When you run your own business, you’re living life in the fast lane. You’re constantly going at 100mph, pedal to the metal to keep all those plates spinning and your business ticking over.
But rushing from A to B and racing to make ends meet doesn’t mean you need to be a speed demon in your van. In fact, most vans actually have a lower speed limit than cars, so the speed sign you see on the road might not apply to the van you’re driving.
No matter how much of a rush you’re in, staying safe on the roads should still be your top priority. Not only could you put yourself, others and your business in danger by speeding, but you could also face fines of up to £2,500, get penalty points on your licence and potentially be disqualified from driving.
So, to keep your business moving, hit the brakes and read AXA’s guide to make sure you know the latest speed limits for vans driving in the UK.
Van speed limits
The national speed limit changes depending on the vehicle you’re driving, which can cause confusion for van drivers. There are different rules depending on the size of your van, the type of roads you’re driving on, and where in the UK you’re driving to. To save you the exhaustion of doing the research on van speed limits yourself, we’ve done it for you.
We’ll breakdown the rules further by van type and size later, but here’s a few general guidelines to help you:
- Typically vans travel 10mph less than cars on main roads but can travel 30mph in towns and cities which is usually the same as a car
- On single carriageways vans are usually limited to 50mph and 60mph on dual carriageways
- On motorways vans are typically allowed to go 70mph, the same as a car
While these tend to be true, you may find that your van has special rules, so read on to find out if your van is subject to different regulations
What's the speed limit for 3.5 tonnes vans?
The speed limit for small, medium and larger vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes are usually the same. For example, the small Citroën Berlingo follows the same speed restrictions as larger models like the Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
For built-up areas and motorways, vans should follow the same speed limit as cars. But on single and dual carriageways, the speed limit is 10mph lower than the speed limit for cars.
These rules also technically apply to vehicles weighing up to 7.5 tonnes. However, current legislation means that larger commercial vehicles, or those designed to carry more than eight passengers, must have a speed limiter fitted to them.
|
Built up areas and cities |
30mph |
|
Single carriageway |
50mph |
|
Dual carriageway |
60mph |
|
Motorways |
70mph |
It’s important to note that some local councils will implement different speed limits. So, remember to keep an eye out for any signs that might indicate this.
What's the speed limit for a van towing a trailer?
The speed limit for vans towing a trailer or caravan is reduced to 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways, even if they’re allowed to do 70mph in other circumstances. In fact, the speed limit for any vehicle towing a trailer is reduced to 60mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
|
Built up areas and cities |
30mph |
|
Single carriageway |
50mph |
|
Dual carriageway |
60mph |
|
Motorways |
60mph |
What's the speed limit for car-derived vans (CDV)?
According to the Department for Transport, a car-derived van (CDV) is a passenger vehicle that’s been adapted to become a light goods vehicle that weighs no more than 2 tonnes. Or in other words, it’s a van that looks like a car.
If your van is a CDV, it should be recorded on the registration document (V5C) under the ‘body type’ section. The most common CDVs are Ford Fiesta vans, Vauxhall Corsa vans and Renault Clio vans.
CDVs are the only commercial vehicle with the same speed limits as cars.
|
Built up areas and cities |
30mph |
|
Single carriageway |
60mph |
|
Dual carriageway |
70mph |
|
Motorways |
70mph |
What's the speed limit for dual purpose vehicles (pick-up truck)?
A dual purpose vehicle is defined as one that’s been designed to carry passengers as well as goods. It must have four-wheel drive or a rigid roof and at least one additional row of passenger seats behind the driver as well as side and rear windows.
You probably see dual purpose vehicles on the road every day without realising it. Common examples are vehicles like the Ford Ranger and the Mitsubishi L200, and these follow the same speed restrictions as cars. You’ll need to check the vehicle’s unladen weight before setting off, as some models exceed 2,040kg which means they’ll be subject to the same speed limits as vans.
|
Built up areas and cities |
30mph |
|
Single carriageway |
60mph |
|
Dual carriageway |
70mph |
|
Motorways |
70mph |
What's the speed limit for campervans?
In the UK there are typically three classes of campervans or motorhomes. Class A is often the most luxurious and large motorhomes that often have the cab integrated with the living space, while Class C are a more pared down version with the cab and living space separated a bit more.
Class B are campervans in the truest sense – converted vans that often don’t have the same level of amenities you could find in motorhomes. DVLA lays out the permanent features that must exist in a vehicle for it to be considered a campervan including seats, a table, sleeping accommodation, cooking facilities and storage space.
No matter what class of campervan or motorhome you have, the relevant speed limit depends on the weight of the vehicle:
- Motor caravans with an unladen weight below 3,050kg (3.05 tonnes) are allowed to drive as fast as an ordinary car
- Motor caravans with an unladen weight above 3,050kg (3.05 tonnes) are restricted to same speed limits as vans
If you have campervan conversion that weights below 2.05 tonnes and you want to drive it as fast as a car, you must first have the body type classification changed by the DVLA before driving at the same speed as cars.
In order to do this, you’ll need to provide clear evidence of the changes made, proving that they are all completed. You may be required to provide photographic evidence of the interior and exterior as well as a description of any changes made. Find out more about registering or reclassifying your VC5 on the UK Government website.
What happens if I get caught speeding while driving a van?
Guidelines introduced in 2017 mean speeding penalties are now much stricter. Speeding in a van is more dangerous than in a car because of its size and weight. This is reflected in the fines and penalties van drivers receive because the type of vehicle is considered when deciding on a punishment.
There are also further considerations to keep an eye on – for example local councils could impose even lower speed limits around schools or village roads.
If the police catch you speeding, you’ll get penalty points on your driving licence and you might need to pay a hefty sum:
- For Band A offenses users can expect 3 penalty points and a fine of 50% of their weekly income
- For Band B offenses users can expect 4-6 penalty points, 7-28 days disqualified and a fine of 100% of their weekly income
- For Band C offenses users can expect 6 penalty points, 7-56 days disqualified and a fine of 150% of their weekly income
- If drivers collect 12 points within 3 years, they can face full disqualification
These fines can vary within the range of 25% on either side of above figures, meaning serious offenders could face a fine of 175% their weekly income. While the fines are usually capped at £1,000, they can rise to £2,500 if you are caught on a motorway.
For more details on speeding categories and fines, you can read more on the UK Government website.
Top three tips to avoid speeding
There are lots of things you can do if you’re concerned about your speed on the roads. Obvious things like leaving earlier might not always be possible and it’s easy to forget to regularly check the speedometer. So, here are some practical things you can do to help you stay within the speed limit and ultimately make you a safer driver.
1. Use cruise control
Turning on cruise control when you reach the road’s speed limit is an easy way to stay on track, especially when you’re on a motorway. It means you can relax without having to constantly keep your foot on the accelerator. But, be careful to pay attention to the road signs so you know when the speed limit changes.
2. Don’t rely on your sat nav
Many sat nav devices and apps will display the speed limit of the road the vehicle is travelling on. However, research carried out by uSwitch suggests 17% of drivers receive the wrong information from their sat nav, including the wrong speed limit. More importantly, your device might not know you’re driving a van and may display the speed limit for cars as its default setting.
3. Install a speed limiter
Speed-limiting technology stops vehicles exceeding a certain speed, no matter how hard the driver presses the accelerator. It’s a great option for people who do a lot of motorway driving and struggle to maintain their speed. But remember, if you do install a speed limiter, make sure to tell your van insurer about it or you may invalidate your policy.
For more speed limit information, take a look at AXA’s guide to slowing down safely in your van .
Does an average speed camera know if you're in a van?
Although in the past cameras have only clocked vehicles going more than the standard car speed limit, with the new technology advancements in speed cameras that is no longer the case, meaning drivers are more likely to be caught going over their specific vehicles speed limit. Even as early as 2016, there were reports that speed cameras were differentiating between vans and cars, so keep to your correct speed limit if you’d like to avoid a fine.
How do I know if a speed camera caught me?
There are two main ways that drivers would know if they have been caught. A flash from the speed cameras is a fairly good sign that drivers have been caught speeding, however not all speed cameras flash. Forward-facing Truvelo cameras usually contain special filters over the flash to prevent dazzling drivers meaning they may not notice the camera capturing them. It can also be difficult to be certain that the flash was for your vehicle and not another if the roads are busy.
This leads to the second and most definitive way to know if a speed camera caught you speeding: the registered driver of the vehicle receives a note of intended prosecution (NIP). This usually arrives within 14-days and includes details of the punishment and what the next steps are.
How far away can a speed camera catch you?
There are several different types of speed camera and they all function somewhat differently. How they detect your speed, and therefore how far away they can catch you speeding, will depend on the camera type:
- Gatso speed cameras – A rear-facing camera that can catch motorcycles as well as cars, vans and trucks. They detect cars in the immediate vicinity of the camera.
- Truvelo speed camera – A front-facing camera that can take a clear picture of number plates and help identify the driver easier. However, can make it harder to identify when motorcycles are speeding, as they often lack front number plates. They detect cars in the immediate vicinity of the camera.
- Average speed cameras and SPECS Cameras – They use Automatic number plate reading (ANPR) to record a date and time stamp as you pass two cameras, enabling the camera to calculate an average speed. They can capture drivers’ speeds between 75 m and 20 km and usually spear in sequence on motorways at least 200 m apart.
- Mobile speed cameras – Laser guns can capture vehicle speeds up to 1 mile away on a straight, whereas radar guns can record up to 300 yards away.
Ultimately, you won’t be able to tell what kind of camera you’re driving past until it’s too late to slow down, and the location of mobile speed camera can vary from day to day. So, the best way to not get caught is to follow the appropriate speed limit at all times.
All links are checked and valid at time of publishing, 21 July 2022.