Last checked 19 October 2026
Quick answer
Start with what you carry, not the van. Work out the size and weight of your usual load, including tools, racking, materials and passengers. Then check each van’s maximum authorised mass (MAM), which GOV.UK says is the weight of the vehicle including the maximum load it can carry safely, and is normally shown on a plate or sticker. Check your driving licence covers the van too: GOV.UK says category B, for tests passed on or after 1 January 1997, covers petrol and diesel vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM, with a separate limit for electric and hydrogen vehicles.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check GOV.UK or speak to a qualified adviser about your situation. Why we say this.
For many trades, the van is the biggest thing you’ll buy for the business. Get it right and it’s a mobile workshop. Get it wrong and you’ll be juggling tools, making extra trips to the merchant, or worrying about weight.
This guide covers the practical side: what the weight terms mean, how to match a van to your work, and what to check before you sign. We don’t recommend makes or models, and we don’t cover tax or finance here. For the tax side of buying a van, speak to an accountant.
Start with your load
Before you look at a single van, write down what you carry on a typical day and on your heaviest day:
- tools and equipment, including anything bulky such as ladders or a generator
- materials, and how much you’d buy in one trip
- racking, shelving or storage you’d fit
- passengers, such as an apprentice or labourer
- anything you tow
Measure your longest items too. A van that’s a few centimetres too short for your lengths or ladders will annoy you every day.
The weight terms, explained
GOV.UK’s Vehicle weights explained page defines the terms you’ll see:
| Term | What GOV.UK says it means |
|---|---|
| Unladen weight | The weight of the vehicle when it’s not carrying any passengers, goods or other items. It doesn’t include fuel, or the batteries in an electric vehicle. |
| Mass in running order | The total weight of a vehicle when it’s empty and ready to be used on the road. For cars, buses and lorries this includes the driver, essential fluids and a full tank of fuel. |
| Maximum authorised mass (MAM) | The weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road. Also known as gross vehicle weight (GVW). |
| Gross train weight (GTW) | May also be shown on the plate. The total weight of the tractor unit plus trailer plus load. |
GOV.UK says the MAM is listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle. It also explains down-plating: if a vehicle is unlikely to be used at its potential maximum weight, a lower weight may be shown on the plate.
Why payload matters
Manufacturers and dealers usually quote a payload figure, which is their measure of how much a van can carry. It’s worth asking exactly how that figure is worked out, because what counts towards it can vary.
What matters in practice is the margin between what your van weighs once it’s kitted out and loaded, and its plated MAM. Racking, a roof rack, a tow bar and your tools all use up that margin before you add materials. A van that looks generous on paper can end up with much less room for weight than you expected.
If you’re unsure what your loaded van will weigh, ask the dealer or converter to work it out with your racking and equipment included. Stay within the plated weight: GOV.UK describes the MAM as the weight of a vehicle or trailer including the maximum load that can be carried safely when it’s being used on the road.
Check your driving licence
GOV.UK’s Driving licence categories page says you need an entitlement for the right category on your licence to drive a particular type of vehicle. You can check yours online using the View your driving licence service, and your entitlements may have restriction codes.
For category B, if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997, GOV.UK says you can drive vehicles with up to 8 passenger seats with a MAM of 3,500kg for petrol and diesel vehicles, including hybrids. The same page sets a separate limit for electric and hydrogen vehicles, and has its own rules for towing. If you passed your test before 1 January 1997, GOV.UK says you’re usually allowed to drive a vehicle and trailer combination up to 8,250kg MAM, and to check your driving licence information to confirm.
If you’re looking at a heavier van, or an electric van near the top of the range, read that page carefully and check your own licence before you commit. GOV.UK also notes that driving licence categories are different in Northern Ireland.
Size and shape
Once you know your load, think about how you’ll use the space:
- Load length and height. Will your longest items fit inside, and can you stand or kneel to work?
- Doors. Side doors on one or both sides, and rear doors that open wide, make loading on a narrow street much quicker.
- Roof height. A high roof gives more space, but check car parks, height barriers and your own driveway or garage.
- Seats. Do you need to carry a second person, or a small crew?
- Parking. A longer van is harder to park near customers’ homes in towns and cities.
Fuel, emissions and where you work
Where you work affects which van makes sense. Some cities charge older or more polluting vans to enter certain areas. Our guide to Clean Air Zones, ULEZ and LEZs explains what to check for the places you drive.
If you’re thinking about electric, look at real-world range for your typical day and where you’d charge. Our guide to the zero emission van grant explains how the discount on new eligible vans works.
Security from day one
Vans are a target for tool theft. When comparing vans, look at the locks, whether you can fit extra security, and where you’ll park overnight. It’s easier to plan racking and lockable storage before you buy than to add it later.
A checklist for the dealer
- What’s the plated MAM, and is it on the plate or sticker as GOV.UK describes?
- How is the quoted payload worked out, and what does the van weigh with my racking fitted?
- Will my longest items fit, and how do the doors open?
- Does my driving licence cover this van?
- Is it suitable for the Clean Air Zones or low emission zones I drive in?
- If electric, what range will I get on a typical working day, and where will I charge?
- Can I fit the racking and security I need?
- What will it cost to run, service and keep on the road each year?
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my van’s maximum weight?
GOV.UK says the maximum authorised mass is listed in the owner’s manual and is normally shown on a plate or sticker fitted to the vehicle.
What does down-plating mean?
GOV.UK says that if a vehicle is unlikely to be used at its potential maximum weight, a lower weight may be shown on its plate. This is called down-plating.
Can I drive any van on a car licence?
Not necessarily. GOV.UK sets out what each licence category covers, and it depends on the vehicle’s weight, its fuel type and when you passed your test. Check the GOV.UK page and your own licence.
Should I buy or lease?
That’s a money and tax question that depends on your situation. Speak to an accountant before you decide.
Sources
All checked on 19 October 2026.
- Vehicle weights explained (GOV.UK)
- Driving licence categories (GOV.UK)
Where to check
What changed. : . 3 November 2026: First published.
