Other rules for van drivers

By the end of this topic you can

• You can check whether your car licence covers the van you want to drive.
• You can apply the correct van speed limits on each type of road.
• You can say which drivers' hours rules apply to your van and when a tachograph is needed.
• You can carry out a quick walk-round check before driving.
• You can spot when a job takes you into heavier-vehicle rules.

What you need to know and understand

• A category B (car) licence covers vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM), or up to 4,250kg for zero-emission electric or hydrogen vehicles.
• Drivers who passed their car test before 1 January 1997 usually also hold C1, which covers vehicles from 3,500kg to 7,500kg.
• Most vans are 'goods vehicles' for speed limits: 50 mph on single carriageways, 60 mph on dual carriageways and 70 mph on motorways, unless signs show lower.
• Car-derived vans up to 2 tonnes maximum laden weight have the same limits as cars.
• Goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes come under the stricter assimilated (former EU) drivers' hours rules and normally need a tachograph.
• Vans under 3.5 tonnes used for business in Great Britain come under the GB domestic drivers' hours rules.
• Since 1 July 2026, vans over 2.5 tonnes used on international journeys for hire or reward need a smart tachograph, and since May 2022 their operators need an international operator's licence.

Van speed limits are not car speed limits

The Highway Code speed table (rule 124) puts most vans in the 'goods vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes' row. That means lower limits than a car on single and dual carriageways. Only car-derived vans, such as a small van built on a car body and not over 2 tonnes laden, follow car limits.

• Built-up areas: 30 mph in England and Scotland, 20 mph in Wales, unless signs say otherwise
• Single carriageway: 50 mph
• Dual carriageway: 60 mph
• Motorway: 70 mph, or 60 mph if the goods vehicle is articulated or towing a trailer

Hours, tachographs and working time

If your van is under 3.5 tonnes and you drive it for a trade or business in Great Britain, the GB domestic rules apply. Under these rules you must not drive for more than 10 hours in a day or be on duty for more than 11 hours in a working day. Some uses, such as doctors, nurses, vets and some maintenance or broadcasting work, are exempt from the duty limit. Check the gov.uk drivers' hours guidance for your own job, including what records you need to keep.

A tachograph is the device that records driving time, breaks and rest. Vans under 3.5 tonnes driven only in Great Britain do not usually need one. Once a vehicle or vehicle and trailer goes over 3.5 tonnes, the assimilated rules and tachograph rules normally apply, which is covered on the lorry pages. Separate working time rules also limit total working hours, so your employer should explain which apply to you.

A two-minute walk-round before you drive

Work vans cover big mileages and are often shared, so faults get missed. You must make sure the vehicle is roadworthy before you drive (Highway Code rule 97). A short routine helps, and it builds on the checks in the site's guide to basic car maintenance.

1. Walk all the way round: tyres, damage, lights and indicators, number plates and mirrors.
2. Check the load doors and side door are shut and locked.
3. Look under the van for leaks.
4. In the cab, check warning lights, screen wash, wipers, horn and brakes as you move off.
5. Report any defect to whoever is responsible for the van and do not drive it if it is unsafe.

Loads and towing

Overloading a van makes it harder to steer and stop and is an offence. Find the maximum weights on the van's plate or in the handbook and remember that people, fuel and tools count. Loads must be secured so they cannot move or fall off (rule 98). If you tow, the combined weight of van and trailer must be within your licence limit.

Common mistakes

• Driving at 60 mph on a single carriageway in an ordinary panel van. The limit is 50 mph unless it is a car-derived van.
• Assuming a bigger hire van is fine on a car licence. Check the plate: over 3,500kg (4,250kg for zero-emission) needs C1 unless you already hold it.
• Overloading with tools and materials. Know the payload and spread weight evenly.
• Skipping checks on a shared van. Do a walk-round every time you take it out.
• Forgetting that a trailer can push you over 3.5 tonnes combined and into tachograph rules.

Test yourself: Other rules for van drivers

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Car Maintenance Checks for New Drivers