What is a ‘car derived van’?
Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, a ‘car derived van’ is defined as:- A goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes. The important word in this definition is ‘and’ as there are goods vehicles that look as if they are based on a a passenger vehicle, but when the manufacturer puts a gross laden weight on the goods vehicle, which is the design weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load that it is designed to carry, and this exceeds 2 tonnes, that vehicle is no longer a car derived van. The van becomes an ordinary goods vehicle under 7.5 tonnes gross weight, and is therefore subject to the speed limits as shown in the Highway Code. Examples over 2 tonnes are Vauxhall Vivaros and Ford Transits. Please check your vehicle handbook if you are unsure about the classification on your vehicle.
