Van and commercial vehicles

If you have a specific need for a van, there's probably something for you. Whether you need a panel van, crew van (with extra seats), tipper, refrigeration unit or a chassis cab, van manufactures will have something for you. In more general terms, drivers looking for a van up to 3.5 tonnes have a range of small vans, medium vans and large vans to choose from. Plus there's an increasing number of electric vans, too.

The ULEZ, or Ultra-Low Emissions Zone - is one of a growing number of clean air zones around the UK, established to improve air quality and discourage higher-polluting vehicles from entering designated areas, either by banning them altogether or imposing a levy. 

Different sizes of vans require different types of licence approval, and eligibility for some depends on when you passed your driving test. You should therefore always check a van’s classification and the level of your licence before driving.

Legally, you only need a tachograph if the van – or the van plus any addition to its gross weight, including a trailer – exceeds 3.5 tonnes. However, some employers or insurers will request that you run a tachograph, so it’s best to check requirements before setting off. 

Maximum towing weights vary dramatically – by as much as 1.5 tonnes – between vans, so it's crucial to always research an individual van's capabilities. As a general rule, the larger the van, the more it can tow. Check out our rundown of the best vans for towing for more information.

A difference in the law for car-based vans and regular vans makes can make it difficult to explain van speed limits because it’s not always clear which vans fall into which category. As a general rule, all vans must obey 30mph and 70mph limits but drive at 10mph below the posted limit on single and dual carriageways.

An increasing number of vans from a growing number of manufacturers are on the roads, and that means an explosion in the number of vans coming soon. These include plug-in hybrid and fully electric models, as well as more traditional combustion engined models.

Vans are subject to VED – often referred to as road tax – in a similar way that cars are, while drivers of company-owned vehicles who also use them for private mileage are also expected to pay company car tax. Our van tax guide has more information.

More and more manufacturers are launching electric vans in response to  pressure to get older, higher-polluting vans off the road and reduce emissions in built-up areas. But is an electric van right for you?

The best way to pay for your van typically revolves around your individual requirements and circumstances. Here, we explain whether it's best to hire, lease or buy a van.