Can I Drive a Van? What Licence Do I Need?
August 01, 2024 by Tom Wiltshire
A van is a stunningly useful thing, and if you’re moving house, clearing out an overgrown garden or just taking something bulky from point A to point B, chances are you’ve looked into hiring a van or borrowing one from a friend or family member.
But you might also have wondered ‘can I drive a van?’ or had concerns that you might need a special van driving licence.
The good news is, most vans don’t require a different licence to drive. But this isn’t always the case – and how do you know what you are and you aren’t covered on?
This guide will explain everything you need to know about driving a van, van driving licences, and van driving restrictions.
Can I drive a van on my licence?
Put simply, it depends what kind of van and what kind of licence.
In a nutshell, if you have a full car driving licence (Category B) you can drive any van weighing up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) gross vehicle weight (GVW). This covers the vast majority of vans on the road, from small vans like a Citroen Berlingo right up to some versions of large panel vans like the Mercedes Sprinter.
If you passed your driving test before January 1997 then you may also have the C1 category on your licence. This was automatically granted to drivers before this date and covers you to drive vans up to 7.5 tonnes (7,500kg), which covers you for every van on the road and even some small lorries.
You can check the categories you’re licensed to drive by looking at the back of your driving licence. You can also check your licence details on the Gov.uk website, for which you’ll need your licence number, National Insurance number and the postcode your licence is registered to.
Due to the dwindling number of people who have automatic C1 certification, vans under 3,500kg now make up most of the vans you can buy – put simply, manufacturers want to sell their vehicles to everyone, and not be limited to those over a certain age. In most cases when hiring or buying a van you’ll need to specify if you want it to be over 3,500kg, rather than the other way around. Vehicles over this weight are typically reserved for specialist duties.
What vans can I drive?
You can drive commercial vehicles from every category on a normal car licence, though some upper variants will tip over the 3,500kg weight limit that applies to most regular drivers.
Small vans e.g. Citroen Berlingo
Every small van on sale sits well under 3,500kg even when fully laden. There isn’t a van in this category that you can’t drive on a regular licence, so fill your boots – though bear in mind that while they’re very useful, you won’t be able to fit too much in the way of bulky or very long items into these vans.
Medium vans e.g. Ford Transit Custom
On a regular car licence, you can drive every medium-sized van on sale today. Even the largest of these vehicles top out under 3.5 tonnes, so you’re covered with a category B licence. These vans can carry more than any car, making them very handy for tougher jobs.
Large vans e.g. Mercedes Sprinter
This is where you need to be slightly more careful. Van manufacturers do try to keep the bulk of their vehicle range under 3.5 tonnes to maximise the number of motorists who can drive them, but you’ll often find that the largest versions of big panel vans – such as long-wheelbase or heavy-duty models – can tip over this number.
The most extreme variants can be as high as 7.0 tonnes GVW. If you’re unsure, you can find a van’s GVW by looking in the owner’s manual, or checking a plate or sticker usually fitted to the chassis or on the door shut.
Electric vans e.g. Iveco eDaily
Vans with electric propulsion are an exception to the weight rules. This is because batteries are extremely heavy, and it would grossly impact van payload to try and squeeze enough of them for a decent range into a vehicle and still keep it under 3.5 tonnes. That’s why, for electric vans, the GVW limit for even a regular car licence holder is extended to 4.25 tonnes (4,250kg).
You’re unlikely to hit this with small or medium-sized electric vans like the Citroen e-Berlingo or Ford e-Transit Custom, but bigger vans such as the Mercedes e-Sprinter or Iveco eDaily do tip over this threshold in some specifications. The usual rules apply for electric vans weighing over 4.25 tonnes, though – you’ll need category C1 on your licence.
Pickup trucks e.g. Ford Ranger
Like small and medium vans, every pickup truck in the UK is light enough to be driven on a regular Category B licence. Many pickup trucks actually qualify as a dual-purpose vehicle, meaning they’re treated like a car rather than a van – and are bound by car speed limits. This isn’t the case where a pickup’s unladen weight is over 2,040kg though, so check carefully.
Can I apply for a van driving licence?
No specific van licence exists. If you want to drive a vehicle weighing between 3,500kg and 7,500kg, you’ll need to have passed your test before 1st January 1997 to do it on a standard driving licence.
Otherwise, you’ll need to apply for provisional entitlement to drive C1 category vehicles and pass a C1 driving test (a specific driving test for heavier commercial vehicles.)
Driving a van FAQs
Can I drive a minibus?
Yes – a regular category B licence covers you to drive a minibus up to 16 passengers provided you’re not doing it for hire or reward. To do this you must be 21 or older, have had your licence for two years or more, and the minibus must adhere to the 3.5 tonne weight restriction of a regular van – though you can have an additional up to 750kg for disabled access equipment, such as a wheelchair ramp. You may not tow a trailer, either.
You can find a full list of conditions on the Government’s website.
From what age can I drive a van?
As there’s no specific van licence, you can start driving a van as soon as you’ve passed your test – so from age 17.
Can I drive a van on a provisional licence?
Yes, but the same rules apply as when you’re driving a car on a provisional licence – you must be specifically insured, and you need to be accompanied by a full licence holder who’s aged over 21 and has had their licence for at least three years.
Will I need to get car or van insurance?
Van insurance is similar to car insurance and purchased in the same way, so you don’t need to work too hard to hunt down a van-specific policy. Van insurance may be available with some extras, such as cover for tools or equipment left in a vehicle overnight.
Is it difficult to drive a van?
Not particularly, but it takes some getting used to. Vans are typically larger than cars, so there’s some calibrating to do when it comes to parking or working out where the vehicle’s extremities are.
Vans also don’t usually have a rear window, and tend to have much larger blindspots particularly to the driver’s left. Changing lanes, coming out of awkwardly-angled junctions and reversing must all be done with particular care and attention.
The most modern vans are often littered with cameras and sensors to make this process easier. And while many vans used to have incredibly heavy controls, vague steering and dismally underpowered engines, the latest vehicles feel very car-like and comfortable to drive.
Change vans online with Carwow
Carwow’s the place to come if you need to sell your van quickly – our network of trusted dealers will help you get a fair price and make the process easy. While you’re here, you can check out some of our van reviews or the latest commercial vehicle tips and advice to make sure you’re choosing the right vehicle for your needs.
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