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Learn the UK speed limits for vans, including dual carriageways and motorways. Find out about speed cameras, penalties, and tips for safe driving
Understanding van speed limits in the UK is essential to stay safe on the roads – and for avoiding fines. The increasingly advanced engineering in modern vans can make them feel similar to cars to drive, but the rules are not the same, and getting them wrong can cost you money, points or even your licence. No matter whether you’re a sole trader, a delivery driver, or the manager of a small fleet, knowing exactly how fast your van is allowed to travel is one of the easiest ways to stay on the right side of the law.
This guide covers the standard limits, exceptions, van categories and speed cameras, as well as the penalties for flouting the rules. We’ve also got some practical safety tips to keep you legal on the road.
Vans generally follow lower speed limits than cars on certain types of roads. Although the limits in built-up areas remain the same, things change once you get to roads with the national speed limit.
In towns and cities, vans follow the familiar 30mph limit in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland (20mph in Wales) unless signs say otherwise. On single carriageways, however, vans weighing up to 3.5 tonnes are limited to 50mph, rather than the 60mph allowed for cars.
The same pattern continues on dual carriageways, where vans must stay at 60mph instead of the 70mph permitted for cars. However, on motorways, vans up to 3.5 tonnes can also do 70mph.
| Road Types | Cars | Vans up to 3.5t (gross vehicle weight) | Difference |
| Built-up areas | 30mph | 30mph | Same |
| Single carriageways | 60mph | 50mph | -10mph |
| Dual carriageways | 70mph | 60mph | -10mph |
| Motorways | 70mph | 70mph | Same |
Now that we’ve established the rules, let’s look at… when they don’t apply. There are exceptions to the above generalisations, starting with any vehicle (cars or vans) towing trailers – they must follow limits of 50mph on single carriageways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 60mph on motorways, regardless of the vehicle weight. It doesn’t matter whether the trailer is small or large – the same limits apply to all vehicles towing anything.
You should also take extra care in adverse weather or through roadworks, where temporary signs override the national rules. Variable electronic signs on smart motorways can reduce limits because of congestion, bad conditions, or incidents. If you don’t follow the temporary limits, it counts as a speeding offence even if you’re below the normal van limit.
In some areas, local restrictions such as 20mph zones, low-emission zones or weight-restricted areas can apply to vans differently to cars. Always follow the posted signs rather than relying on sat-nav instructions or memory.
Van speed limits are based partly on the vehicle's gross vehicle weight (GVW), which is the maximum safe operating weight when fully loaded. This is a crucial spec for a van, because not all vans under 3.5 tonnes behave the same, and anything heavier falls into a different legal category altogether.
Car-derived vans, such as the Dacia Duster Commercial or the Land Rover Defender Hard Top, can follow the same speed limits as cars, because they’re built on passenger-car platforms and weigh significantly less than full-size vans. According to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, a car-derived van is “a goods vehicle that is adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding two tonnes”.
Most light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes GVW – including medium vans and high-roof panel vans – follow the lower van limits described above: 30mph in built-up areas, 50mph on single carriageways, 60mph on dual carriageways and 70mph on motorways.
Most van-based vehicles you can drive on a standard Category B licence will weigh up to 3.5 tonnes. Anything significantly heavier than that starts to be treated more like a lorry, with stricter speed limits, Many are fitted with mandatory speed limiters restricting them to 56mph.
Not sure what kind of van you have? You’ll find its GVW on the manufacturer’s plate under the bonnet or on the door sill next to the vehicle identification number (VIN).
There’s another category to know about, too – Dual Purpose Vehicles. Usually pickups and kombi vans, these are vehicles designed to carry both passengers and goods, typically defined as having a second row of seats, side and rear windows (or four-wheel-drive capability) and an unladen weight below 2040kg . Dual Purpose Vehicles that meet the criteria are usually allowed to drive at standard car speed limits, even if they look like commercial vehicles. However, definitions can be strict, so check your V5C logbook to make sure.
Speed cameras apply the law exactly as written, which means if a road is signed as the national speed limit, the camera will judge vans against van-specific limits, not car limits. It’s entirely possible for a van to get a ticket for driving at a speed that would be legal for a car on the same stretch of road.
Speed camera vans use radar or laser systems that can record speed from a considerable distance. Depending on the equipment and the line of sight, a mobile speed camera van can measure your speed from several hundred metres away – sometimes up to a kilometre. Modern digital camera setups don’t always flash, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll notice the moment you’re snapped. Both marked and unmarked vans operate across the UK, and they can monitor vehicles both approaching and departing their locations.
Average speed camera systems are increasingly common on motorways and major A-roads. They calculate your speed over a distance rather than at a single point, making it impossible to slow down briefly for a camera and then speed up again.
If you’re caught exceeding a van-specific limit, the penalty is typically a £100 fine and three points on your driving licence. However, that’s for lower-band offences (the severity of offences falls into three bands – A, B or C). Break the rules more seriously and you could find larger fines heading your way, based on your weekly income, more penalty points or even a court appearance. Some regions also operate enforcement zones focused specifically on commercial vehicles due to their higher average weights and longer stopping distances.
Of course, there’s a secret trick for avoiding fines – don’t flout the rules. Know your van’s weight, watch for road signs, and use cruise control or speed limiters if you have them fitted. Many modern vans also display local speed limits on the dashboard using sign-recognition systems.
The UK uses a graded penalty system depending on how far over the limit you were driving. For minor offences, you’ll generally get the standard £100 fine and three penalty points. More serious breaches can get you penalties worth up to 175% of your weekly income, six penalty points or even disqualification from driving.
For professional drivers, points on a licence can have an impact on fleet insurance costs, employment status, and eligibility to drive certain types of vehicles. Businesses are expected to make sure drivers understand the correct limits, so repeated offences can affect not only the individual caught speeding, but the company that employed them, too.
Van speed limits aren't just about the law; they exist because vans handle differently from cars. A fully loaded van is significantly heavier and needs more distance to come to a stop. Travelling just a little too fast can dramatically increase braking distances and reduce stability, especially in wet or icy weather.
There are other factors too. Driving within the correct limits improves fuel efficiency, which is an important cost consideration for businesses. Slower, smoother driving puts less strain on tyres, brakes and suspension components, which helps keep running costs down. Many vans spend their lives on long-distance motorway runs or busy routes in towns and cities, which means a more measured approach to speed can have a big impact on long-term vehicle wear.
And then there’s brand reputation. For business users, van driving is an extension of your company’s reputation, so staying safe and legal on the road helps protect both your image and your bottom line.
Vans are the backbone of many UK businesses, and knowing the right speed limits is a simple but vital part of operating them safely and legally. Understanding the rules – and how they differ from cars – can help protect your van, your licence and your livelihood.
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