Van Speed Limits in the UK

To put it simply, vans have lower speed limits than cars, and it’s not just vans which are used as commercial vehicles, but privately owned ones too. Unless you drive a van for work, you’ve probably never considered that a different set of driving laws apply when you’re behind the wheel of one.

Not knowing van driving laws could land you in a world of trouble, with penalty points on your licence, fines of up to £2500 and even the risk of a driving ban. It’s not just vans either, with some pickup trucks counting as commercial vehicles

If you’re getting behind the wheel of one for the first time it’s even more dangerous to not read up on the regulations, as it’s not always clear which pickups the laws apply to. To add even more confusion into the mix, there are even some small vans – usually based on cars – to which the stricter speed limits don’t apply.

If you’re not used to driving a van and you’ve got behind the wheel of one for a day, to move house or transport a big load, it’s even more important to brush up on the rules and regulations concerning van speed limits. After all, anyone with a full category B driving license can drive a van that weighs less than 3500kg, but you might not know about the different laws right off the bat.

That’s why our expert reviews team has put together this guide to van speed limits – and other commercial vehicles – to save you the heartbreak and misery of an unwanted fine coming in the post. We also have a range of deals on new vans for sale as well as offers on used vans through our trusted network of dealers. We can even help you sell your van when the time comes.

What’s the speed limit in a van? Do vans have different speed limits?

In town and on day-to-day short trips, van speed limits tend to be much the same as in a car. Things get a bit more complicated when you get on most roads which are signposted at 60mph or above, where speed limits for vans are 10mph slower.

That means that on 20mph and 30mph streets, or wider roads and dual carriageways with 40mph, 50mph and 60mph speed limits, vans are permitted to travel at the same speeds as cars.

Vans are limited to 50mph on single carriageway roads marked with the National Speed Limit sign (such as fast country lanes), where regular cars can travel at 60mph.

The speed limit for vans on a dual carriageway marked with the National Speed Limit sign is 60mph where cars can travel at 70mph.

Vans are subject to the same regulations as cars on Motorways, meaning that the speed limit for a van on the motorway is 70mph.

Speed limits for different types of vans

This is where things get even more complicated, because of the numerous types of vans available to buy these days. While it’s best to play it safe and stick to the lower commercial vehicle speed limits if you’re unsure, there’s no point in slowing down your journey if you’re in a car-derived van or pickup truck.

A car-derived van is a van which – you guessed it – is based on a car design, and weighs no more than two tonnes when it’s fully loaded with goods. They tend to look very car-like as a result, but with only two seats up front and dedicated cargo space in the back, such as the Toyota Corolla Commercial, KGM Rexton CV or the posh Land Rover Defender Commercial.

A dual purpose vehicle is one which is designed to carry both passengers and cargo, and it needs to weigh no more than 2040kg when it’s empty. It either has to have four-wheel drive (such as a pickup truck) or have a rigid roof, dedicated row of seats in the back, side windows and a separate cargo area (often referred to as a Kombi or Combi van).

Both categories of vehicle can travel at the same speed limits as cars, as can campervans which weigh under 3050kg, if they were built as a dual-purpose vehicle by the manufacturer. If you’ve converted a panel van into a Combi or campervan however, and you haven’t had the V5C (log book) body type changed to reflect the new passenger vehicle status, then it’s really up to the discretion of the police or council which has issued the speeding ticket.

Automatic speed cameras will still issue you a ticket though, and you’ll have to appeal in good faith that your van has actually been converted into a campervan and meets the government criteria for one.

Speed limits for cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles including pickup trucks:

Built-up areas	Single carriageways	Dual carriageways	Motorways
30mph	60mph	70mph	70mph

Speed limits for vans and other goods vehicles 3.5–7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight:

Built-up areas	Single carriageways	Dual carriageways	Motorways
30mph	50mph	56mph*	56mph*

Speed limits for vans and other goods vehicles 3.5–7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight:

Built-up areas	Single carriageways	Dual carriageways	Motorways
30mph	50mph	56mph*	56mph*

Speed limits for motorhomes, motor caravans, campervans up to 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight:

Built-up areas	Single carriageways	Dual carriageways	Motorways
30mph	60mph	70mph	70mph

Speed limits for motorhomes, motor caravans, campervans above 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight:

Built-up areas	Single carriageways	Dual carriageways	Motorways
30mph	50mph	60mph	70mph

What are the penalties for speeding in a van?

Never mind the usual speed awareness course and £100 fine, speeding in a van or commercial vehicle brings with it much more severe penalties than speeding in a regular car.

• Band A speeding offences (1-10mph over the speed limit): 3 points on your licence and a fine of between 25-70% of your weekly salary.
• Band B speeding offences (11-20mph over the speed limit): 4-6 points on your licence, or a driving ban between 7-28 days long. You’ll also be fined between 75-125% of your weekly wage.
• Band C speeding offences (21mph over the speed limit and above): 6 points on your licence, or a driving ban for anywhere between 7 and 56 days. The fine for a Band C offence is between 125-175% of your weekly wage.

How to avoid speeding in a van?

If only it were as easy as saying ‘just don’t speed’. The most important thing to remember is that you’re driving a commercial vehicle, so the signposted speed limits need not always apply. Once you’ve got that drilled in, the trick is to remember what roads you have to drive ten below on, namely single and dual carriageways.

Regardless of which road you’re on, it’s important to pay attention to the speed limit signs at the roadside instead of relying on your sat nav, Google maps, Waze or the van’s in-built speed limit sign detector. They’re not always guaranteed to be accurate, and any attempt to appeal a ticket using your sat nav as an argument will be rejected.

Cruise control is another way to stop yourself from speeding, as it’ll keep your van or truck at a pre-determined speed. Keep an eye on the speedometer when going downhill as you might gain a mile per hour or two – especially in a loaded van – but it’s generally a much safer bet than using the throttle yourself.

Some work vans will often have a speed limiter capping the speed at which the van can travel, usually to 60mph. Some GPS based limiters will raise and lower the van’s maximum speed based on the road you’re travelling on, though they’re more expensive than a regular limiter.

Make sure you’re paying attention as to the type of speed camera you’re coming up to, because the latest average speed camera systems have the capability of differentiating a van from a car.

Van speed limits FAQs

Why do vans have a lower speed limit?

Vans have lower speed limits to counteract the extra risk they pose on the road, as they’re not only larger than most cars but heavier too, especially when fully laden with cargo. That means that they take longer to stop than most cars, and that they’re harder to perform emergency manoeuvres in at high speeds.

Are van speed limits different to cars?

Van speed limits are lower than they are for cars on high-speed single carriageways and dual carriageways where the limit is 60mph. Dual-purpose vans can travel at the same speed as regular cars though, as can car-derived vans.

Can a van do 70mph on a dual carriageway?

Vans cannot legally travel at 70mpg on a dual carriageway – they’re capped at 60mph – unless the van is registered as a dual-purpose vehicle, such as a Combi, at which point they can travel at the national speed limit on a dual carriageway.

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