Guide to Van Speed Limits in the UK
There are many reasons why you might be hiring a van from us, from transporting business goods on a regular basis to delivering equipment for an event or even taking lots of large items to the tip. No matter the reason and no matter the distance, staying safe is key and it’s important to know the speed limits when driving a van.
What is the speed limit for a van?
What might surprise you is that normal road speed limits don’t always apply to vans. It all depends on the vehicle size and the type of road you’re driving on.
Speed limit for vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes:
- Built-up areas and cities – 30mph
- Single Carriageway A Roads – 50mph
- Dual Carriageway A Roads – 60mph
- Motorways – 70mph
Speed limit for vans weighing 3.6-7.5 tonnes:
- Built-up areas and cities – 30mph
- Single Carriageway A Roads – 50mph
- Dual Carriageway A Roads – 56mph*
- Motorways – 56mph*
*For vehicles weighing 3.5-7.5 tonnes, a speed limiter must be fitted to electronically restrict the vehicle’s speed to a maximum speed of 56mph.
Speed limit for vehicles over 7.5 tonnes:
- Built-up areas and cities – 30mph
- Single Carriageway A Roads – 50mph
- Dual Carriageway A Roads – 56mph*
- Motorways – 56mph*
*For vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes, an electronic speed limiter is also fitted to restrict the speed to a maximum of 56mph.
What is the speed limit for a van towing a trailer?
As soon as you attach a caravan or trailer to the back of a van, your speed limit changes on dual carriageways and motorways. Any vehicle towing a trailer or caravan cannot exceed 60mph on a dual carriageway or motorway.
Speed limit for a van towing a trailer:
- Built-up areas and cities – 30mph
- Single Carriageway A Roads – 50mph
- Dual Carriageway A Roads – 60mph
- Motorways – 60mph
What is the speed limit for dual-purpose vehicles?
Dual-purpose vehicles like pick-up trucks have the same speed limits as standard cars on every type of road.
Speed limit for dual-purpose vehicles:
- Built-up areas and cities – 30mph
- Single Carriageway A Roads – 60mph
- Dual Carriageway A Roads- 70mph
- Motorways – 70mph
The only time this changes is if the pick-up truck’s unladen weight is more than 2.04 tonnes, as they are no longer deemed a dual-purpose vehicle. In this case, the standard van speed limits apply.
What happens if I get caught speeding in a van?
The penalties for speeding nowadays are strict and with good reason. Road safety is serious, no matter the vehicle you drive. Due to their size and weight, vans are more dangerous on the road than cars, and their penalties reflect this. Here’s a breakdown of the different penalties and fines according to offence bands:
- Band A – 3 penalty points and a fine of 50% of the user’s weekly income
- Band B – 4-6 penalty points, a fine of 100% of the user’s weekly income and 7-28 days of disqualification
- Band C – 6 points, a fine of 150% of the user’s weekly income and 7-56 days of disqualification
Full disqualification may be faced if a driver collects 12 points within 3 years. Driving safely is not only important to keep your licence but also keep people safe.
Keep to the UK Van Speed Limits
Keeping to the speed limit in any vehicle is crucial, but in a van your responsibility heightens due to its size and weight. No job is worth a ticket or accident, so stick to the speed limit and get to where you’re going safely.
When hiring a van from us, we’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have around driving large vehicles. Explore our vans for hire here and book today.
