UK Driving Licence Changes Give Electric Vans a Weight Boost
Why the Law Needed to Change
UK Driving Licence Changes Electric Vans – For years, the standard UK Category B car licence allowed driving vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in maximum authorised mass (MAM). That limit worked well for diesel and petrol vans, but posed a problem for electric versions.
Because batteries and electric drivetrains add extra weight, many electric vans tipped over the 3.5-tonne mark — meaning drivers needed a higher-category licence, extra training, and sometimes costly tests, even though the vans were otherwise no more difficult to drive.
The Old Rules: Limited Flexibility
In 2018, the government introduced a temporary workaround. B-licence holders could drive alternatively-fuelled vehicles (including electric vans) up to 4.25 tonnes, but only if they:
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Took five hours of formal training,
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Used the vehicle for goods transport only, and
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Did not tow a trailer.
While this helped in some cases, the extra training requirement and trailer ban still restricted businesses.
The New Rules: More Freedom, Less Paperwork
From June 2025, the rules changed for good:
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Any Category B licence holder can now drive a zero-emission vehicle up to 4.25 tonnes MAM without additional training.
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Towing is allowed, as long as the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer stays within 7 tonnes, and the trailer itself does not exceed 3.5 tonnes.
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The change applies to all vehicle types that would otherwise qualify for a B licence in petrol or diesel form — including vans, minibuses, and certain specialist vehicles.
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Vehicles with equipment designed for disabled passengers can go up to 5 tonnes.
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No new photocard or licence update is needed — the entitlement is automatic.
Benefits for Drivers and Fleets
This reform removes a key barrier to adopting electric vans:
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Payload restored – The higher weight limit means electric vans can carry similar loads to their diesel counterparts.
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Lower admin burden – No extra courses or tests are required, saving time and money.
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Better flexibility – Drivers can now tow trailers and operate a wider variety of zero-emission vehicles.
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Smoother transition to electric – Businesses can electrify fleets without having to train up or recruit new licence holders.
Industry Impact
Fleet operators, delivery firms, and tradespeople now have far greater choice in zero-emission vehicles. It levels the playing field for electric vans, helping them compete on practicality and payload, and it removes one of the main excuses for sticking with older diesel models.
For the UK’s net-zero ambitions, this is a small but significant step. It’s a regulatory change that directly supports decarbonisation, without adding red tape — a rare win for both business and the environment.
Source: UK Government – Driving an electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle
Driving an electric or hydrogen-powered vehicle – GOV.UK
