- New driving licence rules for EV vans
- Weight limit upped from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes
- Applies to anyone with standard 'category B licence'
- Fresh rules also cover electric minibuses, trucks, and SUVs
Anyone with a standard UK car driving licence can now legally drive electric vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes, thanks to new government rules that make a long-awaited change permanent.
The update to UK driving laws means category B licence holders – those who passed a standard car driving test – no longer need extra training or a specialist licence to drive larger electric vans. It’s a move designed to account for the extra weight of zero-emission drivetrains, which can push the weight of electric vans above the usual 3.5-tonne limit.
The new regulation covers a broad range of zero-emission vehicles, not just electric vans but also electric minibuses, trucks, and SUVs that would otherwise be restricted by the conventional weight limits if they were powered by petrol or diesel.
It also extends to towing. Drivers can now operate electric van and trailer combinations weighing up to 7 tonnes, as long as the trailer itself has a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg or less. For example, a van with a MAM of 4,250kg could tow a trailer of up to 2,750kg, while towing a trailer weighing 3,500kg would also limit the van to 3,500kg.
Drivers who passed their test before 1 January 1997 retain their grandfather rights to drive vehicle and trailer combinations up to 8.25 tonnes.
These changes were initially brought in as a temporary measure in 2018 but have now been confirmed as permanent under a revision to Regulation 7 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999.
Your physical licence doesn’t need to change — the allowance applies automatically, and there’s no need to reapply or undergo training to take advantage of the new rules.
The announcement comes at a time of steady growth for the electric van market, but vans weighing more than 3.5 tonnes remain a niche. According to figures from the SMMT, just 76 of the 1,731 electric vans registered in May were in the 3.5 to 4.25 tonne category.
Although the weight limit rules have changed, other regulations remain in effect. Most electric vans over 3.5 tonnes still require an HGV-style MOT test after the first year, and many are still covered by rules on tachographs, drivers’ hours, and speed limiters.
The changes are good for fleets looking to recruit drivers, as they will no longer need to employ HGV-licensed drivers or incur extra training costs. However, they are unlikely to affect owner-operators and small businesses, given the more onerous responsibilities associated with operating larger vans.
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