria and Germany, you save valuable time and resources. This solution is not only practical, it also meets all the requirements of the tax authorities.

What about private trips? Only the driver knows!

Save up to 28% on administration costs

No manual notes: your journeys are recorded automatically
No tedious re-entry of customer visits thanks to intuitive logging
Automatic customer allocation according to recorded customer locations (zones)
Real-time GPS tracking of your vehicles

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Compliant with tax authorities and secure:

Our logbook solution is certified according to recognised auditing standards and verified by independent auditors. You can rely on maximum compliance for your business trips!

✅ Tax office compliant (DE/AT): BFH + BMF/AT requirements met
✅ Tax office recognized: Export/archive logic + change log (audit-proof)
✅ Certified: Certified according to IDW PS 860 – audited by IT AUDIT GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft

Zertifiziertes elektronisches Fahrtenbuch (DE/AT)

With 3 simple steps to the OBD GPS logbook:

Are you looking for a simple solution to seamlessly document your journeys and save yourself the hassle of keeping a handwritten logbook?

All you need is your smartphone and a telematics device, which you can conveniently order from Rosenberger Telematics. For larger requirements, Rosenberger Telematics also offers permanently installed telematics solutions for small and large fleets.

Order a telematics device and download the R-DRIVE app to your smartphone. You will also receive access to the COMMANDER telematics software.

Request hardware COMMANDER Login

Simply plug the OBD connector into the OBD input provided in your vehicle. Register the vehicle once in COMMANDER and assign the device.

Your tax office-compliant logbook now writes itself. Start the R-DRIVE app to mark private journeys.

Tax office-approved logbook: PDF/XLS export

We meet the requirements of the BFH (Federal Fiscal Court) in Germany, as well as those of the Federal Ministry of Finance in Austria.
Decisive for this are in particular our complete and transparent recording of all journeys and the exact documentation of changes.

Just tell us the make & type of your vehicle. We will help you find the OBD connector for your plug.

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Proven quality

The ‘TOPLIST of Telematics’ honours the most outstanding companies in German-speaking countries (D-A-CH). This exclusive list only includes companies that fulfil the highest standards in the areas of technology, service and support.

Every year, a renowned panel of experts reviews the providers to ensure that only the best are honoured. In addition, the experiences of users who thoroughly evaluate the solutions in independent practical tests are also included in our ranking.

To the TOPLIST of telematics

Our references

Our key & super users can be found in the following companies:

Frequently asked questions from our customers about the digital logbook

In this FAQ section you will find specific information and answers on the subject of digital logbook. If you cannot find what you are looking for here, simply visit our general FAQ page or fill out our contact form - we will be happy to help you.

A digital driver's logbook records business and private journeys with a vehicle. This is not only useful for simplifying the company's internal invoicing, but is also necessary to properly declare the vehicle's tax status.

For an electronic driver's logbook from Rosenberger Telematics, a monthly flat rate is charged, which covers the use of the vehicle throughout Europe as well as data storage for at least 12 months. The price of the hardware depends on the selected product variant.

The installation costs are, e.g., with our OBD plugs PILOT 1200 and PILOT 2000 at 0 Euro (plug & play).

The main advantage of an electronic driver's logbook is that it virtually writes itself and thus saves a great deal of time. Whereas with a classic handwritten logbook every trip detail has to be entered manually, the digital logbook automatically records every trip in detail.

With the help of the telematics system installed in the vehicle, the current position (GPS) of the vehicle is determined, and the distance traveled is saved on a central server.

This data provides a start and destination address for each trip, the start, and end of the trip, the distance traveled and the duration of the trip.
The type of trip (business, private, way to work) is selected via the Rosenberger Drive app or a so-called multiswitch in the vehicle.

Yes, both in Germany and Austria the electronic logbook is recognized by the tax office.

Germany
The German Federal Fiscal Court (BFH) has elaborated on the requirements for a proper driver's logbook in the following rulings:

Rulings of 09.11.2005 VI R 27/05, BFHE 211, 508, BStBl II 2006, 408.
Ruling of 01.03.2012 (VI R 33/10, BStBl. II, 2012, p. 505

Austria
The Federal Fiscal Court (BFG) summarized the requirements for a proper driver's logbook as follows, for example, in the ruling of 25.11.2015, RV/7101452/2010:

the records in a driver's logbook must be complete and correct
the logbook must be kept in a timely and continuous manner
the logbook must have an orderly and closed external form
the logbook must be change-proof

The digital logbook from Rosenberger Telematics meets all legal requirements and provides tamper-proof, complete documentation of vehicle movements. It therefore complies with tax office requirements and provides a reliable basis for logbook management.

However, final approval of the logbook is at the discretion of the respective tax office and may vary from case to case. For this reason, no guarantee can be given for unrestricted approval in every individual case. With this solution, Rosenberger Telematics provides a transparent and compliant way to optimise processes and promote legal certainty.

The electronic driver's logbook for companies and private users can basically be used regardless of manufacturer. Regardless of whether the electronic driver's logbook is used for the company car, the user's own car or other vehicles, it fulfills its function equally well.

Yes, a digital logbook can be installed in no time at all! Follow 3 simple steps.

Are you interested in equipping a mixed fleet or are you looking for solutions for construction, tacho, container and asset tracking? No matter how complex your requirements are - we understand your needs and offer you customised telematics solutions that are perfectly tailored to you. Let's discuss your individual requirements together!

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To make it easier for you to get started, we have created a free checklist for the successful implementation of a telematics solution. Feel free to compare us with other providers!

This checklist guides you step by step through the entire process and helps you to identify and overcome potential challenges at an early stage.

Download your free checklist now

The best reasons for a digital logbook

Maximise your tax benefits and optimise your fleet with ease

No more manual recordings

Tax advantages by separating business and private journeys

Requirements of the tax authorities in Germany and Austria fulfilled

Automatic recording of all relevant journey information

Logbook report PDF and XLS with just one mouse click

Perfect interaction between web portal and mobile app

Seamless recording of all journeys and documentation of all changes

Simple analysis of utilisation and performance

Get your free checklist!

Do you want to organise your business processes more efficiently and save costs at the same time?

The introduction of a telematics solution could be the key to future-proofing your company!

You should definitely pay attention to this when implementing telematics! Download the project start checklist now.

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Here you will find all the necessary steps and valuable tips to get your telematics initiative on the right track right from the start.

The legal basis for logbooks in Austria & Germany

Electronic logbooks in Austria Electronic Driver's Logbooks in Germany

§ 17 of the Working Hours Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 461/1969, as amended by Federal Law Gazette No. 2/1975.

§ 5. The employer shall submit or send to the competent authorities and their organs, on request, the personal journey books (personal weekly report books) to be kept, where applicable, the copies of the weekly report sheets and the register for inspection. (Source: ris.bka.gv.at)

For some time now, the Austrian tax office has been increasingly focusing on the control of driver's logbooks in Austria.

Especially in Austria, the rules for keeping a logbook are strict:

A record of all journeys in the course of the business trip, as well as private journeys.
Example:
Private journeys are often not taken into account, thus journeys are missing in a manual driver's logbook.
The recording of date, point of departure and destination, purpose of the trip, mileage, kilometers driven.
Example:
The drivers of a pool vehicle forget to enter journeys in a manual driver's logbook, thus the assignment of driver, journey, point of departure and destination is difficult or even impossible.

(Source: usp.gv.at)

Electronic driver's logbooks provide a safe and reliable remedy:

Automatic recording of all your journeys
Simple assignment of journeys (private, way to work, business)
Downloadable reports for the tax office at the touch of a button.

According to § 31a para. 3 StVZO, the vehicle owner must hand over the logbook to the ordering body, or a body designated by it, for inspection at any time upon request. In addition, it must be kept for six months after the expiry of the period for which it must be kept.

There is no obligation to keep the logbook. However, this is highly recommended, as otherwise it is difficult to document a change of driver in the event of an inspection.

With our electronic driver's logbook, this problem is a thing of the past.
We automatically record all journeys, thus protecting you and your drivers from legal consequences.

In accordance with section 24 of the German Road Traffic Act (StVG) under sections 31a, 69a of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) in conjunction with 190 of the German Road Traffic Act (BKatV), violations are punished as administrative offenses and fines may be imposed:

If the driver's logbook keeper or his agent (e.g., fleet manager) does not properly keep the imposed logbook.
Example:
The drivers of the pool vehicle often forget to enter a journey, as a result of which the record of a specific journey is missing from a manual driver's logbook.
Approval is no longer possible – fines become due.
If a driver's logbook is not handed over or not kept.
Example:
The manually written logbook is lost or becomes illegible/destroyed due to external influences.
In the event of negligence, fines of up to €200 per case may be imposed.

In the event of negligence, fines of up to €200 per case may be imposed.

With our electronic logbook, you no longer have to worry about such cases.

Lebenshilfe Tirol

The challenge: 1.800 changing drivers on 165 vehicles

"For us at Lebenshilfe Tirol, efficient organisation is crucial in order to do justice to our diverse tasks. With 165 vehicles and 1800 changing drivers, this was an immense challenge - until we discovered the telematics solution from Rosenberger Telematics. Thanks to the innovative logbook solution, combined with a seamless interface, we were able to drastically reduce the administrative workload and at the same time ensure transparent and reliable vehicle monitoring. The vehicle fleet is now optimally managed - with less effort, but with maximum benefit. The ease of use and user-friendly interface have revolutionised fleet operations and freed up time for other important tasks."

Robert Waldner
Head of Human Resources Development and Facility

Everything transparently traceable

With our professional mileage log solution, you can take advantage of the following benefits:

A detailed and transparent representation of all your trips
A seamless presentation that doesn't miss any trip
Capture of the starting and destination addresses as well as the distance covered
Automatic capture of the trip type (private or business)

In addition, all changes are fully and automatically documented. The original information, the time of the change, and the user who made the change are also logged.

Edit journeys anytime and anywhere

With the R-DRIVE app from Rosenbeger Telematics, you can conveniently edit your trips on the go. Of course, it is also possible to do post-processing on the computer or laptop. You always have the option to change and adjust your trips. Here are some examples:

If you want to divide a longer trip into “Private” and “Business” sections afterwards, you can do this easily.
If you took a short break during the journey to the customer and want to combine the two individual trips, that is also possible.
If multiple trips have the wrong trip type, you can correct them in one step.

A digital logbook report in seconds

Our solution eliminates the need to record journeys manually. Avoid errors when recording or the tedious "rewriting" of the logbook.

Save up to 28% on administration costs and get your clearly organised logbook as a CSV or XLSX file with just one click.

Rosenberger Telematics takes care of this tedious recording for you. Generate your logbook report for the tax office with just one click in our web portal and download it.
The Rosenberger logbook fulfils all legal requirements and is accepted by the tax office

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Driver recognition - automatic assignment in COMMANDER

Driver recognition is quick and easy using an RFID chip or RFID card. Simply hold your chip or card up to the reader and every journey is automatically assigned to the relevant driver and vehicle. This seamless integration ensures efficient documentation and optimization of your vehicle usage.

Advantages at a glance

Clear assignment: Each driver is clearly identified, which increases traceability and accountability.
Live data: Benefit from live data that you can integrate directly into COMMANDER to analyze driving behavior and usage.
Increase safety: By tracking and documenting all journeys, you reduce potential risks and increase the safety of your fleet.
Process optimization: Use the data obtained to further improve your processes and sustainably reduce costs.

The right accessories

RFID reader + RFID chip or RFID card
Signal horn to remind drivers to register

Automatic driver recognition
Automatic integration into the tax office-compatible logbook
Automatic billing of journeys possible

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R-DRIVE app for the driver, COMMANDER on the desktop and further information on our fleet management solution

A solution for every company size

"We are currently using the logbook solution from Rosenberger Telematics. The advantages are the very simple installation and the automatic logbook creation. I can also see immediately on the PC where my vehicles are....
I can only recommend Rosenberger Telematics hardware and software to any company, it's super simple and supports us in our day-to-day work."

Oliver Schwarzbauer
Thomas Schwarzbauer Heat pumps - heating and sanitary technology

Video über die Vorteile des digitalen Fahrtenbuchs

Data forwarding: automated linking with scheduling, billing and logistics systems

Valuable data can be imported and exported via standardised or customised interfaces. Requested machine data can be flexibly integrated into your IT system. By transferring exact arrival times, real-time locations or operating times, you can monitor and optimise your internal processes even more easily.

Interfaces / APIs

Data protection & hosting in Austria – your data is safe with us

We work with our Austrian server partner conova communications GmbH. This partner guarantees the highest security standards and strictly adheres to EU data protection regulations. This ensures that our IT infrastructure is fast, secure, and reliable.

We offer you several advantages:

Protection of your employees' data, GDPR compliance
Modern, powerful software that you can use web-based
Climate-neutral data center in Austria
- Certifications according to ISO 27001 and EN 50600 for maximum security
Data processing in private cloud
End-to-end encryption of all hardware components used

Support with the digitalisation of processes

We offer you comprehensive advice on the use of GPS tracking to demonstrate potential savings. Our support team is available to assist you throughout the installation and commissioning of your telematics solution, and also supports you during ongoing operations.

Benefit from many years of experience in successfully implementing numerous projects - regardless of whether you are a small local construction company or an international conglomerate.

Our services

Don't miss the opportunity to increase your efficiency and reduce costs.

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